Steve Khan


Steve Khan is an American jazz guitarist.

Early life, family and education

Steven Harris Cahn was born in Los Angeles, California. His father, lyricist Sammy Cahn, "loved to hear any and all versions of his songs". Steve took piano lessons as a child.
He graduated from UCLA with a degree in music composition and theory.

Career

Cahn played drums for the surf rock band the Chantays. The band's guitarist exposed him to the albums Tough Talk by The Crusaders and Movin' Wes by Wes Montgomery. In his late teens, Cahn quit the drums and started playing guitar. He was a member of the R&B band Friends of Distinction, recorded with keyboardist Phil Moore, then played on the album Bullitt by Wilton Felder. Despite his father's advice to avoid a career in the music business, he graduated from UCLA with a degree in music composition and theory. Early in his career, Khan changed the spelling of his surname in order to "create a separate identity from famous father" and because he was "so hurt and angry with him for so many childhood things."
In the early 1970s, he performed in an acoustic guitar duo with Larry Coryell and was a member of the Brecker Brothers band. As a session musician, he appeared on albums by Ashford & Simpson, Rupert Holmes, Billy Joel, and Steely Dan. He was signed to Columbia Records through the efforts of Bobby Colomby and Bob James. On his first three albums Tightrope, The Blue Man, and Arrows, he was trying "to single-handledly keep alive the sound of the original Brecker Brothers band." His next album was Evidence, which contained an eighteen-minute medley of songs by Thelonious Monk.
He has also produced recordings for fellow guitarists Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, Biréli Lagrène, and Bill Connors, as well as pianist Eliane Elias.

Awards and honors

As leader

As sideman

Books

  • Pentatonic Khancepts
  • Contemporary Chord Khancepts
  • Wes Montgomery Guitar Folio
  • ''Pat Martino: The Early Years''