Phil Kuehn – Bass
Philip Kuehn is an accomplished bassist, arranger, composer, audio producer, and educator whose career spans over two decades across the concert stage, recording studio, and classroom. He has performed with world-renowned artistsincluding Quincy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Harry Connick Jr., Take 6, Branford Marsalis, Cyrille Aimée, Anthony Hamilton, Roy Hargrove, Kyle Athayde & Eddie Barbash. His artistry is featured on the Grammy-winning Disney/Pixar film Soul and includes a celebrated collaboration with Quincy Jones to arrange for the Beethoven Orchester Bonn in honor of Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary.
Kuehn’s high-profile performances include appearing alongside Jon Batiste at the White House for President Biden’s 2022 State Dinner, playing regularly with Batiste’s ensembles (including the “Stay Human” band from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), and contributing five orchestral arrangements for strings and choir to the acclaimed album Christmas with Jon Batiste, which reached #3 on the Billboard Jazz chart.
Philip’s love for music began at home, nurtured by his parents, both musicians, who encouraged him to explore sound and melody from a young age. By age four, he was singing along to classical compositions, and by twelve, he had already found his place in the vibrant Pittsburgh jazz scene.
His teenage years were shaped by the guidance of respected mentors including Dwayne Dolphin, Jeff Mangone, and Jeff Grubbs, and by the legendary drummer Roger Humphries, who invited him to join jam sessions and gigs that sharpened his skills and deepened his passion for live performance. Alongside childhood friends Joe Saylor and Angelo Versace, Philip formed a trio that played throughout Western Pennsylvania and beyond, building the foundation for his future career.
(biographical information from artist’s website)
The transcription is a simple and very slow ballad that gives fresh readers a chance to play a beautiful tune without too many rocks in the road. Phil’s complete bass performance for the tune ‘Twilight (Ballad)’ from the 2012 Victor Goines album of the same name.