Riley's bold reimagining of Sonny Rollins's calypso classic "St. Thomas" on the 2018 album Oleo replaces the original's Caribbean lilt with an unexpected funk groove at approximately 232 BPM. The 16-bar form in C, one of the most recognizable tunes in all of jazz, becomes something entirely different in this rhythmic context, demonstrating Riley's willingness to take creative risks with beloved repertoire. Riley leads with a marathon nine choruses of tenor saxophone improvisation, building a sprawling, organic narrative that takes full advantage of the funk feel's different rhythmic possibilities. Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli follows with seven equally committed choruses, matching Riley's adventurous spirit. The decision to play "St. Thomas" in a funk idiom rather than its traditional calypso feel is a provocative artistic choice that reveals new dimensions of Rollins's composition while honoring its essential rhythmic vitality. Rollins originally recorded the tune in 1956 on the album Saxophone Colossus, and it has since become one of the most frequently performed jazz standards. Riley's radical reinterpretation suggests that great compositions can withstand and even thrive under dramatic recontextualization. The extended solo lengths recall the freewheeling spirit of Rollins's own legendary live performances, where he would stretch out at great length over familiar material.
