Tim Ries's Universal Spirits Ensemble at The Falcon

Highly accomplished saxophonist and composer, Tim Ries (Rolling Stones) assembles and extraordinary group of singers, dancers and musicians from around the world - as Universal Spirits!

Compositionally, Ries's aesthetic falls somewhere between the free-bop of Ornette Coleman and the more ethereal harmonic universe of the ECM school. - Allmusic.com

Ries currently tours the world playing saxophone, keyboard and organ with the Rolling Stones.

He has had a unique and varied career, which began with the great Maynard Ferguson, and since that time his performing and recording credits include a who’s who of jazz, rock, pop and world music icons:...

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Highly accomplished saxophonist and composer, Tim Ries (Rolling Stones) assembles and extraordinary group of singers, dancers and musicians from around the world - as Universal Spirits!

Compositionally, Ries's aesthetic falls somewhere between the free-bop of Ornette Coleman and the more ethereal harmonic universe of the ECM school. - Allmusic.com

Ries currently tours the world playing saxophone, keyboard and organ with the Rolling Stones.

He has had a unique and varied career, which began with the great Maynard Ferguson, and since that time his performing and recording credits include a who’s who of jazz, rock, pop and world music icons:

The Rolling Stones from 1999 to the present, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Donald Fagen, Michael Jackson, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Rod Stewart, Lyle Lovette.

Tim has worked with jazz greats Red Garland, Donald Byrd, Hank Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, Chico Hamilton, Michael Brecker, Joe Henderson, Tony Bennett, Louie Bellson, Dave Liebman, Al Foster, John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Bela Szakcsi Lakatos and Maria Schneider.

Tim was a member of the Prism Saxophone Quartet from 1993-2003. He has released 9 CDs as a leader. His last two discs, Tim Ries Quintet and Tim Ries Quintet Vol II, are live performances at Smalls Jazz Club.

In 2005 and 2008 respectively, he released The Rolling Stones Project (Concord) and Stones World (Sunnyside), both are his versions of Stones classics arranged in jazz and world music genres. Both CDs have drawn rave reviews across the globe.

Some of the guest artists featured on these discs include: all four Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Milton Nascimento, Sara Baras, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, Lisa Fischer, Bernard Fowler, Larry Goldings, Franck Amsallem, Eddie Palmieri, Brian Blade and Ana Moura.

His latest collaborations are performing with the great flamenco dancer Sara Baras and with The East Gipsy Band from Budapest.

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