The Camel

Of this unique recording of a father-and-son team, Chicago Tribune of June 8, 1980 summed up quite eloquently, “Duets is an unassuming title for one of the loveliest recordings of this or any other year - a SteepleChase album on which guitarist Jimmy Raney joins his guitarist-son, Doug Raney, in a musical dialog so closely knit that often it is hard to tell which Raney is taking the lead...”

To My Son

Open Air

The Traveller

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)

My Standard

When Sunny Gets Blue

Suite For Chocolate

“Powell sounds content and secure here, yet his playing still has an acutely expressive edge and his total dedication to the art of music is as evident as usual...” (Max Harrison, Melody Maker February 23, 1980)

Here’s the second volume of the celebrated Bud Powell recording from Gyllen Cirkeln (Vol. 1 - SCCD 36001). There are three more volumes to come. All tracks have never been issued before. “...there is no other recording which allows you to enjoy Powell so thoroughly as this series. Precious releases.” (Eiichi Fujii, Swing Journal) “ ....Absolutely indispensable.” (Pierre Schavey, JAZZ)

Dexter In Radioland vol. 5 This fifth volume finds Dexter with his best rhythm section. “...This collection of recordings from the Montmartre Club in Copenhagen in the Sixties...captures Gordon in full bloom....when Gordon hits his stride, as he does on the blues choruses of “Soul Sister”, there is every reason to join in the cheering of the audience. Remember him this way.” (Clive Davis, The Arts)

Alone

“…one of the loveliest recordings of this or any other year …” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune) “…filled with excellent performances this album will satisfy you completely…” (Takashi Kubota, Swing Journal) “…highly listenable for guitar enthusiasts, and those who prefer the lighter sounds in jazz.” (Nevil Skrimshire, Jazz Journal) Previously issued on SCCD 31118 & SCCD 31134

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)

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. 3 “Those were the nights in the summer of 64, sitting home in your pad turning the dial on the radio, and suddenly the mighty Dexter Gordon is on the air. You are in Radioland with one of the godfathers of bebop...”(Ib Skovgaard - from the linernotes.) “....an impressive document of the time.” (Barry McRae, Jazz Journal International November 1990)

Monsoon

Live Again

Dexter In Radioland vol. 1 Dexter In Radioland is a mini series within the 36000 “classic” series and there are 7 volumes capturing Dexter in the very best period of his career. Copenhagen was his adoptive home in the 60s and the recordings here took place in the famous jazz club Montmartre with packed with enthusiastic audiences night after night. “...it is difficult to forget the staggering impact made by Dexter Gordon during his early sorties before European audiences....These splendid recordings celebrate Dexter’s first year in Europe and confirm that what we heard then was every bit as good as it seemed....There is a bonus...Atli Bjørn’s highly economical and individual style deserved a wider audience...” (Jazz Journal) “...there is every reason to join in the cheering of the audience. Remember him this way.” (The Times)

Montmartre Summit 1973

This is the first release of SteepleChase 36000 series which distinguishes itself from the 31000 series as it concentrates on releasing the old recordings we acquired to document the great moments of jazz history. The recording sources are varied: radio shows, live concerts, private recordings, etc. Although most of the releases from this series can be described as historical recordings, we made it a point to obtain legal clearance from the artists or their estates for each and every release and to improve the sound quality when technically possible. This poignant recording (private - by the club owner) from Stockholms’s famous Gyllene Cirkeln (Golden Circle) jazz club finds Bud in an increasingly rare period of clarity and stability. “...A unique voice...irreplicable..” (Compact)

“The uncompromisingly original” Jackie McLean was the driving force of the early 60s’ Hard Bop and “Free” jazz. Within a year of this live session Jackie cut himself off the recording scene until he reappeared in SteepleChase’s first release “Live At Montmartre” SCCD 31001. “...All modern collections should include a smattering of McLean..” (Jazz Journal) “Jackie McLean, a true, acrobatic talent of alto sax...” (Jazz Hot)

El Gran Senor From Catalonia

Saxophonist and playwright Archie Shepp (b. May 24, 1937 in Fort Lauderdale. FL) then 26 years old visited Copenhagen in the fall of 1963 as a member of the famed New York Contemporary Five. Though Shepp at that time was the passionate practitioner of Free jazz, this recording in which he shared the bandstand with Sweden’s legendary baritone sax Gullin is something quite different from what one normally expects from Shepp in the 60s. It is Shepp playing straight jazz with audible enjoyment showing off his broad range of expression.