Billy Harper (b. 1943) is one of the most prominent figures in today’s jazz scene. He rose to his stardom through his stints with Gil Evans’ Orchestra, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the Thad Jones- Mel Lewis Orchestra. Harper started leading his own group in the late 70s and has been touring all over the world with his group since.
Of this New York studio recording Chinyére Nealé wrote in the linernotes, “Nils Winther of SteepleChase has wanted to record Billy for fifteen years. Finally, destiny has made this recording possible.”
French magazine COMPACT described this CD as “a real treasure which will bring you pleasure till the last day of your life.” 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Four-time Grammy Award nominee Scott Colley was first introduced to SteepleChase in 1994 as a young (30 at that time) and up-and-coming bassist of the Harold Danko Quartet. This is Colly’s SteepleChase debut leader album released on CD in 1997, which received numerous accolades from critics the world over.
“Devoid of any grandiose ambition or ego-driven solos, This Place succeeds as illustrating Colley’s remarkable talents as a bassist and composer.” (John Murph – JazzTimes)
“This Place is a hardy and no-holds-barred type of affair that speaks volumes for Colley’s aesthetics…. This Place will surely reward earnest and mindful listening with its adroit musical conversation.” (Chris Hovan – AAJ) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Big G as in George Coleman, Sr.
The legendary tenor saxophonist is the featured artist here on Brian Charette’s new album. George Coleman is the recipient of 2015 NEA (The National Endowment for the Arts) Jazz Masters Awards, the highest honor USA gives to a jazz musician.
For B-3’s most adventurous and talented practitioner Brian Charette who has known the Coleman father and son for more than a couple of decades, this recording materialized as a musical homecoming.
“Both B-3 stylist and student, serious jazz scholar and glitzy entertainer, Charette is a burning soloist who understands the tradition of the Hammond B-3 as well its future—just as certainly as he understands his place in that lineage.” (Ken Micallef Downbeat Magazine) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Congolese - Danish saxophonist/composer John Tchicai (1936-2012) recorded this straight-ahead jazz album in 2009 surprising his usual followers who regarded Tchicai as the legendary leader of the 60’s free jazz scene.
During the free jazz period he resided in New York associated with free jazz artists such as Archie Shepp, Don Cherry and New York Contemporary Five and left a number of famous recordings including Ascension album by John Coltrane.
As “God Father” or “Guru” of free jazz Tchicai has been active on the scene but this first leader album in 22 years for SteepleChase label he also returned to play his original instrument alto sax. Tchicai interpreted works by Thelonious Monk with his striking sound.
Mark Gardner who is a contributor of Jazz Journal International concludes his liner notes for the CD release of this recording by noting, “And now he's back on SteepleChase with a warm and welcome tribute to an early influence - an inspired concept, beautifully realised.” 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Legendary South African bassist Johnny “Mbizo” Dyani (1947 – 1986) left a significant musical/political legacy in spite of his short life of 39 years.
While still a teenager Johnny exiled himself from South Africa where an interracial band The Blue Notes was banned under apartheid rule.
Regrettably he could not live to see the end of apartheid but remained an active component of anti-apartheid movement throughout his life. Johnny Dyani left a number of superb recordings on SteepleChase during the 70s and this is his most ambitious project with colourful instrumentation including steel drums. 180g Audiophile Vinyl
This 1998 recording of Paul Bley is here as 180g audiophile LP for the first time. It wholly dedicated to the music of Ornette Coleman, with whom Paul was the major participant of that exciting musical experimentation some 60 years ago.
“…here is an intriguing and most stimulating date that does full justice to the writing of Ornette while showcasing the vitality and virtuosity of the creative Paul Bley in full flow with two top notch companions with him all the way…” (Mark Gardner)
“…anyone who has ever enjoyed the pianist should seek out Notes on Ornette. Bley still enjoys throwing seemingly unrelated bits of improvised melody together, but here he often goes to the other extreme, spinning out lines that seem endless in which a few simple ideas continually transmogrify.” (Baker, D. – JazzTimes) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Teddy Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was born in Jackson, MS. He started to play alto sax as a child and later changed to tenor when he was invited to join Howard McGhee’s group in the late 1940s. Since 1945 he has been living in Los Angeles, where he has played and recorded with the bands led by Benny Carter and Gerald Wilson. Edwards is also known for his scores for TV and radio. Edwards toured in Europe frequently in the 70’s and 80’s.
This recording was made late 1980 for SteepleChase. Although the pianist Kenny Drew and Edwards have long known each other, this is the only recording the two friends made together.
“Edwards is a wonderful and distinctive tenor player, with a smooth tone in the middle and lower register, a bit brassier in the upper, and a great sense of swing. His work is replete with melodic ideas, a gestural sense of variation in dynamics, and a lot of freedom with the beat — here relaxed and behind, there right on top of it or a little ahead.” (Larry Koenigsberg – AAJ)
“His sole SteepleChase outing found Teddy in his prime and in excellent company. The outcome was among his finest quartet sets - no hokum but simply pure jazz all the way.” (Mark Gardner)
When this recording came out as LP on the market in 1979 after Baker’s lengthy pause from the scene, Jazz Time’s reviewer started his article by saying “Whoof! The killer is back....” And indeed this cool killer was back on the scene to stay, though for a while until his tragic death in Holland, and made a number of wonderful recordings for SteepleChase.
The first of the four releases with the same “drumless” group is a studio recording (three others are live from Montmartre) and “this subtle woodhued record shows that Baker at his best can still knock you dead...” (Jazz Time). 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Sheila Jordan who turned 90 on November 18, 2018 recorded this celebrated album Sheila 40 years ago in Oslo, Norway in a duo setting with Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen.
Sheila has propelled Jordan’s career into most deserved recognition.
On “Sheila” SCS 1083 the world’s press wrote:
“Sheila Jordan is one of the foremost of contemporary jazz vocalists.”
(Bill Henderson – Black Music & Jazz Review)
“Jordan makes these tunes all her own, with personal, almost prayer-like readings on tales of personal devotion…Listening to this record may make you wonder where this honest, sensitive yet powerful vocalist has been all these years…” (Bouchard – Downbeat *****)
“This album is a welcome addition to Jordan’s sparse discography, and it further establishes her as a vocalist of considerable accomplishment” (Benjamin Franklin V – Coda)
“Detroit singer courageously performs a dozen standards with only Andersen’s acoustic bass behind her. But Jordan pulls it off…Her talent is unquestionable.” (Billboard – Recommended LP) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
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. This album was recorded live at “Slukefter” in Tivoli Gardens.
“... 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)
“…The Ferré trio’s performance is full of European flavour… their emotional play suits very well the tunes selected here…” (Okazaki, Swing Journal)
When the album by this unlikely duet of Shepp and Parlan playing hymns and spirituals came out in 1978 for the first time, it was an instant success and has become a classic since then. It is a success of unique theme (by the producer Nils Winther) and of sheer strength of musical material and of performance executed with grace and sensitivity.
“...an overwhelming and emotional listening experience.” (Atlanta Journal Weekend) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Joe Locke recorded this album in 1991, when his name as a new vibraphonist was gaining serious momentum on the NY scene.
Following his highly acclaimed debut album “Present Tense” (SCCD 31257) and the ensuing “Longing” (SCCD 31281) from SteepleChase this third album showcases Locke’s lyricism in a ballad collection accompanied by the master Kenny Barron.
“if your mood of the moment is to surround yourself with something soft and lovely, Locke and Barron will make things beautiful.” (Cadence) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Catalan pianist Vincente Tete Montoliu (b. March 28, 1933 in Barcelona) “swings like no other pianist in Europe”, once remarked Ben Webster.
Jazz Journal confirmed Ben’s opinion in reviewing this album, “...he could blow most contemporary pianists into the ground technically...”.
And Radio Free Jazz of USA (the predecessor of JazzTimes) concluded,
“...This is the best piano record in many years and one that will certainly rank with the best of any era.” 180g Audiophile Vinyl
While Allegra Levy’s second album “Cities Between Us” (SCCD 31827) cemented her strong talent as a singer/songwriter, here on this her third album Allegra the singer steps up to the front interpreting time-tested as well as newer moon–themed songs. “Levy is a gifted lyricist and she writes often light thoughts and observations but from a personal point of view. Vocal fans should seek this out as Levy fills a spot that is fresh and rewarding in the pantheon of vocalists. A carefully produced CD full of rewards.” (Robert D. Rusch – Papatamas on SCCD 31827 Cities Between Us). “Levy is a fresh new voice, with songs steeped in the tradition and primed to join the canon.” (Jim Motavalli – New York City Jazz Record on SCCD 31827 Cities Between Us) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Doug Raney was 22 years old when this highly acclaimed debut leader album was recorded in Copenhagen with veteran Duke Jordan on piano, Danish Hugo Rasmussen (bass) and the one and only Billy Hart on drums. During his relatively short life (1956 – 2016) Doug followed his legendary guitarist father Jimmy Raney’s footsteps but established himself as a definitely unique artist on his own at the early stage of his life. He called Denmark his home and resided in Copenhagen until his untimely death at the age of 59.
“That talent, in some cases, can be transmitted intact from father to son is a proposition that Introducing Doug Raney seems to prove...a lovely album...” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune)
“...What a dashing, gallant debut! ...Young Raney is blessed with extraordinary talent. Highly recommended.” (Yoshio Maki, Swing Journal)
“...Doug Raney possède une très belle technique, une musicalité suprême, un goût exquis, une extraorinaire intuition harmonique....” (Maurice Cullaz, Jazz Hot) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
Dexter Gordon used to introduce his favorite pianist Tete Montoliu (1933 – 1997) on stage as “El grand senior from Catalonia!”
The first volume of the celebrated series of live recordings from Zelesta, the famed club in Barcelona, was highly acclaimed by the critics and audience alike.
“The album captures Tete at the peak of his powers, in inspirational company and among a warmly sympathetic audience…. Thanks to tracks like these we can continue to celebrate his diamond bright lines of compelling logic and vivid beauty.” (Mark Gardner)
"… his extraordinary virtuosity permits him to keep the breathtaking speed while playing beautiful melody line with great confidence of improvisations. Here in 1980 trio he explodes with a bang!" (Pierre Schavey, The Lion)
Legendary American piano player/composer Andrew Hill (June 30, 1931 – April 20, 2007) lived an active and fruitful life leaving us a legacy of unique, enigmatic music. Hill, however disappeared from the scene for about a decade in the late 60s. This album and its predecessor SCCD 31026 “Invitation” released in the mid. 70’s paved his way back to the limelight he deserved. Andrew Hill received numerous awards including Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Foundation of America (1997).
“... Divine Revelation certainly earns its title, for it reveals to any newcomer to his music… Hill at his most inspired, and most enigmatic ....” (Simon Adams, Jazz Journal International, March 1995) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
The first volume of the much acclaimed “Swiss Nights” series celebrated the first 50th release of SteepleChase label which after two years in business had firmly established itself to be one of the major independent jazz labels.
“The Zürich Jazz Festival last year (1975) evidently found Dexter Gordon in a relaxed and mellow mood. He has made many good records ...but this set is one of the best...” (Jazz Journal) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
