Riley, Howard
Solo In Vilnius (2lp)
Howard Riley is relatively under-recorded as a solo artist, given that he has been playing avant-garde jazz since the early seventies, with names like Evan Parker, Lol Coxhill, Tony Oxley, Barry Guy, Trevor Watts, Elton Dean, Keith Tippett, to name but a few. On this double LP, recorded in the Saint Catherine's Church in Vilnius, Lithuania on September, 11, 2009, he plays his own compositions/improvisations, with additionally some covers of the standards 'Round Midnight,' 'Misterioso' and 'Yesterdays.' Riley's playing is very openended, not spectacular or prone to dramatic effects, but is focused on careful development and further expansion of initial ideas. Even if open in spirit, his improvisations are quite controlled, never wild, never sweet or impressionistic, yet very lyrical and abstract. A rare combination.