Stephen Riley with Ernest Turner - Original Mind (September 17, 2021 Cellar Live)

Saxophonist Stephen Riley and pianist Ernest Turner present a poignantly beautiful set of originals and standards.

Hailing from North Carolina, tenor saxophonist Stephen Riley and pianist Ernest Turner come together to present a poignantly beautiful set of original compositions and standards. Recorded in a beautiful house on the West side of Vancouver, BC, Canada the sound quality is absolutely wonderful, capturing every single nuance. The interplay between the two musicians is purely magic. Features a beautiful tune selection including some original material, lesser known standards and a gospel hymn that highlights the wonderfully unique tenor saxophone sound of Stephen Riley.

1. Doris

2. Among My Souvenirs

3. Beautiful Moon Age

4. J

5. Namely You

6. Sophisticated Lady

7. Light Blue

8. Turnin'

9. Blessed Assurance

Stephen Riley – tenor saxophone

Ernest Turner - piano

Executive Producer: Cory Weeds

Produced by Cory Weeds and Stephen Riley

Recorded at Will and Norah’s in Vancouver, BC on November 30th, 2019

Engineered mixed and mastered by Sheldon Zaharko

Photography by Cory Weeds

Cover Art by Norah Johnston

Design and layout by John Sellards

PREORDER

Stephen Riley - Hold ‘Em Joe (SteepleChase Productions ApS 2018)

Since Stephen Riley made his recording debut as a leader on SteepleChase with piano-less trio SCCD 31584 Inside Out (2005), this trimmed down format has stayed with Riley on many recordings including this latest album, which pays tribute to the great Sonny Rollins who first recorded this format in 1957.

STEPHEN RILEY tenor saxophone

JAY ANDERSON bass

ADAM NUSSBAUM drums

1 I Never Knew (Ted Fio Rito) 4:59

2 Where Or When (Richard Rodgers) 5:21

3 Hold ‘Em Joe (Harry Belafonte) 5:18

4 Darn That Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen) 7:37

5 Three Little Words (Harry Ruby / Burt Kalmar) 4:00

6 Woody ‘n’ You (Dizzy Gillespie) 7:18

7 Almost Like Being In Love (Frederick Loewe) 7:00

8 You’ve Changed (Carl Fischer) 7:32

9 I’m An Old Cowhand (Johnny Mercer) 3:59

10 I Don’t Stand A Ghost Of A Chance (Victor Young) 7:02

11 The Song Is You (Jerome Kern) 6:29

John Ray Trio - The Birthday Gig (2018)

This was recorded at my regular Thursday gig, at a small jazz club in Winston-Salem called Southside. My regular drummer, Jonathan Greene, couldn't make the gig, so I called up Kassem Williams. I'd never played with him before but seen him play a few times and really dug playing with him. Also, Stephen Riley, my FAVORITE tenor sax player in the world, and, objectively, one of the best in the world, showed up and sat in on the last three tunes. Unfortunately it was my birthday and I'd been drinking already, so I feel like I played a little sloppy. But this recording turned out great and I'm overall very happy with the show.

1. Intro 01:53

2. McCoy - feat. Stephen Riley 13:12

3. Afro Blue 10:32

4. Little Sunflower - feat. Stephen Riley 17:24

5. Impressions 10:47

6. Afro Two -feat. Nishah Dimeo and Stephen Riley 17:29

7. Butterfly 11:42

Michael Kinchen, keys

Kassem Williams, drums

Stephen Riley, tenor sax

Nishah Dimeo, vocals

John Daniel Ray, bass

Recorded, mixed and mastered by John Daniel Ray

©2018 Mr. Haircut

www.johndanielray.com

www.mrhaircut.org

Pierre Dørge - Soundscapes (SteepleChase Productions ApS 2018)

To say “Pierre Dørge” and not to follow it with “& New Jungle Orchestra” is almost impossible.

Dørge created that small big band in 1980, which became a successful and stable vehicle for his adventurous music. They toured all over the world and built an impressive discography along the way.

The guitarist/composer/bandleader, however, has never neglected to seek new palette to draw his music in smaller ensembles.

Following highly acclaimed quartet release “Blui” of 2016, Dørge surrounds himself with all American colleagues who have deep understanding of Pierre Dørge’s unique soundscapes.

“It’s an inspired collection of musicians and all serve the material well, eight songs written by Dørge …. When people think of Dørge, they tend to gravitate toward the NJO releases but his small-group recordings provide an excellent alternative and a more expansive picture of this unique guitarist.”

(Robert Iannapollo – NYC Jazz Record on SCCD 31797 “Blui”)

1 MINGUS’ BIRTHDAY PARTY 6:07

2 LULLABY FOR SUN RA 8:10

3 ENIGMATIC TWILIGHT 6:09

4 ALLIGATOR IN PARADISE 5:07

5 BAMBLA JOLIFANTI 6:59

6 AFRIKAA MBIZO DYANI 8:51

7 A ROSE FOR LAURENT 5:15

8 MIRJAM’S DADA DANCE 6:53

9 SIM SIM BA 8:04

Composed by Pierre Dørge

PIERRE DØRGE guitar

KIRK KNUFFKE cornet

STEPHEN RILEY tenor saxophone

CONRAD HERWIG trombone

JAY ANDERSON bass

ADAM NUSSBAUM drums

Allegra Levy - Cities Between Us (SteepleChase Records 2017)

Burgeoning vocalist/composer/lyricist Allegra Levy grabbed attention of critics and public with her 2014 debut album “Lonely City” SCCD 33118.

Allen Morrison of Downbeat remarked, “Allegra Levy has a pleasing alto, a sultry delivery and a propensity to swing. Her debut album, Lonely City, is consistently engaging.”

“Discovering a fresh, dynamic jazz voice is always a delight. When the singer proves an equally gifted songwriter, the pleasure is squared. Allegra Levy is one such double-barreled talent.” (Christopher Loudon – JazzTimes)

Here on her new album, Allegra teamed-up with a powerhouse quintet tells her stories in both contemporary and timeless fashion.

1. Cherry Blossom Song 6:38

2. Lullaby of the Orient 5:13

3. I Shouldn't Tell You 5:24

4. Misery Makes the Music 4:12

5. Yesterdays 5:07

6. Dear Friend 5:14

7. Sleepwalk with Me (In Sek Tong Tsui) 5:28

8. Soy Califa 4:37

9. Leaving Today 8:40

10.Down Sunday 6:18

11. Cities Between Us

Allegra Levy vocal

Kirk Knuffke cornet

Stephen Riley tenor saxophone

Carmen Staaf piano

Jay Anderson bass

Billy Drummond drums

Stephen Riley & Peter Zak - Deuce (SteepleChase Productions ApS 2017)

Stephen Riley started his recording career with SteepleChase in 2005 with an amazing (and unusual) piano-less trio SCCD 31584 Inside Out. Since then he had more often than not opted for the piano-less format until he recorded his 2013 quartet release SCCD 31765 Lover with Peter Zak on piano.

Riley and Zak started performing as duo and made their first duo release SCCD 31806 Haunted Heart to critical and public acclaim. So here’s “Deuce” to follow up by the empathic twosome.

“…This session is his third meeting with pianist Peter Zak, whose sensitive accompaniment allows Riley the breathing room he thought could only be found in pianoless groups. This time, however, it’s just the pair, finding new avenues through a mix of jazz standards and gems from the Great American Songbook. Without timekeeping by a rhythm section, the players rely on intuition to anticipate their joint path…. With Haunted Heart, Stephen Riley and Peter Zak have achieved that rare chemistry that demands future projects together.”
(Ken Dryden, New York City Jazz Record on “Haunted Heart” SCCD 31806)

STEPHEN RILEY tenor saxophone

PETER ZAK piano

1 PLEASE (Ralph Rainger) 7:50

2 LOVER MAN (Ram Ramirez) 7:01

3 EVERYTHING HAPPENS TO ME (Matt Dennis) 5:51

4 INTERLUDE 1 (Stephen Riley) 1:31

5 TETRAGON (Joe Henderson) 6:45

6 INTERLUDE 2 (Stephen Riley) 0:48

7 WHO? (Jerome Kern) 6:07

8 SHALA (Peter Zak) 6:28

9 PANNONICA (Thelonious Monk) 6:16

10 INTERLUDE 3 (Stephen Riley) 1:46

11 EXACTLY LIKE YOU (Jimmy McHugh) 7:29

12 WITHOUT A SONG (Vincent Youmans) 8:30

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