Stephen Riley was born in Greenville North Carolina on November 19th, 1975. Growing up his mother Rhonda Riley was a music teacher (classical voice & piano). At age 4 she started Stephen and his older Brother Jonathan on Violin, both studying the Suzuki method. At age 10 Stephen began playing Alto Saxophone and became very interested in Jazz. He began listening and absorbing the sounds of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Lester Young, etc..... By the time he reached high school, he was accepted into a school of the arts in Florida (where his mother was on faculty). During this time he made the transition to tenor saxophone. By the time he was 17 years old, he was a winner of the Stan Getz/Clifford Brown fellowship award. Bassist "Rufus Reid" was one of the judges for this competition and invited Stephen to come to William Patterson University, in Wayne New Jersey (Where Rufus was head of the Jazz Department). After a year at William Patterson univ, He moved to New York city, where he was quickly noticed by many highly esteemed Jazz Artists. Stephen Began touring and recording with such artists, Wynton Marsalis. And "Lincoln center jazz orchestra" The Harper Brothers (European Reunion Tour) The Mingus big Band (shows at "The Time Cafe" NYC). Ray Charles (Southeastern U.S. tour) Harry Connick Jr. ("Songs I Heard" U.S tour) Wynton Marsalis small group featuring (Stefon Harris, Reuben Rogers, Ali Jackson, Stephen Riley, Wessell Anderson, Ron Westray, and Eric Lewis). Marcus Roberts (Blues for The New Millennium tour.) Stephen Riley has been and is currently a featured artist at "Jazz at Lincoln Center's" concert series. Performances include. Blues in the Bucket with (Nicholas Payton, Cyrus chestnut, Ray Drummond, Victor Lewis, Harry Sweets Edison, Al grey.) Boudoir Tenors (Frank Wess, Lew Tebackin, Wayne Escoffery, Stephen Riley) Performances with Harry Sweets Edison and Clark Terry at "The Jazz Showcase" in Chicago. Marcus Roberts (Romance , Swing and the blues) concerts at Lincoln center. Marcus Roberts. "Deep in the Shed" (performances at Lincoln center) Marcus Roberts The music of Earl Hines and Bud Powell (Lincoln center concert series). Etc etc........ Other credits of interest. Stephen has worked and performed with artists, Joe Lovano. Joe Henderson. Michael Brecker. Randy Brecker. Branford Marsalis. Chris Potter. Jackie McLean. Eric Reid. Lewis Nash. Bill Charlap. Percy Heath. Marcus Printup. Natalie Cole. Nora Jones. Norman Simmons. Charles McPherson. Herlin Riley. Ryan kisor. Jason Marsalis. Jason Moran. Billy Hart. Adam Nussbaum. Terrall Stafford. Wycliffe Gordan. Jimmie Green. Joel Fraum. Kenny Garrett. Aaron Deihl. Dave Stryker. Christian McBride. Rodney Whitaker. Kenny Washington. Peter Washington. Sam Yahel. Maceo Parker. And Many More. Stephen Riley is a Steeplechase recording Artist with 10 critically acclaimed CD releases as a leader) 1.) Inside Out (with Greg Hutchinson & Neal Caine) trio. 2.) Easy to Remember (Jason Marsalis & Neal Caine) trio 3.)Once upon A Dream (John Brown & Stephen Riley) Duo. 4. El Gaucho (Jason Marsalis, Neal Caine, Ernest Turner) quartet. 5.) Lucky Seven (same personnel as El Gaucho) quartet. 6.) Hart-Beat (Billy Hart and Neal Caine) trio. 7.) Lover (Peter Zak, Neal Caine, Jason Marsalis) quartet. 8.) Baubles Bangles and Beads (same personnel as Lover) quartet. 9.) Haunted Heart (Peter Zak & Stephen Riley) Duo. 10.) Deuce (Peter Zak & Stephen Riley) Duo. 2017 release! Stephen Riley will be recording his next steeplechase release on April 24th, 2017 with (Adam Nussbaum & Jay Anderson) trio. Stephen Riley currently tours and records under his own name ( in the U.S., Europe and South America). And very soon Japan. He Also Tours and records and has done so over the last 9 yrs with the Marcus Roberts trio. And Marcus Roberts and the Modern Jazz Generation. (MJG) Stephen Riley is also an annual clinician for "Swing Central" as part of the Savannah music festival. Clinician faculty including. Terrell Stafford. Marcus Roberts. Marcus Printup. Wycliffe Gordan. Aaron Deihl. (Stephen Riley is a featured recording artist with Aaron Deihl quartet on Aaron's latest Mack Avenue records release) "Time , Space Continuum". Jason Marsalis. Christian McBride. Rodney Whitaker. Etc...... Stephen Riley has been and currently is highly involved in Jazz education , teaching private students in North Carolina , his birthplace (where he now resides). And in many other locations around the U.S and Europe. Stephen Riley artist residencies and master classes include. UNC chapel hill University. UNC Greensboro University. York university (Toronto , Canada). FSU University (Tallahassee Florida). Gadsden state College (Alabama). Jazz and Heritage (New Orleans , LA). UNO University (New Orleans , LA). Copenhagen Music Conservatory (Denmark). Krakow Music Conservatory (Poland). Jaworski Jazz camp (Jaworski, Poland). ECU University (Greenville , NC). Swing Central (Savannah ,Georgia), faculty member the last 5 yrs. Duke University (Durham, NC). University of South Carolina (Charleston SC). Artist publications and press include. Downbeat Magazine. People Magazine. The New York Times. The Orlando Times. Etc.......