Albums

As Leader

Feathered THings - out July 24, 2026

Feathered Things is the new release from Chicago trumpeter Emily Kuhn and her quintet. Following the acclaimed Ghosts of Us, the record finds Kuhn and her bandmates pushing their sound into new territory while deepening the collective musical voice that has defined the group since its formation.The songs use imagery of feathers, flight, fire, and snow to explore themes of hope and resilience, painting hope as something wild and fragile, tenacious and sometimes heartbreaking, but always essential.

Emily Kuhn - trumpet/flugelhorn/effects/compositions
Meghan Stagl - piano/vocals
Erik Skov - guitar/effects
Kitt Lyles - bass
Gustavo Cortiñas - drums

This project is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Pre-order Feathered Things on Bandcamp

Ghosts of Us (2023)

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.

Emily Kuhn - trumpet and compositions
Meghan Stagl - piano
Erik Skov - guitar
Kitt Lyles - bass
Gustavo Cortiñas - drums

This project is partially supported by a Project Grant from the Luminarts Cultural Foundation and an Individual Artists Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Buy “Ghosts of Us" on Bandcamp

Sky Stories (2020)

Sky Stories is the debut record of trumpeter Emily Kuhn, out via BACE Records. Featuring her chamber jazz nonet, Helios, and her free jazz quartet, Kuhn/Suihkonen/Friedman/Ernst, the album features a collection of original songs celebrating the vast and intimate landscapes and skies of the Midwest.

Helios features Mercedes Inez Martinez (vocals), Emily Kuhn (trumpet), Max Bessesen (saxes), Myra Hinrichs (violin), Lucia Thomas (violin), Erendira Izguerra (violin), Christine Fliginger (viola), Danny Hoppe (cello), Ben Cruz (guitar), Evan Levine (bass), and Gustavo Cortiñas (drums).

Kuhn/Suihkonen/Friedman/Ernst features Emily Kuhn (trumpet), Joe Suihkonen (trumpet), Katie Ernst (bass), and Nate Friedman (drums).

The album was recorded with support from Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Buy "Sky Stories" on Bandcamp