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

Recorded in NYC in the midst of Dexter’s great come back to the USA Biting The Apple was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque Diamant of 1978 by the Montreux Jazz Festival. “Biting The Apple being recorded around the same time as his “Homecoming” (CBS) album sounds much better with strong backing by pianist Barry Harris, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Al Foster.” (Oakland Tribune) 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)

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)

“… ‘Something Different’…finds Gordon at the top of his form…While melodic continuity has always been one of Gordon’s trademarks, the seamless passion of his playing here makes ‘Something Different’ one of the tenor giant’s essential albums.” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune) “… The great tenor saxophonist is in grand form in a quartet in which he is complemented and challenged by the young Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine and by Gordon’s favourite drummer, Billy Higgins …” (Doug Ramsey, Chronicles Of Culture) 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)

Doug Raney (Aug. 29, 1956 – May 1, 2016) a son of famed American guitarist Jimmy Raney made his album debut “Introducing Doug Raney” SCCD 31081 at the age of 18. He lived most of his adult life in Denmark but performed and recorded all over the world both as a leader and a sideman. “… Raney’s measured approach satisfies everywhere, whether heated up on Trane’s Lazy Bird or cool reflective in Theme For Ernie. Raney, an honorable name.” (Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat ****) “Backed by a driving rhythm section of Danish jazzmen, Raney burns through this set of six original and standard tunes.” (Guitar Player magazine)

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)

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

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

The indisputable tenor giant Ben Webster spent his last years in Copenhagen. His appearances at the famed Jazzhus Montmartre in those days greeted by faithful and appreciative audience were the historical moments filled with unique quality of beauty ignited by the last spark of a truly great man. Canadian Coda magazine wrote reviewing this recording in 1975: “ Webster, as always, plays with passion throughout the album. But one title goes well beyond that. Old Folks is an exquisitely deep performance, the kind that even a great artist gets to play only once in his lifetime.” SteepleChase had the privilege of taping most of Webster’s performances during the last year of his life. And this recording (originally released on LP in 1974) is taken from those masters. 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)

“...a serious meditation in the Parker universe: Shepp accompanied only by the extraordinary bass of intuitive Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen... The two musicians here in this Parker revisited, however, do not get lost in the immense shadow of the idol...” (Télérama) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

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

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

“...this is a lively and cohesive bop band of real intrinsic merit...(Rodney) is an exciting exponent of bop. His presence gives this group authenticity, and as such groups go it is a very musical and attractive one...” (David Badham, Jazz Journal International) Previously issued on SCCD 31238 & SCCD 31252

“Have no doubt about it, this is a superb record by a great jazz pianist…He plays with great sensitivity and musical understanding…” (Ray Spencer, Jazz Journal International) “A most agreeable set that is both eminently listenable and very enterprising…This fine trio record deserves to sell well and spread his name further afield…” (Richard Palmer, Jazz Journal International) Previously issued on SCCD 31232 & SCCD 3124

The Original DEBUT Recordings 1964 & 1967The legendary recordings by the TCJQ for the Danish DEBUT label have been out of print for more than a couple of decades. This double CD-set including the two original LP releases is not only the historical document but also recaptures the excitement that Scandinavia faced in the early 60s by the new wave jazz, which is still strikingly fresh today.

A special release from SteepleChase's cradle period consists of the two "duo" (Kenny Drew on piano and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on bass) recordings originally marketed as SCS 1002 and SCS 1010 on LP. Re-mastered in a high resolution (24bits 96khz). No extra material added. "Drew and Pedersen have made this an artistic triumph...it finds both men in excellent form..." (on SCS 1002 DUO B.McRoy, Jazz Journal, UK Sept. 1973) "This is an album of great musical value which will give pleasure for a long, long time. (Chris Sheridan, Into Jazz, UK May 1974)

“Brooklyn pianist enjoys first rate bass and drums backup…He’s one of the giants of the bop era, but his stylings are contemporary and entertaining.” (Recommended album, Billboard) “…while Jordan’s elegantly simple playing is a delight, his compositions are equally intriguing. …the album has the best work I’ve ever heard from Pedersen and solos from Jordan that proceed with the serene clarity of a mountain spring.” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune)

“...music of extreme sophistication yet perfect lucidity...A Zen-like tranquillity pervades this album of duets with another virtuoso Richard Davis...” (R.W. , Melody Maker) “...an important vibes record.” (Chris Sheridan, Jazz Journal) “....quite an achievement, balancing fantasy and friction with grace as a fulcrum....calm, lucid, colorful, and captivating...” (Art Lange, CODA) Previously issued on SCCD 31089 & SCCD 31213