Bill Kuhn
For Bill Kuhn, music has never been just a career— it has been a lifelong calling that began at the age of 4 when he received his first drum set. More than six decades later, the Peters Township resident is still performing, producing and shaping the sound of Pittsburgh’ s jazz and R & B scene.“ I knew then I had a love for music that would last a lifetime,” says Kuhn.
Raised in a family that valued music, Kuhn was introduced early to the rich cultural landscape of Pittsburgh’ s jazz scene. By the time he graduated from high school, he was already performing with seasoned musicians across the region. His early years were defined by constant performance— nightclubs, weddings, concert venues and jam sessions that stretched into the early morning hours.
“ Life was good,” he recalls of that era, when live music filled hotel ballrooms and stages across the city.
That vibrant musical culture, shaped by the city’ s location between major hubs like New York and Chicago, brought worldclass artists through Pittsburgh— and gave local musicians the chance to learn, collaborate and grow. Kuhn became part of that legacy, performing and recording alongside notable local and internationally known artists Joe and Bobby Negri, Kenny Blake, Gene Ludwig, Sean Jones, Bucky Pizzarelli and many more.
But like many in the business, Kuhn’ s path wasn’ t without challenges. As the steel industry declined and live music opportunities dwindled, he made the difficult decision to return to school, eventually building a parallel career as a biomedical engineer while continuing to perform.
“ But I never stopped playing,” he says— clearly defining both his resilience and his passion.
Today, Kuhn remains deeply connected to the local music scene, performing with longtime collaborators including pianist Max Leake and bassist Mike Houlis. Together, they form the core of Nice Guise— a group known for blending contemporary jazz with creative interpretations of popular music.
Their recent project— a retrospective honoring Herbie Hancock— celebrated one of the most influential figures in modern jazz. The May 29 performance at Con Alma offered audiences a journey through Hancock’ s groundbreaking career, from soulful classics to genre-defying fusion. Nice Guise, that same rhythm section featuring Mark Lucas on guitar, will be at Con Alma Thursday July.
“ Jazz is truly America’ s musical gift to the world,” says Kuhn.“ Any one of us can play with another jazz musician anywhere, without saying a word— we all speak the same language.”
That sense of connection continues to drive him. Even after retiring from his engineering career, Kuhn remains focused on performing, collaborating and mentoring the next generation of musicians. While he acknowledges that today’ s young artists have greater access to resources and technology, he also reflects on what’ s been lost.
“ There are very few places left to play or hear live music anymore,” he notes, emphasizing the importance of venues like Con Alma in preserving the city’ s musical heritage.
Still, Kuhn is optimistic. Surrounded by talented collaborators and fueled by a deep love for the art form, he continues to look ahead.
“ I’ m most excited about continuing to perform as often as possible, with the finest musicians,” he says.
And after a lifetime spent behind the drum kit, one thing is certain— Bill Kuhn isn’ t slowing down anytime soon. n
PETERS TOWNSHIP | JUNE / JULY 2026 61