Pierre Dørge and his New Jungle Orchestra are celebrating their 30th anniversary this month. To commemorate this milestone of the NJO history, SteepleChase is proud to announce the special release of this 5-CD set of material recorded originally for Olufsen Records during the period 1988 to 1994. The original tapes were used for re-mastering to improve the sound quality. The set includes 7 previously unissued tracks.

American trumpeter Red Rodney (1927-1994) came into the spotlight with his legendary firecracker pace and pitch late 40s and was hired by Charlie Parker to replace Miles Davis in his quintet (1949-1951). In spite of his turbulent life during the 60s and 70s Rodney made a comeback to the world scene in the 80s. For the interesting details, do read Chris Sheridan’s liner notes included in this release. This 1988 studio recording took place in Copenhagen, Denmark where he lived a couple of years. “...this excellent and restrained session will bring more accolades to this little giant of jazz, Red Rodney.” (Jazznews) “Here is one of the most listenable Red Rodney records to come along in years .... It is Rodney’s superbly lyrical work that makes this an essential record.” (Jazz Journal)

Tenor saxophonist Brew Moore (1924 - 1973) made only a small number of recordings and this is one of the very few on CD. Moore was greatly influenced by Lester Young and was a lyrical swinging player. This recording is from the Danish Radio’s bi-weekly broadcasting in the mid 60s. “...it is straightforward and honest music...from the heart.” (T. Sjøgren)

In the summer of 1989 when this album was recorded in sweltering heat of NYC pianist/composer Jim McNeely at the age of 40 had already had an impressive track record of performing with prominent players such as Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, Dave Liebman, the Thad Jones/Mel Louis Orchestra, among others. McNeely, now a celebrated veteran himself, has earned ten nominations of the Grammy Awards and worked as conductor/composer/soloist-in-residence with a handful of radio orchestras of European major cities including Copenhagen, Frankfurt, etc., besides leading his own group. “This must be one of the finest piano trio albums I’ve heard, well, since the last by Jim McNeely… His musical sensitivity and sophistication make this album a constant joy.” (Any Hamilton – Wire UK on Winds Of Change)

Here’s the sequel to SCS 1222 “Nuage” recorded a day after (May 25, 1986) at The Slukefter in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen. American drummer Ed Thigpen joined the group. Boulou Ferré (b. April 24, 1951 in Paris, France) is one of the greatest French contemporary virtuoso jazz guitarists of the manouche (gypsy jazz) tradition. He was awarded “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Cultural Ministry in 2012. Together with his younger brother Elios Ferré, also a jazz guitarist, Boulou recorded seven albums for SteepleChase. " ... the music sparkles from the word 'go' with Parker's Confirmation...Well recorded and musically very impressive, Try and hear it." (David Lands, Jazz Journal International)

Bassist Mike Richmond billed as the leader of this trio LP recorded in Hamburg, Germany in the early summer of 1988 was a guest performer at the NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) radio big band together with the two American colleagues, Larry Schneider (saxophone) and Adam Nussbaum (drums). When they were not rehearsing or playing with the big band, they formed a trio and started developing a program for the recording for SteepleChase. So here’s the youthful Schneider/Richmond/Nussbaum coalition to present an engaging trio jazz. “The leader … (with) steadfast mainstream- modern reputation pilots the trio with great enthusiasm.” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz - on SCS 1237)

Dexter In Radioland vol. 6 With his favourite rhythm section, Dexter leads the proceedings of this sixth volume of live transmission from the 60’s European jazz Mecca Montmartre . “This excellent series of records which starts with Montmartre Jazzhus live date from 1962 documents the way in which Gordon was playing when he arrived in Europe ... They prove that he was playing very well at the time...” (Barry McRae, Jazz Journal International)

Trumpeter Bill Hardman (1933–1990) was a long-time front-line Jazz Messenger. This New York session from the summer of 1989 became Hardman’s last recording. Bill Hardman was one of the leading trumpeters in the hard bop era of 50s playing with Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Charles Mingus among others. Hardman lived in Paris in the last years of his life. “(Hardman) has cultivated a strikingly personal style, which emerges on this album.” (Birger Jørgensen – Århus Stiftstidende on What’s Up) “… in 1989 he made an excellent sextet album, What’s Up (SteepleChase), reuniting with Cook and adding Robin Eubanks’ trombone. At about the same time he moved to Paris, where he died Dec. 5th, 1990 of a cerebral stroke at 57.” (from the article Lest We Forget by George Kanzler – NYCJR Dec. 2020)

Pianist and composer Albert Dailey (1938 - 1984) started taking piano lessons at the age of six and later studied piano and composition at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. In 1964 Dailey moved to New York and since then until his untimely death at the age of 46 he had been one of the most sought after pianists having played with Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Sarah Vaughan, Stan Getz to mention a few. “...a jazz master at work. an outstandingly good album.” (Jazz Journal)

“colorful, witty, unpredictable, inventive and swinging” is what jazz critic Scott Yanow observes of cornetist/composer Knuffke. He created here an astoundingly musical sounding board by the two phenomenal double bass players: SteepleChase stalwart Jay Anderson (left channel) and Swedish born Thommy Andersson (right channel). 180g Audiophile Vinyl

John Hart’s collaboration with SteepleChase started in 2016 with sideman role on the late alto sax Andy Fusco’s Turmoil (SCCD 31843). The guitarist/composer/educator Hart since has kept releasing a barrage of highly acclaimed leader albums. On this his fifth outing he has assembled an impeccable quartet featuring Rich Perry on tenor and Brian Charette on B-3. “He has just released Resonance (2023) on SteepleChase, his fifth date for the legendary Danish label headed by Nils Winther. Labelmate, tenor saxophonist Rich Perry joins him along with organist Brian Charette and longtime collaborator Steve Johns handling the percussion duties. The breadth and eclecticism of Resonance’s playlist is plainly evident from Hart’s illustrious recording pedigree. We hear a refreshing mix of five originals and four standards.” (Frank Griffith – UK JAZZ NEWS) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

This recording, the fifth release by trumpeter/composer/educator John McNeil on SteepleChase took place during the summer of 1983 in Denmark at jazz club Montmartre as a part of the graduation concert of the famed Jamey Aebersold Jazz School. John toured Europe as a member of the staff of the Jamey Aebersold Jazz School and led this exciting group consist of the fellow “all-star teachers”: Dave Liebman, Jim McNeely, Ron McClure and Ed Soph. McNeil made this concert as a field study of “how-to-make-a-live-recording” for the students in the audience. One of the most influential trumpet players today John McNeil released his first album “Embarkation” SCCD 31099 in 1978 on SteepleChase and gained wider recognition as a member of the Horace Silver Quintet in the late 1970s. McNeil in recent years has been in great demand as a writer, arranger and record producer.

Duke Jordan (1922-2006) famous for his intense lyricism embarked on the world jazz scene as a member of the classic Charlie Parker Quintet in the late 40s with his trademark introduction to “Embraceable You”. Jordan unlike many other American jazz musicians in Bebop era found his artistic and personal living space in Europe since the early 70s. His extensive recording output on SteepleChase including this album from 1985 recorded in Denmark makes up the huge part of his discography. “A most agreeable set that is both eminently listenable and very enterprising .… Jordan was always a fleetly swinging but subtle pianist whose all-round musicianship has never got the recognition it merits. This fine trio deserves to sell well and spared his name further afield.” (Richard Palmer, Jazz Journal International)

This is the second transmission of the Danish Radio’s bi-weekly jazz programme two weeks after the first volume “If I Had You” SCCD 36016. “...Moore knew how to tell a story... he beguiled many of us back then and still does...” (Mark Gardner)

Pianist Joe Bonner (1948 – 2014) was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina where Thelonious Monk was born about three decades earlier and left strong influence on the young pianist. An impressive modernist Joe Bonner performed in and around Denver, Colorado towards the end of his life and became a legendary figure. He spent considerable time in Denmark during the 80s. This album from Copenhagen in March 1987 is a studio recording with another American expatriate Bob Rockwell on tenor. "...The Lost Melody is a good group session, marked by strong charts ...." (The Penguin Guide to JAZZ) "... one cannot but admire the fluency and precision, the dexterous right hand...the diversity in his play is a mark of a great pianist..." (Jean-Paul Ricard, Diapason)

This LP was originally released in the summer of 1989 with Doug Raney at age 33. He released during his rather short life (1956 – 2016) 17 leader albums for SteepleChase including this 13th piano-less horn-featured recording which won accolades from critics all over the world. “...Doug Raney is an elegant player even when he’s attacking, as he does here on most of the content .... Certainly recommended if you enjoy your jazz slightly in advance of bebop, but with all of that basic feel still there.” (Martin Richards on SCS 1249, Jazz Journal International) “...no doubt, another in the string of successful Raney releases.” (Paul B. Matthews on SCS 1249, Cadence)

Roger “Buck” Hill (1927-2017) was a full-time employee of a Washington D.C. post office when his much-acclaimed debut album was released from SteepleChase in 1978. Since then this legendary tenorman has invested more of his time in the musical activities and has regularly brought his band to the enthusiastic European audience. He otherwise performed after work at local live spots, sometimes with visiting artists such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, among others. “Buck Hill is one of the most notable ‘regional’ jazzmen in America … SteepleChase albums feature Hill with two different rhythm sections, … each winds up with the same result: honest, proficient blowing that has its individual clout…” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz)