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Dave Stryker: Blue Soul

By Jerome Wilson
June 29, 2020
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Germany's WDR Big Band has welcomed a great variety of musicians such as

Fred Hersch

piano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Hersch,

Michel Camilo

piano
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Michel Camilo,

Ambrose Akinmusire

trumpet
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ambrose Akinmusire and

Jimmy Heath

saxophone, tenor
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Heath as guest soloists over the years. On this occasion they provide an invigorating backdrop for the springy and soulful guitar of

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Stryker.

The set list on this CD finds Stryker and the band tackling a combination of vintage pop and soul hits and the guitarist's original compositions, all arranged and conducted by saxophonist

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer. Stryker's easy-riding slickness, showing the influence of

George Benson

guitar
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">George Benson and

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery, sounds particularity good bouncing off the horns' cool vamping on

Marvin Gaye

" data-original-title="" title="">Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" and "What's Going On" while

Billy Test

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Test's organ simmers underneath. On Jimmy Webb's classic "Wichita Lineman" the guitarist shifts to a thicker, country-flavored tone as he travels over a lightly waltzing rhythm filled with warm brass colors. Mintzer's arrangements of these tunes stays close to the originals but he changes things a bit with Prince's "When Doves Cry," having the band race through the tune at a fast tempo. In front of them, Stryker sprints over the melody before taking a whirlwind solo with Test again providing close organ support.

Stryker's own compositions are serviceable jazz pieces given color and depth by Minzter's arrangements. "Came To Believe" carries a nice bite and tension in the combination of Minzter's bright, stabbing horn arrangement and Stryker's tangled burrowing. "Shadowboxing" features a punchy conversation between the reed and brass sections while "Blues Strut" is a sporty shuffle with guitar riding closely on top of the band's bluesy shouts. It pairs up nicely with

Stanley Turrentine

saxophone, tenor
1934 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Turrentine's "Stan's Shuffle," a more soulful version of the shuffle groove benefiting from a hard swinging rhythm laid down by bassist

John Goldsby

bass
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">John Goldsby and drummer

Hans Dekker

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Hans Dekker.

Stryker is the featured soloist on this album but several of the big band's regular members have strong moments as well.

Andy Hunter

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Hunter has a lovely trombone turn on "Wichita Lineman,"

Karolina Strassmayer

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Karolina Strassmayer's alto sax flows with soul on "What's Going On" and

Johan Horlen

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Johan Horlen plays his alto with serpentine beauty on "Came To Believe" and "When Doves Cry." Conductor Mintzer contributes some of the hardest hitting music of the set himself with his authoritative red-blooded tenor on "Aha," "Blues Strut" and "Stan's Shuffle."

Dave Stryker and the WDR Big Band make a fine team here, combining for a rousing and enjoyable session of guitar-led big band jazz played with style and joy.

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Track Listing

Trouble Man; Aha; What��s Going On; Came to Believe; Blues Strut; When Doves Cry; Wichita Lineman; Shadowboxing; Stan��s Shuffle.

Personnel

Dave Stryker

guitar

Bob Mintzer

saxophone

Wim Both

trumpet

Rob Broynen

trumpet

Andy Haderer

trumpet

Ruud Breuls

trumpet

Johan Horlen

saxophone, alto

Karolina Strassmayer

saxophone, alto

Olivier Peters

saxophone, tenor

Paul Heller

saxophone, tenor

Jens Neufang

saxophone, baritone

Ludwig Nuss

trombone

Raphael Klemm

trombone

Andy Hunter

trombone

Mattis Cederberg

trombone, bass

Billy Test

piano

John Goldsby

bass

Hans Dekker

drums

Album information

Title: Blue Soul | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Strikezone Records

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Dave Stryker Concerts

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Jazz Fest Day

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