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 seven

tracks of inspired modern jazz, full of interplay, elegance, and

technical brilliance.

Doug Raney, the son of jazz guitar legend Jimmy Raney, carved

out a distinctive path of his own, particularly within the vibrant

Scandinavian jazz scene, where he lived and worked for

decades. This recording, unearthed from the archives of the

Danish Broadcasting Corporation, captures Doug in strikingly

fine form following a return to health, backed by some of the

most intuitive players on the Scandinavian scene.

"He had an incredibly refined technique on the guitar, I'd almost

call it organically innate, " writes bassist Jesper Lundgaard in the

liner notes. "His playing felt like an extension of his personality,

effortless, and yet grounded in a deep understanding of jazz's

inner architecture, which is so difficult to truly master. Doug had a

special ability to voice chords, and in my opinion, there was a

beauty in his soloing that only very few possess."

The session was the culmination of a brief Danish tour and

showcases Raney's wide-ranging repertoire, from the burning

drive of John Coltrane's Giant Steps to the aching beauty of I'm

Old Fashioned and a soulful take on Nat Adderley's title track.

Raney's melodic instinct, rhythmic command, and harmonic

depth shine throughout, with dynamic support from Besiakov,

Lundgaard, and Uotila.

Despite his remarkable talent, Doug Raney remains a somewhat

overlooked figure in modern jazz. With this release, Storyville

Records shines a new light on a singular voice whose artistry

remain as vital and moving as ever.