Stephen Riley's interpretation of Sonny Rollins's "Doxy" on the 2018 album Oleo presents this beloved hard bop classic at a relaxed medium tempo of approximately 118 BPM. Composed by Rollins and based on the changes of "Ja-Da," the 16-bar AABA form in B-flat has been a jam session favorite since its debut on the 1954 Miles Davis Prestige session Bags' Groove. Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli opens the solo section with three choruses, establishing a bluesy, swinging mood. Riley follows with four expansive choruses of tenor saxophone, bringing his Lester Young-influenced phrasing to a tune closely associated with Rollins, one of the tenor saxophone's greatest voices. The stylistic connection between Riley's approach and Rollins's own influence from Lester Young creates a fascinating lineage within this performance. Bassist Jay Anderson contributes two choruses of acoustic bass improvisation, rounding out the blowing section. The tune's compact form and accessible bluesy harmony make it an ideal vehicle for relaxed, story-telling improvisation, and all three soloists take advantage of the laid-back tempo to develop their ideas with patience and conviction. Riley's extended four-chorus solo is a highlight, demonstrating his ability to build a coherent narrative arc within a simple harmonic framework while maintaining the loose, floating quality that defines his playing.
