MP3 EXPLORER KAHN VENTURES INTO A RARE LIVE PERFORMANCE

"Pianist George Kahn is one of the jazz explorers of MP3 music delivery over the internet. Although his first, self-released CD, "Out Of Time", is available from Amazon.com, he also has actively, and with considerable success, promoted his music via the MP3 channels.

On Monday, in a one-night performance at Catalina Bar and Grill, Kahn made a relatively rare live apprearance, leading a first-rate ensemble that included saxaphonist Eric Marienthal, trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez, bassist Karl Vincent and drummer M.B. Gordy.

Kahn describes his music as a reflection of the 60's sounds from Blue Note and Prestige... More likely associations, from a listener's point of view, might have been West Coast jazz of the 50's, with a sprinkling of '80s new age thrown in for good measure...

There's no questioning Kahn's choice of musicians, however. Rodriguez, as always, balanced his fiery high note trumpet excursions with the sweeter sounds of his fluegelhorn (especially on a ballad, "Say Goodbye"). Marienthal's fusion and smooth jazz associations were completely set aside in a dark-toned tenor sax romp through the blues. And the rhythm team of Vincent and Gordy were exceptionally supportive, crisply capturing the sometimes disjunct rhythm accents of Kahn's music.

Kahn's piano work was...occasionally reminiscent of Dave Brubeck; it also verged dangerously close to George Winston, especially during a rhapsodic solo showcase number. But he deserves credit for his continuing exploration of the growing number of alternative delivery channels available to jazz artists who have not yet made a major-label connection."
Don Heckman, LA TImes