This performance of "I'll Remember April" from Stephen Riley's 2019 album I Remember You features the tenor saxophonist engaging with one of the most popular vehicles for jazz improvisation. Composed by Gene de Paul for the 1942 film Ride 'Em Cowboy, the tune's 48-bar ABA form in G provides an extended harmonic framework that has attracted improvisers from every era of jazz. Here the trio takes it at an up-tempo Latin feel of approximately 249 BPM, with guitarist Vic Juris opening the solo section with two spirited choruses of electric guitar. Riley follows with two choruses of tenor saxophone improvisation, bringing his Lester Young-influenced aesthetic to the tune's shifting tonal centers with a relaxed authority that belies the rapid tempo. Bassist Jay Anderson rounds out the solos with a single chorus. The tune's 48-bar length means each chorus covers considerable harmonic territory, and the modulations between major and minor sections test every soloist's ability to navigate changing tonal landscapes. Riley's approach at tempo is characteristically unforced, maintaining the floating, behind-the-beat quality that distinguishes his playing even when the pulse is brisk. The recording demonstrates the trio's collective comfort with the jazz standard repertoire and their ability to bring a personal perspective to well-worn material.
