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Storyville Records

Never Say Yes - 1986

$19.99

Details

Composer
Various
Artist
Doug Raney Quartet
Format
CD
Label
Storyville Records
Released
Jan 16, 2026
Catalog #
SVL1014368
UPC
717101436828

About

Storyville Records proudly announces the release of Never Say Yes - 1986, a previously unreleased live-in-studio recording by the Doug Raney Quartet, captured in Studio 3 at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation on January 9, 1986. The album features Doug Raney on guitar, Ben Besiakov on piano, Jesper Lundgaard on bass, and Finnish drummer Jukkis Uotila. Set for release on October 24, 2025, Never Say Yes - 1986 offers seven tracks of inspired modern jazz, full of interplay, elegance, and technical brilliance. Doug Raney, the son of jazz guitar legend Jimmy Raney, carved out a distinctive path of his own, particularly within the vibrant Scandinavian jazz scene, where he lived and worked for decades. This recording, unearthed from the archives of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, captures Doug in strikingly fine form following a return to health, backed by some of the most intuitive players on the Scandinavian scene. "He had an incredibly refined technique on the guitar, I'd almost call it organically innate, " writes bassist Jesper Lundgaard in the liner notes. "His playing felt like an extension of his personality, effortless, and yet grounded in a deep understanding of jazz's inner architecture, which is so difficult to truly master. Doug had a special ability to voice chords, and in my opinion, there was a beauty in his soloing that only very few possess." The session was the culmination of a brief Danish tour and showcases Raney's wide-ranging repertoire, from the burning drive of John Coltrane's Giant Steps to the aching beauty of I'm Old Fashioned and a soulful take on Nat Adderley's title track. Raney's melodic instinct, rhythmic command, and harmonic depth shine throughout, with dynamic support from Besiakov, Lundgaard, and Uotila. Despite his remarkable talent, Doug Raney remains a somewhat overlooked figure in modern jazz. With this release, Storyville Records shines a new light on a singular voice whose artistry remain as vital and moving as ever.

Tracklist 7 tracks

  1. 1 Never Say Yes 05:54
    Track
    1
    Title
    Never Say Yes
    Duration
    05:54
    Composer
    Nat Adderley
    Ensemble
    Doug Raney Quartet
  2. 2 Softly as in a Morning Sunrise 06:38
    Track
    2
    Title
    Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
    Duration
    06:38
    Composer
    Sigmund Romberg
    Ensemble
    Doug Raney Quartet
  3. 3 You Were Never Lovelier: I'm Old Fashioned 05:47
    Track
    3
    Title
    You Were Never Lovelier: I'm Old Fashioned
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Jerome Kern
    Ensemble
    Doug Raney Quartet
  4. 4 I Hear a Rhapsody 05:24
    Track
    4
    Title
    I Hear a Rhapsody
    Duration
    05:24
    Composer
    Dick Gasparre, Jack Baker, George Fragos
    Ensemble
    Doug Raney Quartet
  5. 5 Giant Steps 05:00
    Track
    5
    Title
    Giant Steps
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    John Coltrane
    Ensemble
    Doug Raney Quartet
  6. 6 All or Nothing at All 10:03
    Track
    6
    Title
    All or Nothing at All
    Duration
    10:03
    Composer
    Arthur Altman
    Ensemble
    Doug Raney Quartet
  7. 7 Leave it to Me: Get Out of Town 04:18
    Track
    7
    Title
    Leave it to Me: Get Out of Town
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Cole Porter
    Ensemble
    Doug Raney Quartet