Stephen Riley
Tenor Sax Solo on
God Bless The Child

About

Stephen Riley's tenor sax solo opens the improvised portion of this recording, followed by Vic Juris on electric guitar. Spanning one chorus of the 38-bar AABA form at a ballad tempo of 54 BPM in E♭, the solo runs approximately 2:39. The song's message about self-reliance and its association with Holiday's own turbulent life have given it a special emotional weight in the jazz repertoire, and Riley's interpretation honors that legacy with quiet dignity. Stephen Riley's rendition of "God Bless The Child" on the 2019 album I Remember You pays homage to the song's originator, Billie Holiday, who co-wrote it with Arthur Herzog Jr. Stephen Riley was 43 to 44 years old at the time of this 2019 recording.

Stephen Riley was 43 to 44 years old at the time.