The Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries has written a tribute song for Pellegrini’s owner Sisto Malaspina

The Rolling Stones saxophonist has written a tribute song to Sisto Malaspina, after the Pellegrini’s co-owner was killed in the Bourke Street terror attack.

Tim Ries is a sax and keyboard player for the Rolling Stones. Picture: Tony Gough

The Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries has written a tribute song to Sisto Malaspina.

“His passing hit me really hard,” Ries said of the new song titled, A Name For Every Number.

“I went to the piano and I wrote this song. It starts in a minor key, but it has elements of beauty, in the sense of his smiling, welcoming nature.

“To me, the song is about the passing of a person who ’s been so important to the community here for so many years.”

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Nino Pangrazio and his partner Sisto Malaspina.

Mr Malaspina, the co-owner of Pellegrini’s Espresso bar, was fatally stabbed by Islamic State-inspired terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali during an attack in Bourke St November 9.

Two other men were injured, while the attacker died after being shot in the chest by a police officer.

Mr Malaspina was farewelled at a state funeral last week.

Ries has been a regular visitor to Pellegrini’s for the past 15 years while on tour with the Stones or with his jazz side projects.

He had dinner at Pellegrini’s and a long conversation with Mr Malaspina four months ago.

“He was sitting there like the king of the place,” Ries said, laughing.

“I’d just bought a ring in the city, and Sisto was there wearing the most amazing pinky ring. I stayed there for another couple of hours just enjoying the conversation about his jewellery.”

“Whenever I’m in Melbourne, that’s where I go. I travel the world and I look for those places,” Ries said. “You know the same friendly people are going to be there. It’s like family. You wanna go back to that place and feel that sense of welcome.”

Ries will premiere A Name For Every Number at his shows at Melbourne jazz club, Bird’s Basement, playing nightly from Wednesday to Sunday.

Tim Ries is a sax and keyboard player for the Rolling Stones. Picture: Tony Gough

“It’s the remembrance of a person’s spirit,” Ries said. “You always hear a number whenever somebody is killed in a tragedy like this. But there’s a name for every number, it’s a father, mother son, daughter, husband or wife.”

Ries will perform with his jazz ensemble the Rolling Stones Project, with Stones backing vocalist Bernard Fowler.

“We take a melody and we do it our own way,” he said. “It could be Irving Berlin, George Gershwin or the Rolling Stones. We take the initial sketch of a song and expand on it, having as much fun and freedom as we can.”

Ries has toured with the Stones in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

He plays saxophone, keyboards and organ on Stones tours.

Rolling Stones at the Ellington Jazz Club. Picture: Jess Herbert/Instagram.

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