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)
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)
Tenor saxophonist/composer/band leader/educator Jimmy Heath (1926-2020) co-led the famous Health Brothers in the late 70s with the elder brother Percy (on bass) and younger brother Tootie Heath (on drums).
He also led big bands and his own groups. For this 1991 New York recording Jimmy Heath brought his long-time working group including younger brother Tootie Heath.
“Heath the storyteller is the focus on this recording. He blows at top form…He filles his solos with bluesy strums, slaps and whines…needs little encouragement to blow his best. Solid.”
(David Dupont-Cadence on You’ve Changed SCCD 31292) 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
SteepleChase audiophile LP Series starts the New Year 2023 with George Cables’ highly acclaimed 1997 trio recording Bluesology, his 7th album on the label. Then at age 53 he was already one of jazz’ luminaries performing and recording with Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Art Pepper, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson to mention a few.
“…compelling and rewarding disc.” (Miles Jordan – JazzTimes)
“…Bluesology is a distinguished Cables affair while also being just one damn good piano trio record…” (Chris Hovan – AAJ) 180g Audiophile Vinyl
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
Celebrating its legacy from the 1976 LP and 1990 CD release, Stable Mable returns in May 2026 as a newly remastered 180g audiophile edition (G1040). Captured in Copenhagen just weeks after Dexter Gordon’s ambitious orchestral project SCCD 31030 More Than You Know, this session strips the setting back to its purest form: a no frills blowing date where Gordon’s imagination, authority, and melodic wit shine without disguise. Joined by Horace Parlan, Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Tony Inzalaco, Gordon navigates standards like Just Friends, Misty, Red Cross, and So What with a mix of relaxed confidence and fiery invention. His soprano reading of In a Sentimental Mood adds a rare, reflective touch. Remastered from the original tapes, this edition highlights the quartet’s clarity, swing, and interplay—an essential snapshot of Gordon’s Copenhagen years and a definitive statement of his enduring mastery.
“...Dexter plays brilliantly on every track ...beautifully recorded..”(Jazz Journal 1976)
Horace Parlan’s Glad I Found You is his second quintet date for SteepleChase which captures a rare meeting of inspired musicians at a peak moment, recorded in Copenhagen with Thad Jones — making a vibrant late career comeback — and the always inventive Eddie Harris. Parlan leads the quintet full of warmth, swing and spontaneous interplay. The album blends Parlan’s own tunes, soulful obscurities, and modern jazz classics like “Afternoon in Paris,” all delivered with the rhythmic looseness and deep blues feeling that defined his style. This new 24bit/96kHz remaster brings fresh clarity to one of Parlan’s most spirited SteepleChase sessions, revealing the nuance and energy of a group of masters enjoying every moment together.
“...it’s another fine addition to Parlan’s discography.” (Jazz Journal)
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
