Dave Stryker-guitar
Steve Slagle-alto sax
Duane Eubanks-trumpet
Clark Gayton-trombone
Bob Parsons-bari sax
Bill Moring-bass
Tim Horner-drums
Friday May 2nd 5:30 and 7:00 PM
Starry Nights at the Rose Center for Earth and Space
American Museum of Natural History
81st and Central Park West/NYC
Free with Museum admission
212-769-5200
www.amnh.org
“One of the most distinctive of the seemingly countless guitarists to come along in recent years, Stryker's a blues player who can also play out, with a percussive attack and a knack for the unexpected phrase ending." --Gary Giddins - Village Voice
Critical acclaim for Blue To The Bone:
The third entry in Dave Stryker's Blue to the Bone series is an absolute killer. While four tunes exceed the ten-minute mark, and the CD playing time is near capacity, this is one disc that easily justifies its length. With a four-man horn section that includes trumpeter Brian Lynch, saxophonist Steve Slagle, baritone sax-man/arranger Bob Parsons, and trombonist Clark Gayton, plus a superb rhythm section of James Williams on piano, Jay Anderson on bass, and Tim Horner on drums, this project fulfills its considerable potential to the max. Ed Palermo's arrangement of Jimi Hendrix's “If 6 Was 9" is characteristic of the date, because it encapsulates Stryker's approach to his muse: fuse Jazz, R&B, soul, and blues as if they were all one. You know, kind of like what so many musicians have been doing forever: viewing the “tradition" as the enormous melting pot that it's always been. Stryker is a very graceful guitarist, he seems to be able to translate anything he hears in his head through his hands. Horner is a totally sympathetic drummer as is Anderson on bass; this gives everyone carte' blanche to do what they wish, and do they do. One of Charles Mingus's most memorable compositions, “So Long Eric" is given a soulful, faithful rendition, with Slagle and Stryker mining its blues roots for all it's worth. One of the extended tracks, Stryker's “Going Home", even delves in to Americana territory, but immediately goes farther via Williams probing piano spot. All good and unreservedly recommended. --Larry Nai, CADENCE MAGAZINE April 2003
Guitarist Stryker's vision of the blues encompasses the low-down, late-night blues typified here by “Sittin on Top of the World" and the jazzier sort that makes up much of the rest of this disc. Backed by some of the players who made 1996's Blue to the Bone, this sequel isn't limited to the 12-bar form as evidenced by such lilting numbers as Stryker's “Mystery Street" (with a fine slack key guitar solo) and “Goin to New Orleans" (with a solid backbeat from Adam Nussbaum). Pianist Bruce Barth is a standout-especially on his rollicking intro to Ellington's uptown blues “Rockin in Rhythm"-and the four-man horn section gets in a lot of solid riffing and soloing throughout on Stryker's intriguing compositions. --Miles Jordan, JazzTimes
For more info visit www.davestryker.com
For more information contact All About Jazz.
