Stephen Riley
Tenor Sax Solo on
Once Upon a Dream

About

The sole improvisation on this track, this tenor sax improvisation spans one chorus of the 36-bar ABAC form at a waltz feel at 142 BPM. 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. Riley's tenor saxophone navigates the waltz meter with ease, shaping phrases that flow naturally across the three-beat bar lines. The triple meter creates a distinctive rhythmic flow that requires the soloist to think in three-beat phrases while maintaining a natural sense of swing.

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