Steve Khan
Steve Khan ( born April 28, 1947 in Los Angeles ) is an American fusion guitarist.
Life and work
Khan comes from a musical family. The son of the songwriter Sammy Cahn received from the age of five piano lessons, but later switched to drums, which he played with the Chantays and in other bands. During his studies (music and psychology) at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1966, he moved to the guitar; He took private lessons with Ron Anthony. In 1969 he moved to New York City where he played with James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Diane Schuur and Blood, Sweat & Tears as well as with George Benson, Hubert Laws, Bob James, Don Grolnick, Billy Cobham and Tom Scott. His engagements with the Brecker Brothers (until 1977 ) and Steely Dan helped that his qualities were evident as a studio guitarist. Since 1974 he has also performed as a guitar duo with Larry Coryell.
From 1977 he presented his own albums. He toured with the " CBS All Stars " and in 1981 with his own group " Eye Witness ".
In 1986 he was a member of Joe Zawinul's " Weather Update" before he toured with "Elements" and with Mike Mainieri. His album " Local Color " (1987) with Rob Mounsey was nominated for a Grammy. On Miles Davis ' recording of the album Amandla (1989 ) he was involved.
In 1994, he was with Anthony Jackson and Dennis Chambers on a European tour ( The Suite Case. Live in Cologne). A tour of Japan with Dave Samuels ' Project A Tribute to Cal Tjader brought both the idea together with Dave Valentin to found the Caribbean Jazz Project, on the first two albums ("New Horizons ", 2000; " Paraiso ", 2001 ) he participated had. With John Patitucci and Jack DeJohnette it forms since the mid-1990s a trio.
Khan has also worked as a music educator, journalist and producer; he has written textbooks as " Pentatonic Khancepts " or "Contemporary Chord Khancepts " (both 2002). On his website you will also find Khan's transcriptions of solos of other musicians, such as Wes Montgomery or John Scofield.
From the Japanese journal Jazzlife Khan was declared one of the 22 most important jazz guitarists of all time.
Disco Graphical Notes
- The Collection (1977-1979, compilation of the albums Tightrope, The Blue Man and Arrows )
- Evidence ( 1980 solo album )
- Casa Loco (1983 )
- Crossings (1994 )
- You Are Here ( 1997)
- The Green Field ( 2005)
Lexigraphic entries
- Martin Kunzler, Jazz Encyclopedia Vol 1 Reinbek 2002; ISBN 3-499-16512-0