Republic of Jazz: Dave Stryker CD Release Tour for Strykin' Ahead

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Dave Stryker CD Release Tour for Strykin' Ahead

Dave Stryker

CD Release Tour For

Strykin' Ahead

(Strikezone 8815)

Street Date: September 1, 2017

Dave Stryker Strykin' Ahead

Available From

www.davestryker.com

Upcoming Live Appearances

AUG 25 (FRI) - NORTHWEST JAZZ FESTIVAL - LEWISTON, NY

w/ Eric Alexander, Steve Nelson, Jared Gold, Byron Landham 8pm

AUG 26 (SAT) - NIGHTTOWN - CLEVELAND, OH

w/ Mike Lee, Jared Gold, Byron Landham 8:30pm

SEPT 1-2 (FRI & SAT) - JAZZ FORUM - TARRYTOWN, NY

w/ Monte Croft, Jared Gold, Mark Whitfeld Jr 7/9pm

SEPT 3 (SUN) - THE FALCON - MARLBORO, NY

w/ Joe Doubleday, Jared Gold, McClenty Hunter 7pm

SEPT 9 (SAT) - TRUMPETS - MONTCLAIR, NJ

w/ Monte Croft, Jared Gold, Mark Whitfeld Jr. 8/10pm

SEPT 16 (SAT) - JAZZ ON 2ND AVE - NIWOT, CO

w/ Jared Gold, McClenty Hunter 8pm

SEPT 23 (SAT) - THE SIDEDOOR - OLD LYME, CT

w/ Monte Croft, Jared Gold, McClenty Hunter 8:30pm

SEPT 28 (THURS) - JAZZ AT THE HYATT - NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ

w/ Steve Nelson, Jared Gold, McClenty Hunter 8pm

OCT 5 (THURS) - BEARS PLACE - BLOOMINGTON, IN

w/ Walter Smith III, Kendall Carter, Steve Houghton 5:30pm

OCT 6 (FRI) - THE JAZZ KITCHEN - INDIANAPOLIS, IN

w/ Rob Dixon, Kendall Carter, Steve Houghton 7pm

OCT 7 (SAT) - SMALLS - NYC

w/ Monte Croft, Jared Gold, Mark Whitfeld Jr 7:30pm

OCT 13 (FRI) - SO JERSEY JAZZ AND BLUES - MEDFORD LAKES, NJ

w/ Jared Gold, Byron Landham 7:30

OCT 27 (FRI) - PALACE THEATRE - WATERBURY, CT

w/ Jared Gold, McClenty Hunter 7pm

Dave Stryker is a 2017 DownBeat Critics Poll Finalist

Advance Praise For Strykin' Ahead

A mainstream record of undeniable beauty

- Vittorio Lo Conte / Music Zoom Italy

If you have chops like Dave’s; his musical sensibilities; his uncanny ability to put together interesting instrumentations; his skill at selecting just the right band mates to make Jazz with; wouldn’t you want to work all the time, too?

It becomes like anything you’re good at; you want to do it as often as possible but occasionally vary the context to keep it from getting stale.

- Steven Cerra Jazz Profiles

A real burner of a set, it feels like an artifact from the past, unreleased from Bluenote/Verve, but it’s modern, contemporary touches are well evident showing how a cat that’s been hitting all the right notes for all these years can’t make a false step now.

- CHRIS SPECTOR, Midwest Record Editor and Publisher

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.

- Dick Metcalf Improvijazzation Nation

About The New CD

Artist: Dave Stryker

Title: Strykin’ Ahead

Label: Strikezone Records 8815

Artists Website: www.davestryker.com

Release Date: September 1, 2017

UPC Code: 88829560583

Track listing, track times:

1 SHADOWBOXING Dave Stryker (D. Strike Music BMI) 5:59

2 FOOTPRINTS Wayne Shorter (Miyako Music BMI) 6:39

3 NEW YOU Dave Stryker (D.Strike Music BMI) 5:50

4 PASSION FLOWER Billy Strayhorn (Billy Strayhorn Songs Inc ASCAP)

5:33 5 STRYKIN’ AHEAD Dave Stryker (D. Strike Music BMI) 6:12

6 BLUES DOWN DEEP Dave Stryker (D. Strike Music BMI) 7:15

7 JOY SPRING Clifford Brown (Second Floor Music BMI) 8:12

8 WHO CAN I TURN TO Newley/ Bricusse (Musical Comedy Prod Inc BMI) 7:32

9 DONNA LEE Charlie Parker (Atlantic Music Corp BMI) 6:27

DAVE STRYKER - guitar

STEVE NELSON - vibraphone

JARED GOLD - organ

McCLENTY HUNTER - drums

The notion of moving forward by triangulating a space between creative and pragmatic imperatives is a consistent thread throughout Dave Stryker’s four decades in the jazz business, not least on Strykin’ Ahead, his 28th CD as a leader. Stryker augments his working trio of Jared Gold on organ and McClenty Hunter on drums with vibraphone player Steve Nelson, all on-board for a second go-round after their stellar contri- butions to last year’s Eight-Track II. Like the leader, Nelson is a preternaturally flexible and in-the-moment improviser with deep roots in the tradition who knows how to push the envelope without damaging the contents. Stryker internalized those imperatives on a 1984-1986 run with Brother Jack McDuff, and he received further invaluable training in the art of musical communication during a decade on the road with Stanley Turrentine, to whom he paid homage on the 2015 release Don’t Mess With Mister T.

In contrast to his Eight Track II conception of putting his spin on pop hits of his formative years, Stryker returns to his long-standing practice of presenting originals and reharmonized standards from the jazz and show music songbooks. "Shadowboxing" is a burning 14-bar minor blues; his well-considered chordal variations on Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" proceed to a simmering 5/4 figure. Next is "New You" (a stimulating Stryker contrafact of the oft-played "There Will Never Be Another You"). He personalizes Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower," set to Hunter's insinuating bossa-funk groove. The title track “Strykin’ Ahead” has a Cadillac-racing-down-the-freeway-feel; he imbues the lovely melody of "Who Can I Turn To" with the full measure of his plush, inviting tone.

That Stryker knows his Albert King is evident on the slow-drag “Blues Down Deep,” which evokes wee-hours third sets in the inner city grills and lounges of Stryker’s apprentice years. He knows his bebop, too. On Clifford Brown’s “Joy Spring,” the solo flights over Stryker’s “modernized” progressions transpire over Hunter’s drum-bass beats and crisp, medium-up four-on-the cymbal; on the chopbusting “Donna Lee,” all members springboard off a churchy vamp and Hunter’s funk-infused swing.

“I’ve always wanted to write vehicles that are fun and interesting to blow over,” Stryker says. “Trying to come up with a beautiful melody that lasts is very fulfilling. Writing is a big part of my voice in this music.” Stryker is too modest to say that his voice is also a big part of jazz, to which he’s devoted a career marked by consistent application of the values that he espouses. But that’s all right—I’ll say it for him. (Edited liner notes from Ted Panken)