Rolling Stones Project
The concept of taking the Jagger/Richards songbook, and putting a jazz, blues and world music spin on their iconic hits, was the brainchild of Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries. Prior to rehearsals for the 2002 Stones Forty Licks Tour, Ries went into the studio with some of his close friends in New York City to record the first three tracks, which would ultimately become The Rolling Stones Project. John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Ben Monder and Bill Charlap creatively weaved their musical brilliance into Ries’ arrangements. During the Stones rehearsals, Tim played the tracks for Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie. In addition to getting their approval, they also agreed to participate. Thus began a multi-year process of recording in many studios around the world, while touring with the Stones.
More than 75 guest artists from around the world collaborated on both releases: The Rolling Stones Project on Concord Records in 2005, and Stones World: The Rolling Stones Project II on Sunnyside Records in 2008. Some of the esteemed artists include: All four Rolling Stones members, Stones side musicians and singers Lisa Fischer, Bernard Fowler, Chuck Leavell, Darryl Jones, Michael Davis and Kent Smith. Other luminaries include: Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Milton Nascimento, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Sara Baras, Ana Moura, Luciana Souza, Minako Yoshida, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Goldings, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch, Pedrito Martinez, Terumasa Hino, Clarence Penn, and many others.
In 2008 The Klüvers Big Band (now called The Aarhus Jazz Orchestra) approached Matt Harris, the great composer/arranger, and one of Tim’s longtime friends, to orchestrate Tim’s arrangements for big band. Since then, both Tim and Matt, along with Rolling Stones singer Bernard Fowler, have performed these unique arrangements with some of the most notable professional ensembles in the world: The Metropole Orchestra, The Norrbotten Big Band, among others, in addition to many high school and university bands on several continents. Now, for the first time, all 13 arrangements are available from iJazzMusic.com.