Dave Stryker - Baker's Circle

Dave Stryker - Baker's Circle - Strikezone Records

I have described some of guitarist Dave Stryker's recordings as "straight-ahead jazz comfort food of a high level." This new release adds Walter Smith III's tenor sax to his organ group of organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter. Mayra Casales adds percussion to three of the ten selections. There are four originals from Stryker and one from Gold, along with five interpretations of songs from the likes of Cole Porter, Leon Russell, and Marvin Gaye.

"Tough," a driving blues-flavored number, opens this album with scintillating solos. Stryker is first with his soulful, straight-ahead playing and well-crafted solo. Walter Smith III's tenor sax firs in like a well-tailored suit. He has a robust tone and swagger in his attack like Stryker's former boss Stanley Turrentine. Gold is perhaps overlooked among the organists playing today, but he gets the hot sauce going on this selection. The temperature cools a tad on with the relaxed Latin groove of "El Camino," Smith solos with plenty of gusto here. Then there is the late evening blues "Dreamsong," with fleet, nifty guitar, and big-toned saxophone. 

The relaxed swing of Cole Porter's "Everything I Love" showcases Smith's romanticism, while Gold's "Rush Hour" is a spirited burner with some fiery tenor sax and organ. Leon Russell's "Superstar" may be best known from the Carpenters' recording. Stryker and company deliver a delicately structured performance. The title track was composed in memory of the educator and composer David Baker. Casales provides rhythmic accents to a scintillating performance.

There is also a bluesy shuffle, "Trouble (No. 2)," that Stryker's old boss, Stanley Turrentine, recorded. This song partially evokes the Little Willie John classic "Fever" and finds the group at their soulful, groovy best. It caps another first-rate recording from Stryker and company.

I received my review copy from a publicist.  Here is an interview with Dave Stryker.

Dave Stryker Eight Track Christmas

Dave Stryker
Eight Track Christmas
Strikezone Records

Dave Stryker's Eight Track series of recordings has been straight-ahead jazz comfort food of a high level. Here, guitarist Stryker is joined by vibraphonist Stefon Harris, organist Jared Gold, and drummer McClenty Hunter. On one track of this 10-track CD of Christmas favorites, Steve Nelson replaces Harris on the closing track "O Tannenbaum.".

Like the previous albums, the performances are delightful renditions of familiar songs that are performed with spirit, humor, and imagination. Harris' at times shimmering vibes complements Strykers, fleet lean lines and solo note runs with Gold providing a greasy organ foundation and Hunter pushing the song along crisply. The performances are both melodic and inventive, and the interplay is marvelous. In addition to well-known carols such as "Greensleeves" and "We Three Kings," songs performed include Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," to John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (The War Is Over)," and "Blue Christmas."

"This Christmas" opens this splendid recording with some dazzling playing followed by "Greensleeves," with Stryker's solo ingeniously working over the changes with Hunter's shimmering cymbals bring the tune to a close. An imaginative rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," is pushed along by Hunter's funk groove. The funk groove also is present on a vibrant "Soulful Frosty," Steve Nelson's mash-up of "Soulful Strut" with "Frosty the Snow Man." There is an alluring, reflective interpretation of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here," with an enchanting vibes solo. "Sleigh Ride" is an exhilarating romp with Gold's dazzling organ followed by Stryker's scintillating fretwork. Elvis' "Blues Christmas" is given a well-played bluesy interpretation although the tempo drags a bit.

"Eight Track Christmas" is another wonderfully played chapter in Dave Stryker's series. Mixing in familiar material with his arrangements and his superb band, Dave Stryker has a holiday recording with several performances that will be enjoyed year-round.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "O Tannenbaum."

Jared Gold Reemergence

Jared Gold
Reemergence
Strikezone

Organist Gold has been a significant part of guitarist Dave Stryker's organ trio along with drummer McClenty Hunter. Among the more recent group of jazz organists, Gold has become a significant part of the NY jazz scene playing with such heavyweights as Oliver Lake and the late John Abercrombie along with Stryker. he has recorded 8 albums although it has been three years since his last as a leader. On this recording, produced by Stryker, legendary drummer Billy Hart joins the pair (and it is a working trio), with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt adding his brass to three of the nine selections. Gold contributed two originals to this recording with others coming from Gershwin, Stevie Wonder, Ornette Coleman, Doris Akers and Lennon and McCartney.

From Jared's opening title track to the closing "Nomad" by Stryker, Gold and his organ trio certainly delight organ jazz fans starting with an unusual blues that Pelt's vibrant trumpet adds fire to the unusual burning blues line. Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" displays his melodic touch as well as orchestral sound while providing a strong setting for Stryker's dazzling playing. There is a wistful reading of The Beatles' "She's Leaving Home." Pelt is present on "Looking For Another Pure Love," which contrasts with the solid funk of "One For John A," where Pelt adds his trumpet to Gold's chicken shack grease. Hart provides a light Brazilian groove to "How Long Has This Been Getting On," which is followed by a slowed down rendition of Ornette Coleman's "Blues Connotation," where Gold's use of dynamics adds to the impressiveness of the trio's performance.

While organ jazz might be viewed by some as jazz comfort food, one cannot deny how outstanding Jared Gold and trio are on this superb recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the May-June 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 378). Here is a short live clip of this trio.

McClenty Hunter Jr. The Groove Hunter

McClenty Hunter Jr.
The Groove Hunter
Strikezone

Familiar to this writer as a member of Dave Stryker's organ trio, drummer McClenty Hunter Jr. studied at Howard University with Grady Tate and Juilliard with Carl Allen. He was a member of Kenny Garrett's Quintet and has played with Lou Donaldson, Eric Reed, Curtis Fuller, Javon Jackson and others in addition to Stryker.I believe "The Groove Hunter" is his first recording as a leader. Produced by Stryker and Hunter, there are some serious players to be heard here including pianists Eric Reed and Christian Sands; bassists Corcoran Holt and Eric Wheeler; guitarist Stryker; trumpeter Eddie Henderson; alto saxophonist Donald Harrison; and tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard. They collaborate in various combinations on the four Hunter compositions and five interpretations heard here.

There is plenty of fire with Eric Reed dazzling on piano for a driving, fiery trip take of Herbie Nichols' "Blue Chopsticks," with Holt anchoring the performance with Hunter pushing the heated groove. In contrast, Reed is exquisite on Hunter's, "My Love," shifting from a lovely ballad mode to comping behind Dillard's robust, burning tenor sax and then soloing in a Tyner-esque fashion. Wayne Shorter's "The Big Push" has all three of the horns along with Reed and Holt. Dillard's robust tenor sax is impressive while Dr. Henderson delights with his attack. There are also strong statements from Reed and Harrison who plays in a turbulent manner. Stryker is featured on the rendition of Stevie Wonder's "That Girl," with Sands also outstanding on this bouncy performance. Gary McFarland's "Sack Full of Dreams" is a feature for some lovely, delicate playing from pianist Sands and guitarist Stryker, with Hunter employing a light touch. Hunter's drums kick off a brisk version of John Coltrane's "Countdown," with Harrison riveting alto sax with a good portion of the performance being a duet with Hunter before Reed and Holt join in.

Dillard's soprano sax is supported by Reed, Holt and Hunter on the leader's composition, "Give Thanks," on a lovely spiritually rooted performance. It is the close of a fascinating and enthralling recording by Hunter, who shows himself to be a composer of note as well as a marvelous musician who is joined by a superb cast of supporting musicians.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the May-June 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 378). Here is McClenty Hunter Jr as part of Dave Stryker's band.

Dave Stryker Eight Track II

Dave Stryker
Eight Track II
Strikezone

This is a followup to guitarist Dave Stryker's 2014 recording "Eight Track." In the notes to that release, Stryker observed that the 70's (the time of eight track decks) was “a time when there was a lot of great pop music going on as well as jazz.” On that album, his trio of organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter was augmented by vibraphonist Stefon Harris. Gold and Hunter are back for this date, but once again he has added a vibraphonist to the organ trio, in this case Steve Nelson.

There is plenty of pleasures on this new collection of grooves as he re-imagines songs from The Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Prince, Cream, The Zombies, James Ingram and John Barry. This is music that is breezy, funky and definitely tied to a groove with Nelson adding unusual textures to the unusual twists taken on a reflective "What's Going On," a driving "I Can't Get Next To You," a bouncy "Time of the Season," a dreamy "Midnight Cowboy," a recrafted "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," and an organ based shuffle reworking of "Sunshine of Your Love," that sounds like something he might have played with Brother Jack McDuff in the 1970s.

Throughout Stryker displays his clean, imaginatively executed playing while Gold digs deep in the grease with Nelson's shimmering vibes provides additional musical delights for this second helping of organ jazz transformations of 70's pop. And let us not forget Hunter's solid swing driving these performances along. We will need to hope for for Eight Track III in a couple years.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the September-October 2016  Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 368). I have made minor changes to that published review. Here is "Trouble Man."

 

The title of guitarist Dave Stryker’s new recording, Eight Track (Strikezone Records) refers to the music of the 70s when 8 track tape players were in vogue. In his notes, Stryker observed that this was “a time when there was a lot of great pop music going on as well as jazz.” In addressing this material, his trio of organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter is augmented by vibraphonist Stefon Harris.

Songs with great melodies and that evoke a great time is what Stryker sought and among the songs interpreted here are The Spinner’s I’ll Be Around; Curtis Mayfield’s Pusherman/Superfly; Glen Campbell’s Wichita Linesman; The Fifth Dimension’s Aquarius; The Association’s Never My Love; and Pink Floyd’s Bread Money. Stryker and Harris are the dominant solo voices on the delightful, straightforward performances o with Gold and Harris helping swing these performances. The interplay between Stryker and Harris is marvelous and they both make these instruments sing with their lyricism and deft, imaginative soloing.

The augmentation of an organ trio with a vibraphonist may not be frequent occurrence, but Stefan Harris’ contributions to Dave Stryker’s trio help make Eight Track such a entertaining listening experience.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a little video on the making of Eight Track.