Award-winning American saxophonist/composer Bob Rockwell grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and after touring the USA with various rock and r&b bands in the late 60s and early 70s Rockwell settled in New York to seek his place in jazz. He established himself quickly playing with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Tito Puente, Ben Sidran, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Drummond, Billy Hart, Tom Harrell, Richie Beirach, among others, demonstrating his immense skills and versatility. Since 1983 Rockwell calls Denmark his home where he leads his band and performs and records all over Europe. Rockwell recorded eight leader albums for SteepleChase. This his second release features the late pianist Butch Lacy (1947-2018), another American expatriate of his generation. "Rockwell is simply one of the heaviest players in his genre anywhere." (Thomas Conrad – JazzTimes) “Bob Rockwell is a warm-toned tenor player whose love of Coltrane becomes most apparent at higher intensity levels. For most of the time this is spirited but non-too-aggressive modern tenor playing.” (John Robert Brown – Jazz Journal on On The Natch)

This summit meeting of the two giants of post-war American jazz attracted enormous attention and accolade from the world jazz fans when released in 1974. Jackie McLean (1931 - 2006) and Dexter Gordon (1923 - 1990) who were at their pinnacle of creative aptitude joined forces to thrill the packed fans at Copenhagen’s Jazzhus Montmartre in the summer of 1973. After 49 years this 180g audiophile version may bring back the heat wave of jazz in Europe of the 70s. “…McLean and Dexter are naturals to play together and on this album they are both at their best.” (B. McRae – Jazz Journal) “This LP is a live recording of the best jazz performance from European live scene of 1973. I firmly believe that this document will carry its immortal value for the years to come…” (Teruo Isono – Swing Journal) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Pianist and Professor Emeritus of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University Chuck Marohnic (b. 1941) has an impressive background having played with Ira Sullivan, Eddie Jefferson & Richie Cole, Bill Hardman, Junior Cook, Chet Baker, Buddy Rich to mention a few. Marohnic was in Denmark in the summer of 1981 in European tour. He recorded this intriguing solo album in Copenhagen. “The eight performances here are bright and absorbing examples of what Marohnic means when he says that awareness of the harmonic permutations of a tune gives a musician great freedom....” (Chris Sheridan)

Bassist David Friesen recorded this extraordinary solo album without overdub in 1978. It is not, however, just a display of incredible technique Friesen has on his instrument, but it is also his enormous talent in composition that this album features. Friesen was a frequent guest player in Scandinavia in the late 70s and the early 80s participating apart from this solo release three other albums as sideman on SteepleChase. “Full marks also for David Friesen whose bass lines constantly support the two main soloists (Duke Jordan and Art Farmer).” Mark Gardner linernotes SCCD31103 Duke’s Artistry 1978. “David Friesen is one of the new bass stars on the jazz horizon; he has worked extensively with Stan Getz, Billy Harper, Woody Shaw, and Ted Curson. He has two albums out under his own leadership: “Star Dance” and “Waterfalls Rainbow”, both of which have created quite a stir in the musical press.” Leonard Malone linernotes SCCD 31129 Ruby My Dear

Following the highly successful duo series by Archie Shepp (with Horace Parlan SCCD 31079 “Goin’ Home”, SCCD 31139 “Trouble In Mind” and with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen SCCD 31149 “Looking At Bird”), here with Holland’s leading keyboard player Jasper Van’t Hof the great saxophonist mesmerised the audience with his electrifying performance. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

On October 1, 1977 Cedar Walton quartet fronted by (then) young tenorman Bob Berg visited Copenhagen’s jazz epicentre Montmartre. According to many who were lucky to be there to catch the evening of music, “It turned out to be an unforgettable evening.” (Peter Nørgaard – Berlingske Tidende, Denmark). Unlike most of the live recorded albums that evening was recorded and released in whole as they are performed in three sets. With this the last set concluding the evening The Walton Quartet left the scene and the deeply satisfied audience. “This is a magnificent quartet….and excellent album to revive the flagging spirits of jaded old beboppers.” (Mike Hennessey – Jazz Journal) “Cedar Walton is not only playing fresh, interesting, swinging and original piano these days, but also contributing significantly in the area of composition.” (Mike Shera – Jazz Journal) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Sweden in the 60s was experiencing the surge of cool jazz (Tristano tradition) and saw young alto saxophonist Rolf Billberg emerged on the scene as one of its most talented practitioners. Due to his premature death at age 35 ten months after this recording his name never made it to the stardom. This hitherto unknown album is one rare testimony to the state of Swedish jazz scene. It was recorded in November 1965 privately in the legendary live/rehearsal basement club Subland in Malmö. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

John McNeil (born March 23, 1948) is one of the most influential trumpeters today. Despite his debilitating health condition which he has been fighting all his life, McNeil has a fully active career both as performer and educator. Recorded during McNeil’s European tour in 1983 with a fellow American Doug Raney on guitar and the best Danish rhythm section at the time, this album caught the trumpeter at his top form. “…. He seems to have the trick of drawing the best from his sidemen ….” (Melody Maker) “… plays his horn with a soulfulness that is rarely heard these days. [His] poetic, dusky-toned trumpet is very close to song.” (Chicago Tribune) “McNeil's solos were by and large the most incisive features of the night.” (London Daily Mail)

Doug Raney (Aug. 29, 1956 – May 1, 2016) moved to Copenhagen, Denmark from New York when he was 21 after a European tour with his famous guitarist father Jimmy Raney. Doug spent the rest of his rather short life in Copenhagen. He collaboration with SteepleChase started shortly after his move to Denmark in 1977 with the debut album “Introducing Doug Raney” (SCCD 31082/SCS 1082). Since then he released 17 highly acclaimed leader album during the 80s and 90s. This album recorded in 1984 finds Raney in a comfortable company of his regular Danish rhythm section. “Blue And White is probably the best of (Raney’s early releases in the 80’s – ed) them, dominated by titanic performances of Jimmy Heath’s ‘Gingerbread Boy’ and Coltrane’s ‘Straight Street’…” (Richard Cook & Brian Morton – The Penguin Guide to Jazz) “Players of Doug Raney’s depth and talent don’t come along very often, making their absence, when their end does come, something almost tactile….” (Larry Grinnel)

Ernie Wilkins (1919 – 1999) made phenomenal contribution to the big band music in the last five decades by composing and arranging for such major big bands as those led by Earl Hines, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James and Clark Terry. Wilkins moved to Copenhagen in 1979 and in 1980 launched his own Almost Big Band which consists of top musicians from Europe and USA. ...Under leadership of Ernie Wilkins music never becomes a mere parade of soloists. He builds up a piece and gives it a form of unity. ...Listeners will keep finding fresh surprises....” (Albrekt von Konow, Orkester Journalen)

It is safe to say that the latter half of Dexter Gordon’s European years (1961-1976) found him most inspired and productive. This album recorded in a Copenhagen studio in September of 1975 precedes to Gordon’s most publicised homecoming to the States. With his favourite rhythm section of Montoliu, NHØP and Billy Higgins Dexter is in his pinnacle. It is also noteworthy to know that this is the only studio recording Dexter Gordon and the formidable Catalonian pianist made together. “... Today, more than 30 years after he made his first dates for Savoy, he is playing better than ever... From the opener, Billie’s Bounce, the record settles into a beautiful groove and the interest never lets up...” (Mike Hennessey, Jazz Journal International) “…Almost all Nils Winther’s Danish SteepleChase label releases have been better than the CBS albums, and this is certainly no exception.” (Michigan State News) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

1978 was one of Duke Jordan’s most productive and artistically most fulfilling years. Jordan’s trio with Wilbur Little (bass) and Dannie Richmond (drums) made an extensive European tour that year. This is one of the live recordings from concerts at the Tivoli Gardens. “…The old bopper, Duke Jordan, is another pianist who is perhaps under-appreciated … this man could play and he still can. On Wait And See for SteepleChase, we have the quintessential version of Jordan’s classic along with a lot of fine, not-at-all dated bop lines by the pianist…” (Durham Morning Herald)

Johnny “Little Giant” Griffin moved to France in 1963 leaving USA where the straight-ahead jazz’s heyday was fast waning. Together with other expatriates such as Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell, Kenny Clarke Griffin had highly productive career in Europe. The original version of this 180G LP was recorded live over two nights in 1973 at Copenhagen’s jazzhus Montmartre. “...this is a superb Griffin recording in a long time...” (Swing Journal) “Johnny Griffin in the 1970s remains The Little Giant - a joy to hear and this must be his most representative album in ages...” (Coda) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Charlie Parker’s favourite pianist and the composer of the famous “Jordu” Duke Jordan (b. April 1, 1922 in New York) ended his five-year seclusion from the jazz scene when he was invited to play and record in Denmark in 1973. This first recording by Jordan for SteepleChase turned out to be an enormous success which brought Jordan back in the spotlight. “...I am convinced that this is Duke Jordan’s finest record...” (jazz Journal International) “...a totally captivating listening experience...” (Billboard) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

One of the bebop pioneers trumpeters Idrees Sulieman (1923-2002) (1923- 2002) studied at the Boston Conservatory. He performed and recorded with the luminaries of jazz such as Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Randy Weston, Teddy Charles, Gene Ammons a. o. in the 40s and 50s. He moved to Europe (mainly to Denmark) in the 60s. He lived there for the following 25 years. “With a highly individual way of inflecting his often surprising phrasing and a tone that is immediately recognizable, Sulieman’s trumpet and flugelhorn has a personal stamp to it.” (Jazz Forum)

This is the third and the last volume of the famed live recordings from Zurich Jazz Festival with an additional track with trumpeter Joe Newman as a guest player. “....this is another superb performance from Dexter Gordon who also takes the vocal on Jelly Jelly a 12 bar blues theme created by Billy Eckstine...if you enjoy fine Jazz Tenor playing or especially if you play Tenor Sax you must have this record.” (Jazz Journal) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Boulou Ferré (b. April 24, 1951 in Paris, France), one of the greatest French contemporary virtuoso jazz guitarists of the manouche (gypsy jazz) tradition was made “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. This is the duo album from 1980 recorded in Copenhagen. “... In this duo acoustic guitar session, the brothers Ferré grab and hold attention ... they maintain a lively, imaginative interplay ... greatly extend the library for acoustic guitar. This is a worthy follow-up of their earlier album SCCD 31120 Pour Django.” (Ottawa Citizen, May 1, 1981) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

The 180g VINYL release of this month Cherryco by Cornetist Kirk Knuffke stands out not only as a creative tribute album but also as the cornetist’s personal testimonial to the legendary Coleman-Cherry Quartet which was the epitome of 60’s avant-garde jazz. Despite generational differences Knuffke was in the inner circle of Ornette Coleman’s life in its later days. To quote from the article by Aidan Levy for JazzTimes – Lessons from Ornette - in 2019 Kirk remarks, “Just playing with him changed who I am and how I play. There was something about being so close to his sound that was really informative…” “Cherryco Is a tribute album in the truest sense. Kirk Knuffke walks a mile in Don Cherry’s shoes.” (Thomas Conrad – NYCJR) “… (Knuffke) puts the emphasis on ensemble interplay, forming an airy, malleable bond with his deft rhythm team while still uncorking one convincing and lyric solo after another. Cherryco feels like a love letter and it’s hard not to share in the ardor.” (Peter Margasak – DownBeat) 180g Audiophile Vinyl