This recording of "Once Upon a Dream" is the title track from Stephen Riley's 2007 album of the same name. The melody originates from Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ballet Sleeping Beauty, specifically the famous waltz from Act I, and was later adapted with lyrics by Sammy Fain and Jack Lawrence for the 1959 Disney animated film. Riley's decision to name his album after this piece and to perform it in waltz time suggests a personal connection to the material. He takes one chorus of the 36-bar ABAC form in F at 142 BPM, letting the graceful three-quarter-time feel carry his tenor saxophone improvisation. The waltz rhythm lends the performance a distinctive elegance that sets it apart from the swing and ballad treatments found elsewhere on the album. As the sole soloist, Riley keeps his interpretation focused and concise, allowing Tchaikovsky's enchanting melody to remain at the heart of the performance while adding his own jazz inflections. The choice to draw on classical repertoire reflects an adventurous programming sensibility, and Riley's warm, lyrical tone bridges the gap between the concert hall and the jazz club with ease. This brief but memorable performance serves as a fitting centerpiece for an album devoted to timeless melodies.
