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Dave Stryker: Blue Soul
ByThe 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. Stryker's easy-riding slickness, showing the influence of George Benson and Wes Montgomery, sounds particularity good bouncing off the horns' cool vamping on Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" and "What's Going On" while 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's "Stan's Shuffle," a more soulful version of the shuffle groove benefiting from a hard swinging rhythm laid down by bassist John Goldsby and drummer 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 has a lovely trombone turn on "Wichita Lineman," Karolina Strassmayer's alto sax flows with soul on "What's Going On" and 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.
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
guitarBob Mintzer
saxophoneWim Both
trumpetRob Broynen
trumpetAndy Haderer
trumpetRuud Breuls
trumpetJohan Horlen
saxophone, altoKarolina Strassmayer
saxophone, altoOlivier Peters
saxophone, tenorPaul Heller
saxophone, tenorJens Neufang
saxophone, baritoneLudwig Nuss
tromboneRaphael Klemm
tromboneAndy Hunter
tromboneMattis Cederberg
tromboneBilly Test
pianoJohn Goldsby
bassHans Dekker
drumsAlbum information
Title: Blue Soul | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Strikezone Records
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Dave Stryker
Album Review
Jerome Wilson
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Blue Soul
Strikezone Records
Fred Hersch
Michel Camilo
ambrose akinmusire
Jimmy Heath
bob mintzer
george benson
Wes Montgomery
Marvin Gaye
Billy Test
Jimmy Webb
Stanley Turrentine
John Goldsby
Hans Dekker
Andy Hunter
Karolina Strassmeyer
Johan Horler