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| Dave Stryker CD Release for "Messin’ With Mister T" Dave Stryker CD Release for "Messin' With Mister T" @ Trumpets Sat, May 30th 8:00 & 10:00 pm Featuring • Dave Stryker – guitar • Jared Gold -organ • McClenty Hunter – drums • Eric Alexander – tenor sax Trumpets Jazz Club 6 Depot Square Montclair NJ 07042 973-744-2600 > "Messin' With Mr. T is an overdue, joyous homage to a master...One of the most satisfying records of the year." 4 1/2 Stars > —Allen Morrison -DownBeat May 2015 > > "Like Turrentine, Stryker is a perfect combination of accessible grooves, melodic expression, blues feeling and soul....Gospel-like joy throughout." > Owen Cordle -JazzTimes May 2015 > > "Stryker's multi-hued playing becomes a combustible force, a link to the blues of McDuff and Turrentine for sure, but also representing the state of the art > in jazz guitar evolution....His playing is consummately beautiful, his choice of notes, Wes Montgomery -styled chordal runs, point-perfect solos and serious swing a joy framed by his well-chosen company. Surging through Stryker's assorted gifts is his unique strength - a rock - bottom groove rare amid today's jazz complexity sweepstakes." > Ken Micallef -New York City Jazz Record May 20105 > > "...Reflects the solid mainstream - modern style and emotionally forthright commitment that has been a hallmark of Stryker's playing for well over three decades. > All ten guests seem inspired by the spirit of Mister T, playing with a direct, visceral feel for the material to produce what is one of the best recent all-star tribute albums." > George Kanzler - Hot House May 2015 > > "When someone makes a record like "Eight Track" you wonder, "what can come next to compete with this?" Well, you messed with Mr. T and the result is....SMOKIN'! From the first track With Houston I thought "My God, he's done it!" The arrangements, your playing, the guests, who were obviously thrilled to be part were all first rate." Gary Walker - WBGO > NEW CD Dave Stryker "Messin' With Mister T" (Strikezone 8812) Street Date April 7, 2015 Dave Stryker-guitar, Jared Gold-hammond B3 organ, McClenty Hunter-drums, Mayra Casales – percussion (#2, 6-10) Saxophones: Jimmy Heath, Houston Person, Eric Alexander, Chris Potter, Tivon Pennicott, Don Braden, Javon Jackson, Steve Slagle, Bob Mintzer, Mike Lee Dave Stryker - Messin' with Mister T Promo Video: http://youtu.be/9k7zRhiHgEY Track Listing and Credits: La Place Street (Stanley Turrentine) w/ Houston Person 7:04 Pieces of Dreams (Michel Legrand) w/ Mike Lee 6:50 Don't Mess With Mister T (Marvin Gaye) w/ Don Braden 8:13 In a Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington) w/ Jimmy Heath 6:28 Impressions (John Coltrane) w/ Chris Potter 9:10 Gibraltar (Freddie Hubbard) w/ Bob Mintzer 6:30 Salt Song (Milton Nascimento) w/ Eric Alexander 7:03 Sugar (Stanley Turrentine) w/ Javon Jackson 6:56 Sidesteppin' (Dave Stryker) w/ Steve Slagle 5:40 Let it Go (Stanley Turrentine) w/ Tivon Pennicott 6:43 Now here's a winning hand: Dave Stryker's organ trio, ten of the world's finest tenor saxophone players, and the legacy of Stanley Turrentine. You could call it a tribute to the late tenor great, but given Stryker's audacious title, Mister T looms here more like an enduring challenge than an icon of past glories. The Pittsburgh native died 15 years ago, but he remains synonymous with soulfulness. Messin' with Mister T is Dave Stryker's personal homage to Turrentine, whom he toured with for over a decade and recorded with twice. Dave says that being hired by Stanley was a "real validation" of his playing, and he's had it in mind "ever since he passed to do something like this tribute." One sure sign that the time was right is that everyone he asked to appear on the date came "immediately on board. Stanley meant so much to all of us." Deciding who would play which tune fell into place without a hitch, too, as did the material, which basically reflects Turrentine's set lists from the years Stryker toured with him. The greater challenge that Stryker faced on Messin' with Mister T was to pay proper respects to his mentor while still managing to make a "Dave Stryker record." I'd say he's succeeded from start to finish, and Chris Potter, who joins him here for a phenomenal take on "Impressions, " knows why. "There's no better person to pay tribute to Stanley than Dave because the musical values Stanley always stood for— swing, soulfulness, taste, melody, and beautiful sound— are carried forward in everything that Dave plays." Messin' with Mister T is the latest in the brilliant series of recordings that Stryker has led over the past 25 years, and a follow-up to his hugely successful Eight Track (Strikezone 8812). The guitarist seems never at a loss for inspiration and the array of styles he commands and the flow of ideas he executes is truly impressive. Dave says that Turrentine's influence was especially strong in showing him how important it was to establish a sound of his own, and to "communicate to people. Stanley had an audience, and he never left them behind." Messin' with Mister T is winning hand indeed, as Dave Stryker has put together a joyous and swinging celebration of the music of Stanley Turrentine with 10 of the greatest tenor players on the scene today. (edited from Tom Reney's liner notes) write your comments about the article :: © 2015 Jazz News :: home page |