Duder Mang is the latest sound by Jeff Riley and Stephen Haake. It features standards arranged in different time signatures or genres. This is a DEMO and is attended for analytical purposes only. 10/18/2013

TAKE FIVE In Four Reggae.WAV

SEVEN STEPS TO HEAVEN In Three.WAV

GIANT STEPS In Seven.WAV

FOUR In Three.WAV

A sneak peak into the upcoming album RED!

written by Coltrane/Meters/Gershwin
Haake/Riley Trio
Live at Robbie's House of Jazz
Webster, Groves, MO
August 17, 2012
Jeff Riley, alto sax
Mark Wallace, bass
Stephen Haake, drums

Lonnies Lament/Cissy Strut/Summertime

My Funny Valentine
Funky Fresh Trio
featuring Hannah McDonald and Jeff Riley
Robbie's House of Jazz
Friday, October 12, 2012

My Funny Valentine by Funky Fresh Trio

I just came across this recording from August 11, 2011 of Quincy, IL's Big River Swing Machine performing my arrangement of Woody'n'You live at the Elk's Lodge. Pretty good for sightreading! May I apologize now for my intonation challenges that evening?

Woody'n'You arr. Riley

Stephen Haake is getting ready for his Junior Recital on November 15 at Webster University. We had a good moment during this segment of Red Clay.
Riles on alto.
Seven Foot Gabe on piano.
That Guy on bass.
Haake on skins.

Haake Riley rehearsal trim

Funky Fresh Trio
with Jeff Riley
Live in Chicago
Chicago Arts Academy

Phunkstain

Cataba the Wookie

        "A soulful musical collage arranged for little big band portraying unique compositions of abstract melodies, thick harmonies and meaningful lyrics through the styles of swing, funk and reggae."


        BIO... The Jeff Riley Jazz Suite Orchestra is a jazz fusion band that incorporates a horn section, vocals and spirited improvisation.  The group uses both an upright bass and an electric bass and multiple keyboards with frequently changing drum grooves.  The project started in 2001 in Cincinnati and will continue expanding for decades into the future.  Each performance is like a big family reunion of friends and heavy music, new and old.

        HISTORY... Here is how it all started: “T for Tyka,” named after Steven Kortyka, is a 12-tone row originally created, performed and analyzed for Orchestration class at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.  The presentation included colorful paintings, detailed diagrams and a dramatic story with a funny dialogue.  The project quickly grew into a soulful musical collage arranged for a little big band and portraying unique compositions of abstract melodies, thick harmonies and meaningful lyrics through the styles of swing, funk and reggae.  The Jazz Suite debuted in CCM’s Watson Hall on January 17, 2002, as a birthday present to Jeff’s father and has continued to expand, integrating dozens of talented musicians relaying the message of love, laughter, self-expression and peace.

        The second full performance of the suite took place July 7, 2007, across bowling lanes [now the Seven-Ten Lounge] on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, IL, with members of the Low Down Brass Band.  Friends and family were celebrating a family reunion and the birth of Jeff's daughter, Stella.  This is when “Reggae Soul,” written 15 years earlier, made it's debut.

        The third performance of the suite was the making of the first album in Boulder, CO, featuring outstanding musicians from around the country and recording in the beautiful wooden shed of Far'N'Away Studios.  Helping to keep a life-long project fresh and new, Shane Jonas wrote the lyrics to “Breezin’ ‘Way” only days before recording, Steve Kortyka helped write the melody “Homeostasis” earlier that summer and “Reggae Soul” was arranged just before the start of the production. Airshow mastered the CD.

        All songs written, arranged and produced by Jeff Riley with the exception of:
Tree (written by Riley/Kortyka) and Breezin’ ‘Way (written by Riley/Jonas)

        Recorded live on August 27-28, 2010 by Geoff Gray and Ben Fausch at Far & Away Studios, Boulder, CO

        Mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering, Boulder CO
        ENGINEERING NOTE: The venerable Pultec EQP 1A3 was used for the Jeff Riley Jazz Suite CD’s mastering.  This was the first CD to use the new equipment at Airshow Mastering.  David Glasser was the engineer.  This particular pair are mastering versions with click stops on the knobs for reproducibility.  The record was mixed to tape at 15 ips using a CCIR curve on a Studer 1/2" machine.

        In 2012, our project has emerged onto the St. Louis scene.  We are extremely excited to have played a series of shows beginning at The Gramophone in July 2011, followed by Robbie's House of Jazz in August and The Chapel in January 2012.

        The Jazz Suite will always continue to grow as a second album has recently been recorded and a third is nearing completion.

Jeff Riley

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