Kirk Knuffke, Jesse Stacken - Satie (2016)

N.Y.C.-based cornetist Kirk Knuffke is an adventurous, forward-thinking artist with a bent toward avant-garde improvisation and modern creative jazz. A native of Colorado, Knuffke studied with trumpeter Ron Miles and pianist Art Lande before relocating to New York City in 2005. Since that time, he has earned a reputation as both an in-demand sideman and bandleader, having performed with such artists as Roswell Rudd, William Parker, Uri Caine, Myra Melford, John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Billy Hart, Steven Bernstein, Jon Irabagon, and many others. He is a veteran member of several of Butch Morris' ensembles, and performs regularly as a member of both drummer Matt Wilson's quartet and the Steve Lacy tribute ensemble Ideal Bread. As a solo artist, Knuffke has released a steady stream of albums including Big Wig (2008), Garden of Gifts (2009), Amnesia Brown (2010), Chorale (2013), and Exterminating Angel (2014). He also has an ongoing duo project with pianist Jesse Stacken in which they explore the more obscure works by legendary jazz composers, such as the Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington-themed Mockingbird (2009) and the Charles Mingus-themed Orange Was the Color (2011). In 2015, Knuffke delivered the trio album Arms & Hands, which featured bassist Mark Helias and drummer Bill Goodwin. ~ Matt Collar

Personnel: Kirk Knuffke (cornet), Jesse Stacken (piano)