i like to riff

Rio Nido's mySpace page

back cover

I L I K E T O R I F F

Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day

The Trouble With Me is You

In Walked Bud

Hannah in Savannah

Wacky Dust

Gone

I Like to Riff

Shanghai Lil

Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love

The Man With the Jive

Crazy People

Rio Nido - I Like to Riff

Prudence Johnson - Vocals
Tim Sparks - Vocals & Guitar
Tom Lieberman - Vocals & Guitar

With
Eddie Berger - Alto Sax, Baritone Sax, Soprano Sax, Clarinet
Butch Thompson - Clarinet
Jim Price - Fiddle
Hearn Gadbois - Conga
Willie Murphy - Bass
Gary Rayhor - Bass
Steve Benson - Bass Sax
Peter Ostroushko - Mandolin

The popular vocal jazz trio Rio Nido emerged from the heady days of the Minneapolis West Bank music scene of the early 1970’s, playing at the legendary New Riverside Cafe and Extempore Coffeehouse. With Tom Lieberman on vocals and guitar, Prudence Johnson on vocals and Tim Sparks on vocals and guitar, Rio Nido specialized in Classic Jazz and Swing of the 1930’s and 40’s. In 1977 they recorded “I Like to Riff” which featured arrangements of The Boswell Sisters, The Cats and the Fiddle, Stuff Smith, Al Jolson and Nat King Cole performed with a stellar lineup including Butch Thompson, Eddie Berger, Peter Ostroushko, Jim Price, Gary Raynor, Hearn Gadbois, and members of the Wolverines Classic Jazz Orchestra. Recorded by Dave Ray, Chris Hinding and Michael McKern, “I Like to Riff” was produced by Charlie Campbell and Doug Ackerman for Campbell’s Shadow Records label with artwork by famed music poster artist John Hanson.

Tom Lieberman left the group in the late 70’s and after a brief hiatus he was replaced by Roger Hernandez on vocals and drums. Beginning in 1980, Rio Nido switched to a quartet format of guitar, bass, drums and vocals and focused on the vocalese style of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and Eddie Jefferson as well as Do-Wop classics like 60 Minute Man, which showcased Hernandez’ rich baritone. Prudence Johnson blossomed in this period as arguably the best jazz singer ever to come out of Minnesota.

In 1983 they released “Hi-Fly” on Bob Feldman’s Red House Records, which featured original lyrics by Jim Nance, Mary Jo Knox, and Sparks set to the music of Slide Hampton, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, and Randy Weston. Hi-Fly featured Dave Maslow on bass and vocals, Dave Karr on flute and tenor sax and Jimmy Hamilton on piano. Rio Nido’s last recording was “Voicings”, recorded for the Pro Arte Jazz label, one of the first early, all-digital recordings released in the then new compact disc format.. They were joined by a who’s who of Minnesota Jazz greats including Tom Lewis on bass, Jimmy Hamilton-piano, Dave Karr-tenor sax, Gary Berg-tenor sax and chromatic harmonica, Phil Hey-drums, Dave Jensen-trumpet, Kathy Jensen-tenor sax and flute, Pete Enblom-trombone, Billy Carrothers-keyboards, Dave Birget-bass vocals, and Marc Anderson-percussion.

Rio Nido garnered widespread recognition and many awards including MN Music Awards for Best Jazz Group, Best Female Vocalist, Best Jazz Guitarist, etc. They performed in many renowned music venues of the Twin Cities such as the Night Train, Capp Towers, the Dakota, Sweeney’s, the Taiga, First Avenue, the Triangle Bar, and the Cabooze as well as The Guthrie Theater, Orchestra Hall, the Walker Art Center, the MN State Fair and the Prairie Home Companion Show.

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Rio Nido's mySpace page back cover		I L I K E T O R I F F Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day The Trouble With Me is You In Walked Bud Hannah in Savannah Wacky Dust Gone I Like to Riff Shanghai Lil Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love The Man With the Jive Crazy People Rio Nido - I Like to Riff Prudence Johnson - Vocals Tim Sparks - Vocals & Guitar Tom Lieberman - Vocals & Guitar With Eddie Berger - Alto Sax, Baritone Sax, Soprano Sax, Clarinet Butch Thompson - Clarinet Jim Price - Fiddle Hearn Gadbois - Conga Willie Murphy - Bass Gary Rayhor - Bass Steve Benson - Bass Sax Peter Ostroushko - Mandolin The popular vocal jazz trio Rio Nido emerged from the heady days of the Minneapolis West Bank music scene of the early 1970’s, playing at the legendary New Riverside Cafe and Extempore Coffeehouse. With Tom Lieberman on vocals and guitar, Prudence Johnson on vocals and Tim Sparks on vocals and guitar, Rio Nido specialized in Classic Jazz and Swing of the 1930’s and 40’s. In 1977 they recorded “I Like to Riff” which featured arrangements of The Boswell Sisters, The Cats and the Fiddle, Stuff Smith, Al Jolson and Nat King Cole performed with a stellar lineup including Butch Thompson, Eddie Berger, Peter Ostroushko, Jim Price, Gary Raynor, Hearn Gadbois, and members of the Wolverines Classic Jazz Orchestra. Recorded by Dave Ray, Chris Hinding and Michael McKern, “I Like to Riff” was produced by Charlie Campbell and Doug Ackerman for Campbell’s Shadow Records label with artwork by famed music poster artist John Hanson. Tom Lieberman left the group in the late 70’s and after a brief hiatus he was replaced by Roger Hernandez on vocals and drums. Beginning in 1980, Rio Nido switched to a quartet format of guitar, bass, drums and vocals and focused on the vocalese style of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and Eddie Jefferson as well as Do-Wop classics like 60 Minute Man, which showcased Hernandez’ rich baritone. Prudence Johnson blossomed in this period as arguably the best jazz singer ever to come out of Minnesota. In 1983 they released “Hi-Fly” on Bob Feldman’s Red House Records, which featured original lyrics by Jim Nance, Mary Jo Knox, and Sparks set to the music of Slide Hampton, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, and Randy Weston. Hi-Fly featured Dave Maslow on bass and vocals, Dave Karr on flute and tenor sax and Jimmy Hamilton on piano. Rio Nido’s last recording was “Voicings”, recorded for the Pro Arte Jazz label, one of the first early, all-digital recordings released in the then new compact disc format.. They were joined by a who’s who of Minnesota Jazz greats including Tom Lewis on bass, Jimmy Hamilton-piano, Dave Karr-tenor sax, Gary Berg-tenor sax and chromatic harmonica, Phil Hey-drums, Dave Jensen-trumpet, Kathy Jensen-tenor sax and flute, Pete Enblom-trombone, Billy Carrothers-keyboards, Dave Birget-bass vocals, and Marc Anderson-percussion. Rio Nido garnered widespread recognition and many awards including MN Music Awards for Best Jazz Group, Best Female Vocalist, Best Jazz Guitarist, etc. They performed in many renowned music venues of the Twin Cities such as the Night Train, Capp Towers, the Dakota, Sweeney’s, the Taiga, First Avenue, the Triangle Bar, and the Cabooze as well as The Guthrie Theater, Orchestra Hall, the Walker Art Center, the MN State Fair and the Prairie Home Companion Show.

		where to order home top