Emily Kuhn releases first single, "Respire" from upcoming album Ghosts of Us

Chicago-based trumpet player Emily Kuhn has made a name for herself as a composer and trumpeter with a distinctively lyrical voice. With her sophomore album, “Ghosts of Us,” she brings this lyricism to her quintet featuring some of Chicago’s most creative and dynamic improvisers: Erik Skov on guitar, Meghan Stagl on piano, Kitt Lyles on bass, and Gustavo Cortiñas on drums. The group relies on their strong foundation of musical trust to deftly navigate influences from jazz, rock, chamber music, and Americana.

“Respire”, written by Kuhn before the pandemic and brought to full jazz-rock fruition in collaboration with her quintet, is inspired by the moments of stillness that follow challenging times, when the world seems to pause to catch its breath. The track puts Kuhn’s expansive trumpet concept front and center, opening with wide-interval melodies resting on pillowy guitar chords. As ever-evolving textures swirl on top of a patient drum rhythm, the band slowly builds towards a climax that is at once buoyant and somber. 

Full album available June 23rd on Digital, CD and LP