Never Say Yes - 1986

Storyville Records proudly announces the release of Never Say Yes - 1986, a previously unreleased live-in-studio recording by the Doug Raney Quartet, captured in Studio 3 at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation on January 9, 1986. The album features Doug Raney on guitar, Ben Besiakov on piano, Jesper Lundgaard on bass, and Finnish drummer Jukkis Uotila. Never Say Yes - 1986 offers seventracks of inspired modern jazz, full of interplay, elegance, andtechnical brilliance.Doug Raney, the son of jazz guitar legend Jimmy Raney, carvedout a distinctive path of his own, particularly within the vibrantScandinavian jazz scene, where he lived and worked fordecades. This recording, unearthed from the archives of theDanish Broadcasting Corporation, captures Doug in strikinglyfine form following a return to health, backed by some of themost intuitive players on the Scandinavian scene."He had an incredibly refined technique on the guitar, I'd almostcall it organically innate, " writes bassist Jesper Lundgaard in theliner notes. "His playing felt like an extension of his personality, effortless, and yet grounded in a deep understanding of jazz'sinner architecture, which is so difficult to truly master. Doug had aspecial ability to voice chords, and in my opinion, there was abeauty in his soloing that only very few possess."The session was the culmination of a brief Danish tour andshowcases Raney's wide-ranging repertoire, from the burningdrive of John Coltrane's Giant Steps to the aching beauty of I'mOld Fashioned and a soulful take on Nat Adderley's title track.Raney's melodic instinct, rhythmic command, and harmonicdepth shine throughout, with dynamic support from Besiakov, Lundgaard, and Uotila.Despite his remarkable talent, Doug Raney remains a somewhatoverlooked figure in modern jazz. With this release, StoryvilleRecords shines a new light on a singular voice whose artistryremain as vital and moving as ever.