Trumpeter Emily Kuhn is on a pair of albums that display an eclectic mix of sounds and moods, always drawing you in to her aural world.
Sky Stories has her teamed with Gustavo Cortinas/dr, Max Bessen/as-ts-ss, Evan Levine/b, Ben Cruz/g, a string section and vocalist Mercedes Martinez for most of the tracks with sweeping atmospheres of voice and pulses for Martinez’s sweet voice on “roses” and the innocently pastoral “Jet Trails and Shooting Stars”. A quartet of Kuhn with fellow trumpeter Joe Suihkonen, bassist Katie Ernst and drummer Nate Friedman create warm brass tones for “Horizon” and elegiac “Anthem” and an agitated “Fit” all featuring some clever bass work. Flowing satin drapery for the most part
A string quartet stays for a couple tunes on the album led by bassist Kitt Lyles, Wake Before Dawn, with the trumpet of Justin Copeland accompanying these pieces with a warm and soulful “Birdsong” and “Learning, Growing”. You feel and old soul bluesiness from Christ Shuttleworth’s trombone on “Think; Repeat” and ethereal voices dominate the yearning “The Water and the Wind” as Kuhn’s horn glistens and reflects like a morning sun. Fragrant breezes.