SteepleChase is proud to present the leader debut album by organist Gary Versace, who was voted a “rising star” on the Hammond Organ in Downbeat’s 2004 Critics Poll. SteepleChase’ new recording artist Gary Versace is one of the most sought after organists/pianists/accordionists on the elite scene of jazz all over the world. “Unveiled here is the already mature style of a witty and wise player who has developed a most individual response to the challenges posed by an instrument which offers a myriad possibilities for this highly perceptive practitioner…” (Mark Gardner)

You Stepped Out Of A Dream

Pianist Stacken and trumpeter Knuffke are new faces on SteepleChase. Both joined the New York jazz scene relatively recent years (Stacken 2002 / Knuffke 2005). They rapidly established themselves as leaders and sidemen. Here on their SteepleChase debut the Duo succeeds in presenting an intriguing program of Monk & Ellington works.

Strike Zone

SteepleChase debut album by piano/trumpet duo of Kirk Knuffke and Jesse Stacken interpreting tunes by Ellington and Monk recorded live (SCCD 31677 “Mockingbird”) prompted Derek Taylor of Master of a Small House to comment, “…They rightly take clever liberties with the tunes, …. Most importantly, they take their time with the pieces and that unhurried pace pays huge dividends in the amount of space it opens up for the repartee….. as Stacken notes in the notes, a few mistakes occur, but damn if they don’t matter a whit when the give and take that surrounds them is this good.” Their second album here is dedicated to the compositions by Charles Mingus.

Danish saxophonist Kim Boch has established himself firmly on the New York jazz scene. In addition to his regular quartet heard on SCCD 31603 Secrets and SCCD 31667 Live In Copenhagen Boch embarked on an organ trio giving the tradition-filled format a new exciting dimension. This recording took place during the trio’s US tour in 2010. In 2011 another tour in USA and Europe is scheduled.

Osaka Concert, Vol. 2

“Wonderfully creative work from Pierre Dørge and his New Jungle Orchestra – a set that often features gentle, sensitive musical moments – although always handled with the sort of offbeat style we've come to expect from Dørge!” is the opening comment on Dørge’s previous album Whispering Elephants (SCCD 31652) by DUSTY Groove America. One month prior to the above studio recording Dørge and NJO gave a sold-out concert at the newly opened Royal Play House in Copenhagen, from which this latest album is compiled. The orchestra is enhanced by three international soloist: Sweden’s Josefine Cronholm on vocal, India’s Shashank Subramanyan on flutes and Dawda Jobarteh from Gambia on kora and vocal. Sartre’s immortal quote, “Jazz is like a banana—it has to be consumed on the spot,” may hold true in some instances, but this recording is a thing worth saving and savoring. (on SCCD 31632 Jazz Is Like A Banana, Steve Greenlee/Jazz Times)

This special debut album by saxophone player Niels Vincentz, who is, to quote Mark Gardner, “one of the best kept secrets of Danish Jazz” reveals a picture of the current state of jazz music in the world. Jazz has attracted and nourished an enormous herd of talented young musicians to secure a deep reservoir of its true new voices. SteepleChase is proud to welcome Niels Vincentz to the label.

Trumpeter Louis Smith’s formative period as a jazz performer some 50 years ago was in the midst of developing/establishing stage of Bebop. Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Clifford Brown are the greatest influence on Louis Smith’s trumpet style. Here on his first release in the new millennium Louis is joined by some of the best bebop players of the younger generation.

The debut album by Boulou and Elios Ferré is dedicated to Django Reinhardt to whom the Brothers owe their musical background as gypsy musicians. Boulou Ferré (b. April 24, 1951 in Paris) gave his first concert at the Musée Guimet in Paris at the age of 8. He made his first recording when he was 10. Duke Ellington was one of the first to spot this prodigy and remarked “Boulou is a rainbow across Django’s genius.” With younger brother Elios (b. December 18, 1956 in Paris) Boulou formed this guitar duet in 1972. The Ferré Brothers soon became one of the most popular groups in Europe dazzling audiences with their lively, imaginative interplay.

Getting There

“….When three terrific tenors are cutting loose the upshot is compulsive listening – and that’s the story of Volume 14: Tenors for everyone!” (Mark Gardner)

Pianist /composer George Colligan is no longer “new on the scene” as Chuck Berg of JazzTimes referred to George several years ago but the rest of Berg’s remarks: “George Colligan is one of the brightest and most articulate pianists on today’s scene” holds true to this day. On this latest album Colligan streamlined a quartet with the choice sidemen who he shares the same creative vibes. Colligan’s previous release “Living or The City” (SCCD 31727) received four stars from DownBeat magazine with comments by John Murph, “…The trio brings plenty of subtle inventiveness and, more important, crisp euphoria to the fore…”

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

Michael Cochrane starts his new CD with Bud Powell’s classic “I’ll Keep Loving you” manifesting again his musical roots and influences. As John Murph of JazzTimes once wrote about Cochrane’s SteepleChase debut album Cutting Edge, this album also “sings unapologetically that bebop indeed still lives.”

Since his recording debut in 1998 “Introducing Ari Ambrose” (SCCD 31450) at the age of 24, this “first class young musician” (Eddie Blackwell, Jazz Journal) has already cut three more albums of his own and has firmly developed to be a major voice in the younger generation. With his long-time friend and musical partner George Colligan in the band, Ari’s latest album offers another exciting and fulfilling experience.

Improvisation is, according to the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, “the spontaneous creation of music as it is performed” and that’s what Dave Ballou and his working band are offering here.. “… I have always wondered what could happen when improvisers are given the freedom to improvise – no set forms or changes or even melodies. That was the environment of this recording session.” (Dave Ballou)

Toronto-born and New York-based saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbun returns to studio with his core group of “Shadow Forms” (SCCD 31598, 2006) to explore further his musical concept of improvisation forming into written music. Ken Dryden of AAJ wrote on “Shadow Forms”, “This outstanding release remains fresh with each hearing, as new facets of these performances become apparent to the listener.” “Shadow Forms is a wonderful album and, in typical Rathbun fashion…” (Budd Kopman – AAJ)

Danish guitarist/composer/band leader Pierre Dørge and his 12-piece New Jungle Orchestra celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. Dørge conceived the idea of this almost-big band as a global jazz crossroad where the world music meets and interacts with post-bop jazz with a huge tilt towards West African music tradition. The band’s longevity attributes, among other things, to the fact that NJO is “among the most enterprising and unpredictable outfits of this kind” (Richard Cook & Brian Morton – The Penguin Guide To JAZZ.). The orchestra’s first big international breakthrough came in 1986 being invited to perform at the Chicago Jazz Festival for the enthusiastic 60,000 audiences on the same bill with Art Farmer, Benny Golson and Sarah Vaughan. Pierre Dørge and his NJO since then have been touring all over the world, performing over 2500 concerts in more than 60 countries. Their new album recorded live during their concert tour throughout Denmark last year features American star tenor saxophonist Stephen Riley who has been a NJO’s frequent guest on the scene. “Ubi Zaa is a beautiful document from an important institution in Danish avantgarde jazz, making this difficult genre approachable with humorous, innovative and most of all crowd-pleasing way without losing sight of its free jazz roots.” (Brian Petro – Jazz Special on Ubi Zaa SCCD 31819)

SteepleChase’ ongoing series of jam sessions expands its format on this 11th volume to septet with two brass and two reeds. Among the featured soloists Charles Sullivan (aka Kamau Muata Adilifu) may need a special mentioning here as this is one of his rare recording appearances since the late 80s. On previous SteepleChase Jam Session series, CD Review’s Rick Finlay wrote, … SteepleChase’s series of jam sessions drawing together the cream of the contemporary jazz world makes a refreshing change these days .…. highly recommended.”

Following the successful tribute album to Lucky Thompson’s music Lucky Strikes Again (SCCD 31713) Chris Byars and his 8-piece band dedicate this latest album to the music of Freddie Redd. Chris Byars notes, "Everything he has written is meaningful and has his own special perspective on beauty. I feel that this was an overdue tribute to an admirable artist, who continues to perform and write with great spirit at the age of 83." “Lucky Strikes Again coaxes a huge sound out of five horns, a credit to the quality of the arrangements. They're musically expansive, getting the most out of the instruments at hand, but are also compact and well-organized, with only one running more than seven minutes. Byars has put together a set of concise, rewarding tracks with a band that turns in a terrific performance of outstanding material.” (Greg Simmons of AllAboutJazz on Lucky Strikes Again SCCD 31713)

A long-waited album by pianist/composer Ledgerwood finds her in her most creative music making. “The native of a very small town in Ohio, pianist LeeAnn Ledgerwood is part of an ever growing contingency of extremely talented jazz musicians of the female persuasion … first crack at a piano trio record. Ultimately, it proves to be one of the best of its kind in recent memory. …” (Andrew Hovan – AAJ-NY on SCCD 31468 ”Transition”)

Another new Danish saxophone star, presently a resident of New Orleans, makes his first entry to SteepleChase catalog with this refreshing album of standard and original materials superbly executed. Christian Winther not only fulfilled his boyhood dream of becoming a jazz musician but also became an important voice on the New Orleans scene, where his dream started. He was nominated as “the best upcoming musician” of contemporary jazz by Offbeat Magazine in 2003.

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.