Joachim Kühn’s 80th year is being marked at 2024 Jazzfest Berlin with a special event. The Berlin audience will see and hear a new project which is close to the legendary German pianist’s heart. The concert is set to be a highlight of Jazzfest Berlin as it celebrates its sixty years.
Kühn has a new French Trio with bassist Thibault Cellier and drummer Sylvain Darrifourcq. The group made an album at Kühn’s home in Ibiza in June 2023, but this concert on the main stage at the Festspielhaus on Saturday 2 November is in fact going to be the group’s first ever live concert.
The significance of this new departure is that it was the classic trio with two Francophones, Jean-François Jenny-Clark and Daniel Humair – formed in 1974 and which stayed together for two and a half decades – which became probably the most important group in the pianist’s musical life.
Kuhn has said that he is drawn to “the French way, with lightness, speed and elegance”, and it has been that enthusiasm which has led him to want to form the new group. Once the idea had formed in his mind, the elements fell into place with remarkable ease.
Kuhn and Thibaud Cellier happened to meet at the Sons d’Hiver festival, chatted, and before long they were talking about a drummer to work with to form a trio: Sylvain Darrifourcq was the obvious choice. Darrifourcq remembers that in 2009, the pianist had been highly enthusiastic about his work in the Emile Parisien Quartet. For Darrifourcq that had been an incredible affirmation and validation at the time: “It was fantastic to have his encouragement.”
So the plan was made for Darrifourcq and Cellier to head to Ibiza for a few days in June 2023. Kuhn has a good Steinway in Ibiza, keeps it regularly tuned, and does a lot of recording of what he plays. Sometimes he has a particular aim in mind, such as the magnificent solo album “Touch the Light” (ACT, 2021) which was all recorded at home. In general terms he had got into the habit recording his playing at home.
Once the three started playing, Darrifourcq was amazed how well it all fitted together. Darrifourcq is a huge admirer of the German pianist: “What I adore is level of intent and the variety he has in his playing. He can go straighr from being serious and intense to something light and really playful”
