Tim Ries

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Tim Ries | image = | alt = | caption = | image_size = | landscape =  | birth_name = Timothy M. Ries | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|8|15|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Detroit]], U.S. | origin = | death_place = | genre = [[Jazz]], [[pop music|pop]] | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|composer|music educator}} | instrument = {{hlist|Saxophone|keyboards}} | years_active =  | label = | current_member_of = [[The Rolling Stones]]<br />[[The Pussycat Dolls]] | website = {{URL|http://timries.com/}} }}

'''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 {{ordinal to word|{{age|format=raw|2006|09|01}}}} 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 Rolling Stones]] produced on two albums, the first in 2005 and the second in 2008.<ref name="All Music">''[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tim-ries-mn0000596911/biography Time Ries],'' by David Jeffries, ''[[Allmusic]]''</ref>

== 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).<ref name="Univ. Toronto bio">''[http://www.music.utoronto.ca/faculty/faculty_members/faculty_n_to_z/tim_ries.htm Biography: Tim Ries] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128074651/http://www.music.utoronto.ca/faculty/faculty_members/faculty_n_to_z/tim_ries.htm |date=2014-01-28 }}'', [[University of Toronto]]</ref>

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]].<ref name="Tim Ries at All About Jazz">[https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/tim-ries Biography: Tim Ries], [https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/tim-ries] ''[[All About Jazz]]''</ref>

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]].<ref name="Milkkowski">''[http://jazztimes.com/articles/21150-tim-ries-not-only-rock-n-roll Tim Ries: Not Only Rock ‘N’ Roll]'', by ([[:de:Bill Milkowski|de]]), ''{{url|jazztimes.com}}'', January/February 2009</ref> 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|William Bolcom's]] ''Concerto Grosso,'' for saxophone quartet and orchestra, with 13 orchestras, including the [[Detroit Symphony Orchestra|Detroit Symphony]], the [[Dallas Symphony Orchestra|Dallas Symphony]], and [[Cleveland Orchestra|Cleveland]]. As a saxophonist soloist, he performed the American premiere of [[Takashi Yoshimatsu|Takashi Yoshimatsu's]] ''Cyber Bird Concerto'' with the [[Brooklyn Philharmonic]] at [[Carnegie Hall]].<ref name="Tim Ries at All About Jazz" />

== Selected discography == * ''Regards,'' [[Freelance Records|Freelance]] (1993); {{OCLC|122939190}} : Recorded January 1993, live at BMG Studio A, New York City : Tim Ries (tenor & soprano sax), [[Franck Amsallem]] (piano), [[Scott Colley]] (bass), [[Bill Stewart (musician)|Bill Stewart]] (drums) * ''Is That So?'' [[Sunnyside Records|Sunnyside]] (1996); {{OCLC|53349589}} : 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); {{OCLC|53349555}} : Recorded May 5 & 6, 1994, at Sound on Sound Studios, New York City : Tim Ries, [[Randy Brecker]] (trumpet), Scott Wendholt ([[:de:Scott Wendholt|de]]) (trumpet), Charles Gordon (trombone), [[Ben Monder]] (guitar), Franck Amsallem (piano),[Scott Colley (bass), [[Joey Baron]] (drums), [[Billy Hart]] (drums) * ''Universal Spirits'' [[Criss Cross Jazz|Criss Cross]] (1998); {{OCLC|50487679}} : Recorded October 12, 1997, at RPM Studio, New York City : Tim Ries, Scott Wendholt ([[:de: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 Bernard Riley|John Riley]] (drums) * ''Alternate Side'' Criss Cros (2001); {{OCLC|50137774}} : Recorded June 3, 2000, Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn : Tim Ries (tenor & soprano saxophone), [[Greg Gisbert]] (trumpet & flugelhorn), [[Michael Davis (trombonist)|Michael Davis]] (trombone), Ben Monder (guitar), Stacey Shames (Harp), [[Larry Goldings]] (piano & organ), [[John Patitucci]] (bass), Billy Drummond (bass) * ''The Rolling Stones Project'' [[Concord Records|Concord]] (2005); {{OCLC|61279904}} * ''Stones World: The Rolling Stones Project II'', Sunnyside (2008); {{OCLC|255920696}} : Tim Ries (alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones, piano), [[Charlie Watts]] (drums), [[Keith Richards]] (guitar), [[Mick Jagger]] (harmonica), [[Ronnie Wood]] (guitar, lap steel), [[Adam Rogers (musician)|Adam Rogers]] (guitar) and Tidawt (fusion ensemble)<ref name="JazzReview 2008">''[http://jazzreview.com/cd-reviews/contemporary-jazz-cd-reviews/stones-world-the-rolling-stones-project-ii-by-tim-ries.html Album Review],'' by Paul J. Youngman, ''{{URL|www.jazzreview.com}}'', June 22, 2008</ref> '''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.<ref name="NPR">''[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15127429 Charlie Watts and Tim Ries on Piano Jazz],'' ''[[National Public Radio]],'' August 31, 2007</ref> Ries is a 1977 graduate of [[Tecumseh High School (Michigan)|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, Texas|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 Lab Band|One O'Clock]] during Neil Slater's first year as director. During his two-year tenure in the [[One O'Clock Lab Band|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 College of Music|University of North Texas]] (1979–1982), [[Donald Sinta]], [[University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance|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)<ref name="Ries website bio">''[http://www.timries.com/biography.html Biography: Tim Ries],'' ''Tim Ries Official Website''</ref>

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.timries.com/|Tim Ries official website}} * [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15127429 Charlie Watts and Tim Ries on Piano Jazz: National Public Radio (NPR)] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_PSP-Qs5W0 Tim Ries Stones World Live at The Jazz Standard, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (video)]

== References == {{Reflist|40em|refs= }}

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