Stephen Riley
Tenor Sax Solo on
Meditation

About

Opening the solo section, this tenor sax improvisation spans one chorus of the 56-bar AABA form at a bossa nova feel at 134 BPM. The bossa nova groove provides a gentle rhythmic bed that suits Riley's unhurried, lyrical approach, and his warm tone blends naturally with the music's Brazilian-inflected harmonies. The bossa nova feel provides a gentle rhythmic foundation for Riley's tenor saxophone, which responds with warm, melodically focused phrasing. The bossa nova's syncopated rhythmic pattern creates a gentle forward motion that shapes the character of the improvisation. Following this solo, John Brown takes over on acoustic bass.

Stephen Riley was 31 to 32 years old at the time.