"A trumpeter of open-ended perspective". "Kirk Knuffke has found solid footing"
--The New York Times

Kirk Knuffke will present all new compositions for this special concert with an all new trio with Kenny Wollesen (drums) and Lisle Ellis (bass).
www.kirkknuffke.com

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 a Sextet with Butch Morris. Although trumpeter Kirk Knuffke is a fresh face to the international jazz scene, he has been remarkably active in the last few years. Besides his work a member of Butch Morris' Orchestra Slang, the Nublu Orchestra, Jeff Davis Band, Ideal Bread, and Kenny Wollesen's Wollesonic, he has played on stage or recorded with, among others, Graham Haynes, Eddie Henderson, Daniel Carter, John Zorn, Tony Malaby, Dave Douglas, Briggan Krauss, and Steven Bernstein. “Big Wig� was Knuffke's debut record, released in May of 2008 on Clean Feed Records and greeted with strong international reviews. 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. “Open� and “straight-ahead� are terms that simultaneously apply to the work of Kirk Knuffke.  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 will be 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 includes, playing the tunes of Thelonius Monk and Duke Ellington in a duet with pianist Jesse Stacken their first cd will be released on SteepleChase records this summer.