Christian Kühn guitar & composition · Sofia Salvo alto & baritone saxophone · Ziv Taubenfeld bass clarinet · Esat Ekincioglu bass · George Hadow drums
Led by guitarist and composer Christian Kühn, this multicultural band defies musical purity laws with fearless creativity and explosive stage energy. Kuhn Fu tears apart jazz conventions and rebuilds them into something wildly original.
Imagine Zappa meeting cabaret; surf sounds and metal riffs riding the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, while Mingus, The Who, Stravinsky and Moondog act as spiritual godfathers. With Kuhn Fu, expect the unexpected. Just as the audience settles into a groove, a sudden twist reshapes the entire sonic landscape.
Kuhn Fu stands for shock moments you fall in love with — absurdity, humour, and an almost otherworldly energy balanced between parody and deep artistic seriousness.
Founded in 2012 in Groningen, Netherlands, the band features a fierce woodwind section and a powerhouse rhythm section. They have released six studio albums and two live recordings, were nominated for the German Jazz Prize 2023 (Composition of the Year), and have performed over 400 concerts across 23 European countries.
“Consistently and harmoniously, the accomplished musicians combine anarchic wit with individual virtuosity, while Kühn’s clever arrangements provide guardrails for their often breathtaking journey.” — FAZ, Norbert Krampf
“Furious urgency with the greatest apparent casualness, intricate complexity with the greatest palatability — Kuhn Fu combines these phenomenally well.” — Frankfurter Rundschau
“Organised chaos at its mightiest!” — Jazzwise (Cologne Jazzweek)
“Kuhn Fu lives up to its martial name. The multicultural jazz ensemble brings enormous energy to the stage while demonstrating wonderful togetherness in music.” — Süddeutsche Zeitung
“This is how jazz or improvisational music can sound today — risky and uncompromising. We bow!” — Jazz Podium Magazine (Top 3 Best Albums)
“This double album deserves an audience beyond jazz specialists — and if Kuhn Fu performs near you: go!” — BR Culture Night
