STEPHEN RILEY - Lover
Steeplechase SCCD 31765
Stephen Riley (ts); Peter Zak (pno); Neal Caine (bass); Jason Marsalis (d)
Recorded January 2012.
Riley favours a soft focus, laid back sound and, indeed, he is so relaxed and feather -light he makes Stan Getz and Lester Young sound loud and boisterous! The quartet start out with Nice Work If You Can Get It and the tenor man runs through several choruses without referring to the melody once. A sturdy bass solo from Caine follows, and then a short piano segment and the leader returns to show us he does know the melody very well. It is a lightweight, gently swinging performance which continues throughout the rest of the recorded programme. These four are very compatible and particularly the union between tenor sax and piano. Riley often prefers to play in a trio context where he is not relying on a chordal instrument or, indeed, overwhelmed by it. He is very complimentary about Zak in the sleeve notes and listening to these tracks it is easy to hear why.
Peter Zak’s spare piano lines never intrude or interfere with Riley’s light improvised lines and lyrical sound. He is the ideal accompanist for the leader and the two can be heard enjoying playing together. There are several good examples of their compatibility here; perhaps outstanding, is the ballad playing of the leader on Splendored Thing, warm and breathy with Zak’s glittering, minimal piano lines behind him and in solo, enhancing the performance wonderfully.
Although having less to do and mainly in accompaniment, Caine and the youngest member of the Marsalis musical family, drummer Jason, provide rock solid support throughout. If you like your jazz gentle, swinging and without fireworks or sudden explosions of power, this one is for you.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Steeplechase SCCD 31765
Stephen Riley (ts); Peter Zak (pno); Neal Caine (bass); Jason Marsalis (d)
Recorded January 2012.
Riley favours a soft focus, laid back sound and, indeed, he is so relaxed and feather -light he makes Stan Getz and Lester Young sound loud and boisterous! The quartet start out with Nice Work If You Can Get It and the tenor man runs through several choruses without referring to the melody once. A sturdy bass solo from Caine follows, and then a short piano segment and the leader returns to show us he does know the melody very well. It is a lightweight, gently swinging performance which continues throughout the rest of the recorded programme. These four are very compatible and particularly the union between tenor sax and piano. Riley often prefers to play in a trio context where he is not relying on a chordal instrument or, indeed, overwhelmed by it. He is very complimentary about Zak in the sleeve notes and listening to these tracks it is easy to hear why.
Peter Zak’s spare piano lines never intrude or interfere with Riley’s light improvised lines and lyrical sound. He is the ideal accompanist for the leader and the two can be heard enjoying playing together. There are several good examples of their compatibility here; perhaps outstanding, is the ballad playing of the leader on Splendored Thing, warm and breathy with Zak’s glittering, minimal piano lines behind him and in solo, enhancing the performance wonderfully.
Although having less to do and mainly in accompaniment, Caine and the youngest member of the Marsalis musical family, drummer Jason, provide rock solid support throughout. If you like your jazz gentle, swinging and without fireworks or sudden explosions of power, this one is for you.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell