Riley Stone-Lonergan ft. Alex Garnett
From Galway Ireland, saxophonist Riley Stone-Lonergan started working as a professional musician at the age of 16. Moving to the UK to study at Leeds College of Music, he graduated with 1st Class Honours and was the recipient of a number of awards such as the Dave Cooper Memorial Prize for Jazz Saxophone, John Scheerer Prize for Woodwind and David Hoult Prize for Outstanding Performance. Named a Yamaha Jazz Scholar in 2011, he subsequently went on to tour and perform in various ensembles, most notably the highly-regarded generation-spanning QOW Trio with Eddie Myer and British jazz legend Spike Wells (Bobby Wellins, Tubby Hayes, Dexter Gordon et al). The Trio’s second album, ‘The Hold Up’ was described by BBC Music Magazine as “a stunning achievement” and their third for Whirlwind Records is on the way. Tonight however Riley has chosen one of the UK’s true sax greats, Alex Garnett (Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, Wynton Marsalis, Van Morrison) to join him on the stand as they pay tribute to the great Tenor heroes of old with material inspired by John Coltrane, Joe Henderson and Sonny Rollins. Riley says that improvisation is the element of jazz that ‘brings him the most joy’ and you can expect a night of exciting, adventurous and swinging music, accompanied by their incredible rhythm section of Liam Noble-piano, Oli Hayhurst-bass and Will Glaser-drums.
“Exquisitely named saxophonist Riley Stone-Lonergan... [is] developing a sinewy soul-splattered sound of his own” Jazzwise; "Riley Stone-Lonergan…blew great tenor...with a tone that could be lyrical or biting, tender or violent" Bebop Spoken Here
Photo by Jamie Delacovias