Originally from Colorado, trumpeter Kirk Knuffke has been based in New York City since 2005....

Kirk's Bio - Originally from Colorado, trumpeter Kirk Knuffke has been based in New York City since 2005. Kirk has studied improvisation with great jazz artists Ornette Coleman, Art Lande and Ron Miles. He currently leads his own groups, including the Kirk Knuffke Quartet and trios and a Sextet with Butch Morris.

Knuffke has been remarkably active in the last few years. Besides his work as a member of Butch Morris' groups, Kirk plays frequently with the Nublu Orchestra, the Andrew D’angelo Big Band, Josh Roseman’s Extended Constellations, The Jeff Davis Band, Ideal Bread, Matt Wilson and Kenny Wollesen's Wollesonic, he has played professionally or recorded with, among others, Graham Haynes, Jim Black, Eddie Henderson, Daniel Carter, John Zorn, Tony Malaby, Dave Douglas, Briggan Krauss, and Sonny Simmons, Joe Bonner and Steven Bernstein. Photo by Scott Friedlander

“Big Wig” was Knuffke's debut record, released in May of 2008 on Clean Feed Records was greeted with strong international reviews. Another Clean Feed release is slated for January 2010. It consists of a new trio with Kenny Wollesen and Doug Wieselman. Knuffke is both a composer and musician with a wide appreciation for jazz artists of varying styles and periods, which is demonstrated in his distinctive and honest sound. It has been said there is a Chet Baker-like sweetness in his playing. Comparisons have also been made to a wide range of artists from Booker Little to Lester Bowie to Ruby Braff.

“Open” and “straight-ahead” are terms that simultaneously apply to his work. Knuffke’s recognition as a composer is demonstrated in the reviews of “Big Wig” and the receipt of the Jerome Foundation Composers Grant though Roulette in New York City; the commissioned works of which were performed at Roulette with a new trio in the spring of 2009. Knuffke has also made appearances in venues outside the traditional New York jazz scene, including work with pop artist Josh Ritter on Sony Records.

Internationally, he has played with ensembles at jazz festivals in Saalfeldan (Austria) Willisau (Switzerland), The North Sea Jazz festival in Holland as well as festival dates in Italy and France. Other current work, playing the tunes of Thelonius Monk and Duke Ellington in a duet with pianist Jesse Stacken will be released on Denmak’s classic SteelpleChase records in august 2009. I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)

Influences
Chet Baker, Pee Wee Russel, Steve Lacy, Butch Morris, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Lyons, Art Pepper, Thad Jones, Paul Bley, Lester Bowie.
 


Jesse Stacken - piano, Kirk Knuffke - trumpet performing the Charles Mingus composition Goodbye Pork Pie Hat at the Douglass St. Music collective Brooklyn, NY. February 12, 2009