This recording of "Israel" comes from Stephen Riley's 2007 album Once Upon a Dream. Written by trumpeter and composer John Carisi, "Israel" is a minor-key blues that first gained prominence through its inclusion on Miles Davis's landmark Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949. The composition's brooding, angular melody and sophisticated harmonic language have made it a staple among musicians drawn to the cooler side of jazz. Riley performs the tune as a tenor saxophone feature, delivering an expansive ten-chorus solo over the 12-bar blues form in D minor at a brisk swing tempo of 185 BPM. His approach reflects the deep influence of Lester Young on his playing, favoring melodic invention and a light, floating tone over brute force. Bassist John Brown follows with a five-chorus solo of his own, maintaining the swing momentum at a slightly faster clip. The extended solo space given to both players underscores the intimate, exploratory nature of the session. Riley's interpretation honors the tune's cool jazz origins while bringing his own distinctive voice to the material, making this a compelling document of a modern tenor saxophonist engaging with a classic piece of the post-bop repertoire.
