Tim Ries

Saxophonist Tim Ries distinguishes himself among elite pickup and session players through an extensive list of high-profile credits, while also forging an independent path marked by well-received solo albums, original compositions, and inventive arrangements. Rolling Stone legend Keith Richards characterized Ries’s sound as "amazing." After earning degrees from the University of North Texas and the University of Michigan, Ries entered the recording studio for the first time in 1983 on Maynard Ferguson’s Live from San Francisco. His blend of rock and jazz interests first reached disc in 1989 on Bob Belden’s Straight to My Heart: The Music of Sting. Four years later he shared top billing on Regards with Franck Amsallem. Moo Records issued Ries’s debut solo album, Imaginary Time, in 1994. Although taped during a 1990 session, the more abstract Is That So?—also credited to Amsallem/Ries—did not appear until 1996, the same year Ries performed on Joe Henderson’s Grammy-winning Big Band album. Universal Spirits followed in 1998 and featured frequent collaborator Billy Drummond on drums. By then Ries had already contributed to sessions by Donald Fagen, Paul Simon, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, David Lee Roth, and numerous other pop and rock acts, yet 1999 brought a career-defining offer. While playing for President Clinton at the White House, an overlooked ringing cell phone conveyed an invitation to tour with the Rolling Stones—an offer Ries accepted on the spot. After that lengthy engagement, Alternate Side in 2001 signaled his return to solo recording, but the following year he became a founding member of the Prism Saxophone Quartet, whose debut Real Standard Time was released by Innova. Another Stones tour occupied most of 2003–2004 and prompted Ries to create jazz arrangements of compositions by Mick and Keith. Those charts were tested on an American tour before appearing in 2005 as The Rolling Stones Project on the Concord label.