Ryerson & Rudolph

Soul Quest CD now available!!

Order CDs from www.aliryerson.com or amazon.com/ or this site

See Ali's interview with Vince Outlaw of Jazz Live San Diego about her 2005 release "Soul Quest" & her collaborative history with Steve Rudolph click here

Ryerson & Rudolph’s ‘Soul Quest’ (PACT Records) is a timeless recording. Flutist Ali Ryerson & pianist Steve Rudolph shine on their first recording together, a Trio recording which also features one of today’s most gifted bassists, Steve Varner.  Soul Quest captures the excitement and beauty of this Trio’s many live performances.

Soul Quest features some well-chosen standards, as well as the compositional talents of Steve Rudolph.  The title cut, "Soul Quest", a Rudolph composition, is magical.  This Trio recording swings hard and speaks softly to the heart.

From a review of Soul Quest by Bob Protzman:

"Ryerson has a lovely tone on both C and alto flute... and a melodic and imaginative approach to improvisation."

"On top of the high musicianship level of each trio member, and the skillful group interplay, there’s a revelation in Rudolph’s writing. His three compositions here are all impressive and quite different. The title tune is the album’s highlight...."

Ryerson & Rudolph

"Ali Ryerson... easily the most important jazz flutist to have emerged thus far this decade,"  SAN FRANCISCO EXPRESS

 “Without doubt, Rudolph is one of the greatest piano players of our era...a pianist that discovers nuances in each tune.” Joao de Penha DJ "Jazz & Bossa Nova" - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“As a musician, she can be both seductive ... or hard swinging.   ... If a flutist can have anything like a fat tone, with expressive breathiness, Ali, one of the best flutists in jazz, clearly has it," JAZZ TIMES.

 "... Rudolph is a savvy, swinging, consistent, glimmering heavyweight.  His time is impeccable and the subtlety of his articulation and his ability to make dynamic changes is impressive.......Rudolph is outstanding.”   JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE 

 “Ali is a brilliant flute specialist with a magnificent tone and technique .... Jazz is dominated by men but Ali holds her own in the best company of the best musicians and is highly respected by them...,"  MERSEY JAZZ NEWS

 "Steve Rudolph is a great artist. I've had the pleasure of playing with Steve and each time is a highlight for me. He is a great pianist, composer and a real gentleman."  LOUIE BELLSON

THE TUNES:

A Time For Love, Girl Talk, When You Wish Upon A Star / Never Never Land, My Foolish Heart, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To & Rudolph originals - Oscar's Steppin' Out, Mr. 'Bim & Soul Quest

1.  A Time For Love, done here in a bright 3/4, is a long time favorite by the romantic genius Johnny Mandel.

2.  Soul Quest was written as a dance piece for Steve's wife Andrea and named after a book by her Buddhist sensei Anthony Stultz.  

3.  Ali & Steve Varner's flute & bass duet gives Girl Talk a fresh coat of paint.

4.  Mr. 'Bim is a Latin influenced Rudolph composition dedicated to the Brazilian master Antonio Carlos Jobim.  Jobim's doorman in New York didn't realize who he was and would constantly greet him - "Good day, Mr 'Bim!"

5.  Oscar's Steppin' Out was written as a tribute to the late Dr. Oscar Remick, Jr. upon his retirement as President of the Board of the PA Council on the Arts and titled by their Executive Director, Philip Horn.

The beautiful ballad 6. My Foolish Heart, a Latin version of 7. The End Of A Love Affair, and a swinging 8. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To fill out the standards portion of the program. 

9.  When You Wish Upon A Star / Never Never Land is a bright Latin romp through these Disney classics.

Ryerson & Rudolph are available for interviews, clinics & concerts.  1-800-756-JAZZ(5299)

Produced by Ali Ryerson & Steve Rudolph for PAXCT Records

Recorded February 24 & 25, 2003    Mastered March 29, 2004

Red Rock Recording, Saylorsburg, PA,  Kent Heckman - Engineer

Ali Ryerson is a Sankyo Artist for the G. Leblanc Corp.

Ms. Ryerson uses AKG Mics exclusively

Steve Rudolph is a Yamaha Artist

Yamaha C7 Grand Piano was used for the recording

ALI RYERSON has performed with such diverse talents as Dr. Billy Taylor, Kenny Barron, Stephanne Grappelli, Frank Wess, Red Rodney, Laurindo Almeida, Art Farmer, Maxine Sullivan, Roy Haynes, Julius Baker, and (as principal flutist with the Monterey Bay Symphony) with Luciano Pavarotti.

Ali has toured the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan and Africa, and has performed in many major jazz festivals, including the famed Monterey Jazz Festival, the JVC, Guinness Festival, Edinburgh Festival, and Carnegie Hall. Ali has released over a dozen jazz albums, the first four on European labels. She was then signed by legendary record producer Bob Thiele who produced two albums on his Red Baron label. Ali then signed with Concord Jazz for an additional three recordings. Jazziz put her Concord debut album on its Critic's Picks for 1995.

Ms. Ryerson’s two recent recordings, in duo with guitarist Joe Beck, are on the DMP label.  Released in the spring of 2003 is 'Flutology’ featuring Frank Wess and Holly Hofmann on the Capri label. Flutology is scheduled to perform at the NFA convention in 2003.

Ali performed with Dr. Billy Taylor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, a performance that was taped for national broadcast on NPR. In December 2001, she performed as guest soloist with the Ft. Wayne Philharmonic. Ali is musical director of an annual jazz festival held in Catskill, NY, 'Jazz Up The Hudson'.

Ali conducts jazz flute seminars throughout the country, including presentations at IAJE, Ohio State Univ., Capital Univ., Otterbein, Univ. of Alaska, Villanova, Duquesne, USC, CSU at Monterey Bay, Western Connecticut State University Summer Flute Institute, and numerous others. Hidden Valley Music Seminars in Carmel Valley, California presents the annual Ali Ryerson Jazz Flute Master Class the first week in July.

STEVE RUDOLPH was born in Evansville, Indiana and studied trumpet and composition under scholarship at Butler University.  He switched his instrumental focus to the piano at age 22 and was hired by Buddy Morrow to perform with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1977.  Since moving to Harrisburg PA in 1978, he has been largely responsible for the growth and development of the thriving jazz scene in Central Pennsylvania. Steve is Past President and a founder of the Central PA Friends of Jazz, one of the most successful jazz organizations in the country.