* davestryker jazz guitar leader * Dave Stryker – STRYKIN’ AHEAD: If you were to check my MediaMonkey library, you would find that Dave’s splendid jazz guitar work always gets ***** stars! I’ve reviewed a lot of his work, and it’s always a pleasure to get a new release in from him! On this outing, he’s joined by vibraphonist Steve Nelson, with Jared Gold doing organ and McClenty Hunter on drums, and their high-talent energy is TO THE MOON & BACK on songs like the opener, “Shadowboxing“, a 14-bar minor blues that isn’t “minor” at all… if anything, it’s just Dave (with his playmates) “mining” every ounce of life out of each note on the 5:59 tune… an excellent piece of jazz!
Though it’s “no big deal”, I also want to note that the samples were put up on Amazon already, even though the release date isn’t until September 1st, 2017… I really like that, because it gives you (the listener) a chance to preview the excitement this group can generate… just scope out Dave’s original composition, “Blues Down Deep“… the integration of the other instruments against Dave’s soul-filled guitar lines may make you think of Albert King, but I can guarantee you that this is “pure Stryker”… simply stellar… in fact, the album gets the highest of honors, in that it’s a permanent fixture on my iPhone (for playing as I cruise ’round in my 1966 GTO) – in great part because of Jared’s organ work, too!
I always pick a favorite, and in this case, it’s Dave’s rendition of Strayhorn’s “Passion Flower“… though it’s a bit shorter than some of the other songs, it represents (for this writer, anyway) what jazz is really all about… feeling and beauty expressed clearly by each of the players. I give Dave and his talented crew a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this one… and keep in mind that you heard it here first… this one is BOUND for the awards. Get more information about Dave at his Dave Stryker website. Rotcod Zzaj
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