Tim Ries

Timothy M. Ries (born 15 August 1959) is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, band leader, and music educator at the collegiate/conservatory level. Ries is in his year as a professor of jazz studies at the University of Toronto. His universe of work as composer, arranger, and instrumentalist ranges from rock to jazz to classical to experimental to ethno to fusions of respective genres thereof. His notable works with wide popularity include ''The Rolling Stones Project,'' a culmination of jazz arrangements of music by the Stones produced on two albums, the first in 2005 and the second in 2008.
Time Ries
'' by David Jeffries, ''Allmusic''

Career

From 1982 to 1984, Ries taught jazz improvisation at the University of Michigan. In the 1990s, he made it his day job. Ries has held teaching posts at the University of Bridgeport (1994), Mannes School of Music (1994–1996), The New School (1995–1998), City College of New York (1995–2000), New Jersey City University (2003), and Rutgers University (2003–2005). Most recently, he was Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Toronto (2007–10).
Biography: Tim Ries
'', University of Toronto

Ries has recorded five albums as leader. As collaborator and sideman, he has recorded with pianist Franck Amsallem, Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, Al Foster, John Patitucci, Dave Liebman, Danilo Perez, Maynard Ferguson, Red Garland, Badal Roy, Maria Schneider (musician), and Donald Byrd.Biography: Tim Ries
''All About Jazz''

As a soprano saxophonist, Ries was one of the founding members of the PRISM Quartet, a saxophone chamber group that endures today. Besides himself, the founding members were Michael Whitcombe (alto), Matthew Levy (tenor), Timothy Miller (bari). In 2000, the quartet recorded ''Real Standard Time'' on Naxos Records.

As a sideman on saxophone, keyboards, and organ, Ries toured with the Rolling Stones during 2003–2004. Ries arranged compositions by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, which were recorded on off-days during the Stones' A Bigger Bang World Tour.
Tim Ries: Not Only Rock ‘N’ Roll
', by ( de), ', January/February 2009
Subsequently, Ries has toured with The Rolling Stones in 2005, 2006, 2007 and again in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Ries has composed over one hundred works. As saxophonist with the PRISM Quartet, Ries has performed William Bolcom's ''Concerto Grosso,'' for saxophone quartet and orchestra, with 13 orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, and Cleveland. As a saxophonist soloist, he performed the American premiere of Takashi Yoshimatsu's ''Cyber Bird Concerto'' with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall.

Selected discography

* ''Regards,'' Freelance (1993);
: Recorded January 1993, live at BMG Studio A, New York City
: Tim Ries (tenor & soprano sax), Franck Amsallem (piano), Scott Colley (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)
* ''Is That So?'' Sunnyside (1996);
: Recorded July 18 & 19, 1990, at Clinton Recording Studios, New York City
: Tim Ries (tenor & soprano sax, flute), Franck Amsallem (piano), Leon Parker (drums, percussion)
* ''Imaginary Time,'' Moo (1994);
: Recorded May 5 & 6, 1994, at Sound on Sound Studios, New York City
: Tim Ries, Randy Brecker (trumpet), Scott Wendholt ( de) (trumpet), Charles Gordon (trombone), Ben Monder (guitar), Franck Amsallem (piano), cott Colley (bass), Joey Baron (drums), Billy Hart">Joey_Baron.html" ;"title="cott Colley (bass), Joey Baron">cott Colley (bass), Joey Baron (drums), Billy Hart (drums)
* ''Universal Spirits'' Criss Cross Jazz">Criss Cross (1998);
: Recorded October 12, 1997, at RPM Studio, New York City
: Tim Ries, Scott Wendholt ( de) (trumpet), Ben Monder (guitar), Scott Colley ( bass), Billy Drummond (drums)
* PRISM Quartet, ''Real Standard Time,'' Innova Recordings, Innova (2000)
: Recorded 2000; all but "Your Gentle Heart" recorded at Current Sounds, New York City; "Your Gentle Heart recorded at Settlement Music School, Philadelphia
: Tim Ries (soprano sax), Michael Whitcombe (alto sax), Matthew Levy (tenor sax), Taimur Sullivan (bari sax), John Riley (drums)
* ''Alternate Side'' Criss Cros (2001);
: Recorded June 3, 2000, Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn
: Tim Ries (tenor & soprano saxophone), Greg Gisbert (trumpet & flugelhorn), Michael Davis (trombone), Ben Monder (guitar), Stacey Shames (Harp), Larry Goldings (piano & organ), John Patitucci (bass), Billy Drummond (bass)
* ''The Rolling Stones Project'' Concord (2005);
* ''Stones World: The Rolling Stones Project II'', Sunnyside (2008);
: Tim Ries (alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones, piano), Charlie Watts (drums), Keith Richards (guitar), Mick Jagger (harmonica), Ronnie Wood (guitar, lap steel), Adam Rogers (guitar) and Tidawt (fusion ensemble)
Album Review
'' by Paul J. Youngman, ', June 22, 2008
With Jack DeJohnette
*''Sound Travels'' (Golden Beam/eOne, 2012)
With the Joe Roccisano Orchestra
*'' Leave Your Mind Behind'' (Landmark, 1995)

Education

Tim Ries came from a musical family in Tecumseh, Michigan, about 70 miles from Detroit. His father Jack Ries ''(né'' Jack Leonard Ries; 1924–1990) was a professional trumpet player; his mother, Edith Viola (née O'Neil; 1925–2006), played piano; and his three sisters sang and also played the piano.
Charlie Watts and Tim Ries on Piano Jazz
'' ''National Public Radio,'' August 31, 2007 Ries is a 1977 graduate of Tecumseh High School in Tecumseh, Michigan. His high school band director was Jimmie L. Rice (born 1946).

In 1981, Ries earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas College of Music in Denton. While at North Texas, he was a member of the 1980–1981 One O'Clock Lab Band during Leon Breeden's last year as director and also a member of the 1981–1982 One O'Clock during Neil Slater's first year as director. During his two-year tenure in the One O'Clock he performed on the ''Lab 81'' and ''Lab 82,'' both studio recordings, and ''European Tour '82,'' a live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, July 20, 1982. In 1984, Ries earned his master's degree in saxophone from the University of Michigan.

His influential saxophone teachers have included James B. Forger (born 1951), Michigan All State Band, Ann Arbor (1971–1972), Larry Teal, Interlochen Arts Academy (1971–1972), Lynn Klock, Interlochen Arts Academy (1976–1977), Jim Riggs, University of North Texas (1979–1982), Donald Sinta, University of Michigan (1982–1984), Dave Liebman, New York (1986–1988), and Michael Brecker at Hastings-on-Hudson, New York (1996–1999).

His key composition teachers have included William Bolcom, University of Michigan (1982–1984), Bob Brookmeyer, BMI Composers Workshop (1988–1990), and Manny Albam, BMI Composers Workshop (1988–1990)
Biography: Tim Ries
'' ''Tim Ries Official Website''

External links

*

Charlie Watts and Tim Ries on Piano Jazz: National Public Radio (NPR)

Tim Ries Stones World Live at The Jazz Standard, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (video)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ries, Tim
1960 births
American classical saxophonists
American male saxophonists
American jazz saxophonists
American music arrangers
Jazz arrangers
American jazz bandleaders
American jazz educators
Living people
University of Toronto faculty
University of North Texas College of Music alumni
University of Michigan faculty
21st-century American saxophonists
21st-century American male musicians
American male jazz musicians
Criss Cross Jazz artists
Sunnyside Records artists
Concord Records artists