Dave Stryker With Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band - Blue Soul

Dave Stryker With Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band
Blue Soul
Strikezone Records

Guitarist Dave Stryker's latest recording dates from March 2019 when he recorded with the WDR Big Band with tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer. Mintzer, who serves as the principal conductor for the renowned Cologne, Germany band, provided the arrangements. The material here includes several songs in the vein of the Eight-Track soul and pop songs Stryker has featured in some recent recordings. Also heard are Stryker's originals that are in a similar groove-based manner.

Obviously, there is a difference between Stryker's usual organ jazz combo and a big band. However, the finger-popping, soulful feel of these performances is similar, in part due to Mintzer's handsome arrangements. Stryker is terrific with his lithe single note, horn-like solos set against a relaxed swinging groove. There are several standouts in the big band, including the keyboards of Billy Test (whose organ playing is excellent), drummer Hans Dekker and Mintzer himself.

Standout tracks include renditions of a couple Marvin Gaye songs, "Trouble Man" and, "What's Going On." Karolina Strassmayer is impressive on alto sax while Billy Test plays some funky organ. Stryker's jaunty original "AHA" has a robust Mintzer solo along with one from Stryker. Another original "Blues Strut," has a relaxed marching groove and showcases Test and Mintzer in addition to Stryker's scintillating playing. An unexpected delight is the performance of "Prince's "When Doves Cry," with Stryker's lyrical statement of the melody set against brassy horns. In addition to Stryker's nimble fretwork, alto saxophonist John Hörlén exhibits a dry, bluesy tone.

Against the relaxed swing of "Wichita Lineman," Stryker makes use of the lower register of his guitar to state the theme before Andy Hunter's surging trombone. Mintzer and Stryker are the soloists on Stanley Turrentine's "Stan's Shuffle," that closes this recording. With varied music, Mintzer's terrific arrangements, and the first-rate backing of the WDR Big Band, Dave Stryker's "Blue Soul' is his latest memorable recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "Blues Strut" from  this CD.

Marshall Gilkes and the WDR Big Band Always Forward

Marshall Gilkes and the WDR Big Band
Always Forward
Alternate Side Records

Composer-Arranger-Conductor-Trombonist Gilkes has an impressive resume including being a member of Maria Schneider's Orchestra, who describes him as “one of those musicians who continually just drops my jaw and leaves me shaking my head in disbelief" … as well as a former member of the WDR Big Band with whom he previously recorded a Grammy nominated recording. About this second recording leading this celebrated big band, he observed “Standing in front of a band like that and writing for it...that’s a whole other drug. It’s one thing to play as a soloist and a member, but when you get to write and stand out front and hear all that hard work come back, it’s a pretty addictive thing.”

Here is a multiple threat in all of his capacities here, and also joined by Germany's swinging-est band that boasts such world class players and improvisers as alto saxophonists Karolina Strassmayer and Johan Hörlén; tenor saxophonist Paul Heller, trumpeter Andy Haderer; trombonist Andy Hunter; guitarist Paul Shigihara; bassist John Goldsby and drummer Hans Dekker. The hard driving swing of this band is evident from the opening of "Puddle Jumping," which also showcases' Wilkes' spectacular trombone playing set against a heated orchestration and several tempo transitions. Then there is an rousing spectacular rendition of Cole Porter's "Easy To Love" with marvelous scoring of the horns with a tight statement of the melody from the brass here set the reeds and a funky bass groove. There is a marvelous alto sax solo from Johan Hörlén here as well.

The mood changes with the gentle lyricism of "Morning Smiles," with Wilkes playing in a mellow manner as the performance unfolds for a rhapsodic crescendo as the brass soars along with his trombone. "Switchback" opens with a driving funk groove and showcases saxophonists of Strassmayer on alto (set against Goldsby's bass riff) and Heller's fiery tenor sax. Drummer Dekker also takes a short solo set against Simon Seidl's comping on piano. Here and elsewhere, this big band plays with the tightness of a much smaller group with the orchestrations adding color.

Gilkes's classical influences are displayed by the reeds and brasses providing a chamber-like opening to "Lost Words." it has a relaxed, lyrical trombone solo followed by Seidl's intricate playing bolstered by Goldsby's emphatic bass. A lovely rendition of the ballad "Portrait of Jennie," has a lush arrangement and a exquisite flugelhorn solo from Andy Haderer.

The centerpiece of this recording is "The Denali Suite," inspired by a trip to the National Park in the State of Alaska. It features Hörlén's swirling, spirited soprano sax on the rousing first movement, pianist Seidl playing in ruminative fashion on the hymn-like second part (wonderful scoring of the horns to engender that tone), and trombonist Andy Hunter growling a bit on the swinging third movement.

The album closes with the title track which to Gilkes is about life and his own mindset that no matter what is going around, one has to push forward. Again this performance displays all the facets of his musical persona, as a composer, arranger, conductor and a superb trombonist as this superb band builds to an uplifting crescendo closing a remarkable recording.

I received as a download from a publicist. This review appeared in the November-December 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 381), although I may have made minor changes. Here is a video of Marshall Gilkes and the WDR Big Band playing "Puddle Jumping."