Veteran pianist
Steve Kuhn and his trio (with bassist
David Finck and drummer
Al Foster) dig into six Spanish and Mexican melodies with
Quiereme Mucho, turning them into straight-ahead jazz. Latin rhythms are largely absent from a set that includes "Andalucia" ("The Breeze and I"), an up-tempo "Besame Mucho" and "Time Was" ("Duerme"). The music in general is boppish and full of wit, with
Kuhn often quoting other unexpected songs along the way.
Finck and
Foster have their brief spots but this is largely
Steve Kuhn's show. The music may have been largely de-Latinized but the result is one of
Kuhn's most swinging recordings. ~ Scott Yanow