Dave Stryker - Eight Track I

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:27
Size: 144,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. I'll Be Around
(7:16)  2. Pusherman Superfly
(6:03)  3. Wichita Lineman
(7:17)  4. Aquarius
(6:10)  5. Never My Love
(6:06)  6. Superwoman
(5:49)  7. Never Can Say Goodbye
(5:07)  8. Make It With You
(6:49)  9. Money
(4:51) 10. Thats The Way Of The World

Ah, the eight-track. Is there any music format that's more dated? Vinyl is on its way back, albeit with a select crowd, and the CD is still holding on for dear life, but it's not likely that eight-track tapes will be making a big comeback any time soon. Those audio-delivering relics have been left behind, yet the memories surrounding their existence and the music they helped to usher in remains fixed in the mind for those who came of age in the '70s. Guitarist Dave Stryker is a proud part of that pack. Stryker has been known to throw a '70s pop tune into his sets every now and then, but he goes the whole nine yards on this album; all ten tunes are taken from that glorious-to-some-and-not-so-glorious-to-others musical epoch. Jimmy Webb, Pink Floyd, Curtis Mayfield and many more get the Stryker treatment on Eight Track.

Since this is a different kind of project for Stryker, a slightly different instrumental combination was in order. He turned to his working trio, with underrated organist Jared Gold and up-and-coming drummer McClenty Hunter, and then added celebrated vibraphonist Stefon Harris to the mix to shake things up. Together, these four men manage to remove the layers of schmaltz that rest atop some of these pieces, giving this music a new shine while remaining largely faithful to the originals. Things get underway with a shuffling "I'll Be Around," a "Pusherman/Superfly" that's pleasing but a bit toothless, and a "Wichita Lineman" that's wonderfully buoyant, balancing propulsion with sensitivity along the way. As the program continues, the quartet goes full steam ahead through "Aquarius," takes a reflective look at "Never My Love," simmers on "Money," and has its way with a few other well-known nuggets. No pretense or posturing on this one. Stryker's Eight Track is just straight up fun. ~ Dan Bilawsky   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/eight-track-dave-stryker-self-produced-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php#.U5uDBiioqdk  

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Stefon Harris: vibraphone; Jared Gold: organ; McClenty Hunter: drums.

Eight Track

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Dave Stryker - Eight Track II

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:42
Size: 151,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:01)  1. Harvest For The World
(6:11)  2. What's Going On
(7:28)  3. Trouble Man
(5:27)  4. Midnight Cowboy
(5:46)  5. When Doves Cry
(5:02)  6. Send One Your Love
(6:30)  7. I Can't Get Next To You
(7:14)  8. Time Of The Season
(4:52)  9. Signed Sealed
(6:03) 10. One Hundred Ways
(5:04) 11. Sunshine Of Your Love

Sequels are a tricky business, often playing to expectations and hewing close to the formula(s) that helped spawn them in the first place. For many, for those very reasons, they're automatically viewed as a slam dunk, aiding in the creation and extension of a franchise entertainment experience for general audiences that went in hard for the original; for critics, however, they're usually a losing bet. Few who wield the pen or keyboard with a critical gaze look kindly upon these vehicles. But maybe, just maybe, the critics need to loosen up a bit. Good fun packaged to meet expectations needn't be vapid or disposable, and guitarist Dave Stryker says as much with Eight Track II.  Stryker visited the popular music of his youth with Eight Track (Strikezone, 2014), bringing '70s pop, rock, and soul classics into the jazz realm with his trio mates organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter and guest vibraphonist Stefon Harris. Not too much has changed for the sequel. He's working with the same trio again, the great Steve Nelson fills the "guest vibraphonist" role to complete the quartet, and a selection of popular songs from the '60s on into the '80s are reworked to fit Stryker's language a swinging, blues-infused, no bullshit argot that has long served him well. If you're looking for something radical or one step beyond, this isn't it. But if you're looking for more of that good-time spirit, with well-played twists on familiar favorites from the radio and the eight-track players of yesteryear, you've come to the right place.

While Stryker and company have no problem making some harmonic or melodic nips and tucks here and there, many of the biggest twists on these tunes are connected to the way the grooves have been altered. When a classic like Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" is given a shuffling facelift, or when a gem like The Zombies' "Time Of The Season" adopts streamlined swing as its method of transportation, the character of the music is irrevocably altered. Is that a good thing? Who knows?! The one thing that's for certain is that it's the necessary thing in order for Stryker to make his own statement. If you want to hear Ginger Baker's tribal thump on "Sunshine Of Your Love," if you have a strong desire to get sucked into Prince's signature sound(s) on "When Doves Cry," or if you feel a hankering to gyrate along to Stevie Wonder's infectious recording of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," you can still go back to the source and do that. Stryker's not taking that away from anybody or trying to replace what's already been immortalized. He's just putting his own slant on these tunes that we've all come to know and love. Eight Track II finds Dave Stryker dealing in the art of musical recreation, not blatant re-creation. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/eight-track-ii-dave-stryker-strikezone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Steve Nelson: vibraphone; Jared Gold: organ; McClenty Hunter: drums.

Eight Track; II

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Dave Stryker - Prime

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:57
Size: 134,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:24) 1. Prime
(6:37) 2. Lockdown
(8:14) 3. Captain Jack
(5:20) 4. Hope
(5:25) 5. As We Were
(5:16) 6. Mac
(5:41) 7. I Should Care
(6:36) 8. Deep
(8:21) 9. Dude's Lounge

Guitarist Dave Stryker, a ubiquitous presence on the New York scene (and elsewhere) for more than three decades as a leader or sideman, is also a prolific recording artist with more than 35 albums under his belt (and many more than that as member of various ensembles) in formats ranging from big band to trio. On Prime, he opts for the smaller arrangement, employing his long-time working group (Jared Gold, organ; McClenty Hunter, drums) to perform eight of Stryker's engaging compositions and one standard, the melancholy "I Should Care."

From the opening measures of the album's fast-moving title song, Stryker shows that, at age 65, he is as sharp and nimble- fingered as ever, skipping handily through the lightning-swift changes and setting the stage for vigorous statements by Gold and Hunter. Having made his point, Stryker turns next to the blues, proving on the enchanting "Lockdown" that he is no less comfortable at a more unhurried tempo, as he does again on the shuffling "Captain Jack," which follows.

"Hope" is an unhurried charmer with an earnest Latin beat, "As We Were" an ambrosial ballad on which Gold and Stryker are at their rhapsodic best with McClenty lending sure-handed support on brushes. "Mac," set in a handsome walking groove, leads to the melodious "I Should Care," which is without a doubt one of the session's several highlights, as is the buoyantly rhythmic "Deep," which follows. Stryker saves another surprise for last, as "Dude's Lounge" opens as a seductive ballad before assuming a funkier but no less engaging persona.

As organ trios go, Stryker's is first-class, thanks to his special talents and those of Gold and McClenty. Prime is far more than background music to be played while the mind is otherwise engaged. It is serious jazz, ably performed by three masters of the genre, and deserves to be considered on those terms.By Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/prime-dave-stryker-strikezone-records

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Jared Gold: organ, Hammond B3; McClenty Hunter, Jr.: drums.

Prime

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Jared Gold - Out Of Line

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:55
Size: 117,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:32)  1. An Aperitif
(6:20)  2. Preachin'
(4:57)  3. Out Of Line
(4:52)  4. You Haven't Done Nothin'
(5:33)  5. It Is Well
(5:15)  6. Down South
(5:45)  7. The Stone Age
(5:44)  8. La-La (Means I Love You)
(6:52)  9. Skylark

Despite the implications that live within a title like Out Of Line, organist Jared Gold's third Posi-Tone release is rather in tune with the history and vibe of organ groups and all that goes with them. Gold is joined by some top notch east coast talent, in the form of guitarist Dave Stryker, drummer Mark Ferber and saxophonist Chris Cheek, and all four musicians seem to gel well from the very start. Gold might have eclectic tastes, with covers ranging from Hank Mobley's "An Aperitif" to Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothin,'" but he covers nearly every style in the organ group playbook as he works his way through this nine-song program. The Mobley tune, originally on the saxophonist's lesser-known Third Season (Blue Note, 1967), starts things off with a bang. Gold and Cheek are as tight as can be, as they work their way through the head on this up-tempo number. 

Funk is a healthy part of any organ group's diet and Gold delivers the goods with "The Stone Age" and "You Haven't Done Nothin,'" the Wonder tune coming across as a looser, riff-based workout, while Gold's original is a bit more substantial. Cheek leads the charge, while the rhythm section has some greasy groove-making going on beneath him; the overall sound like a less aggressive version of Joshua Redman's Elastic Band. "Preachin'" is a superb gospel-soul number which highlights Gold's playing and writing, while "It Is Well" is churchy in a different, more reverent manner. This understated number sounds like a jazz take on a hymn, and it shows off a different side of Gold's personality. While Ferber's drums hint at bossa nova on the title track, nothing else on the disc really speaks of Brazil.  A soothing take on The Delfonics' "La-La (Means I Love You)," and an odd-metered arrangement of "Skylark" close the album. Gold's performance of The Delfonics' megahit reflects the understated quality of their rendition; "Skylark," on the other hand, is reshaped and molded to Gold's liking. Cheek and Gold are both in fine form on this one, and Ferber even gets to solo over an energized vamp, as the album draws to a close. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/out-of-line-jared-gold-posi-tone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Jared Gold: Hammond B3; Dave Stryker: guitar; Chris Cheek: tenor saxophone; Mark Ferber: drums.

Out Of Line

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Jared Gold - All Wrapped Up

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:03
Size: 115,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:43) 1. My Sentiments Exactly
(5:28) 2. Get Out Of My Sandbox
(5:31) 3. Piece Of Mine
(6:39) 4. Midnight Snack
(7:04) 5. Dark Blue
(7:23) 6. Mama Said
(6:44) 7. Saudade
(5:27) 8. Just A Suggestion

There's a noticeable change in organist Jared Gold's sonic template of choice, before All Wrapped Up even begins. While two out of Gold's three prior releases were quartet outings that used saxophone as the lone horn voice, all three releases were rooted in the traditional organ trio instrumental format. A different guitarist graced each one of those records, with Randy Napoleon, Ed Cherry and Dave Stryker each putting their own unique stamp on Gold's music, but the organist clearly felt it was time to move on, with guitar nowhere to be found on this album. Instead, Gold turns to two stellar horn players (and label mates) to help flesh out his new sound. Saxophonist Ralph Bowen and trumpeter Jim Rotondi add their own singular voices to Gold's music as the organist creates the next chapter in his career as a leader.

Five of the eight compositions on the album come from Gold, and the funkiest fare stands out above the rest. "Mama Said" starts off with both horns working through the hip head, as drummer Quincy Davis lays down an easy funk beat and things get even more soulful as solos are passed around. The album-closing "Just A Suggestion" has a few more rhythmic turns in the mix, but moves in a similar direction. Bowen's solo is the clear highlight on this one and his passion for the music is palpable.

While more than half of the material comes from Gold, each member of the band contributes one piece. Davis delivers a relaxed swinger ("Piece Of Mine"), but Bowen's "Midnight Snack"is a rhythmic rollercoaster ride, where the groove terrain is in a constant state of flux though everyone knows exactly what they're doing as the rhythmic underpinnings continually shift. Rotondi's "Dark Blue" follows, a mellow swinger that's the calm after the storm.

When All Wrapped Up reaches its conclusion, two things are abundantly clear: this newfound quartet format hasn't dampened or diminished the creative enthusiasm shown on Gold's earlier releases; and the album continues the steady evolution of one of jazz's most prominent rising star organists.~ Dan Bilawskyhttps://www.allaboutjazz.com/all-wrapped-up-jared-gold-posi-tone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky

Personnel: Jared Gold: organ; Ralph Bowen: saxophone; Jim Rotondi: trumpet; Quincy Davis: drums.

All Wrapped Up

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Ralph Bowen - Total Eclipse

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:30
Size: 141,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:37)  1. Total Eclipse
(5:36)  2. Behind The Curtain
(5:58)  3. Into The City
(6:31)  4. The Dowsing Rod
(7:02)  5. On Green
(7:18)  6. Arrows Of Light
(9:55)  7. Exosphere
(5:31)  8. Hip Check
(7:57)  9. In My Dreams

Ralph Bowen plays a pure strain of postmodern tenor saxophone. He is hugely proficient technically and consistently spills his guts. Take “Into the City.” Its quick, jagged, asymmetrical head is like a call to arms. Bowen builds from a few repeated adjacent tones to long convoluted lines that sound like onslaughts until you hear that they are actually sets of subtle variations (if in-your-face tenor can be subtle). It follows that he makes good records. His three most recent, Power Play , Due Reverence and Dedicated , all on Posi-Tone, were aesthetic undertakings as tenor saxophone clinics. Total Eclipse might be his best yet. It has Bowen’s hottest band ever.

The guys are relatively new. Jared Gold is an organist who maximizes the resources of his instrument. When he and Bowen combine for maximum unison power, as on “Exosphere,” this quartet hits like a big band. When Gold unleashes the full force of the B3 on a wild, roaring piece like “Hip Check,” he does not so much comp as slam and bash behind Bowen, catapulting him forward. Yet Gold also takes solos of glittering detail and piquant discord, as on “In My Dreams.” Mike Moreno is a free thinker on guitar. He complements the ensemble sound with off-center pinpoints of light, and takes intriguing, ambiguous solos. Rudy Royston, who plays free drums in the tenor trio of JD Allen, operates in a more defined, organized role with Bowen. But he still sounds dangerously volatile. There are eight strong tracks and one tour de force. Bowen’s dash through the head of “Hip Check” is impossibly fast and exact, then he improvises at the same rapid data rate. Royston rockets; Moreno ululates; Gold shrieks. Bowen rivets the theme into place at the end. Another day at the office. ~ Thomas Conrad http://jazztimes.com/articles/54410-total-eclipse-ralph-bowen

Personnel: Ralph Bowen: saxophone; Jared Gold: organ; Mike Moreno: guitar; Rudy Royston: drums.

Total Eclipse

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Dave Stryker - Blue To The Bone IV

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:44
Size: 141,8 MB
Art: Front

(8:32)  1. Blues Strut
(8:33)  2. Workin'
(5:25)  3. For The Love Of You
(5:43)  4. Come On In My Kitchen
(7:41)  5. Big Foot
(7:20)  6. Blues For Brother Jack
(8:00)  7. Shades Ahead
(7:09)  8. Fun
(3:16)  9. Soul Power

Dave Stryker s music is deeply rooted in blues, having performed with Jack McDuff in the 80s and Stanley Turrentine in the 90s. Dave s special blend of jazz and blues culminated first time in 1996 in the form of Blue To The Bone I (SCCD 31400). Since then the project has become a popular on-going series. The fourth addition features Stryker s regular organ trio (Jared Gold on B-3 and McClenty Hunter on drums). There are solid solos from all hands throughout the album .... 

Based on the personnel and the feeling of these performances, I'd like to catch this group live . (Owen Cordle JazzTimes on Blue To The Bone III SCCD 31465) As great as the first set was, it's without hesitation that I deem this new one a valiant leap forward. .....They, along with the charts and an elation that the blues almost paradoxically provide, make for an end product that is indeed greater than the sum of the parts (C. Andrew Hovan-AAJ on Blue To The Bone II SCCD 31524) ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Bone-IV-Dave-Stryker/dp/B00AZAJXDU

Personnel:  Dave Stryker – guitar; Freddie Hendrix – trumpet; Steve Slagle – alto sax; Vincent Gardner – trombone; Gary Smulyan – bari sax; Jared Gold – Hammond B3 organ; McClenty Hunter – drums

Blue To The Bone IV

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Dave Stryker - Eight Track III

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:36
Size: 124,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:11)  1. Move On Up
(7:29)  2. Papa Was a Rolling Stone
(5:39)  3. Pretzel Logic
(5:16)  4. Too High
(5:07)  5. We've Only Just Begun
(6:21)  6. This Guys In Love
(6:24)  7. Everybody Loves the Sunshine
(5:38)  8. After the Dance
(4:27)  9. Joy Inside My Tears

If an idea works, you might as well ride it to its logical conclusion. Following vibraphonist Stefon Harris' advice along those lines in this context, guitarist Dave Stryker completes his Eight Track odyssey with the delivery of the third volume of jazz takes on '70s radio staples. Harris, after having passed the mallets off to fellow vibes heavy Steve Nelson for the second set, returns to the fold to see this trilogy to its end, and percussionist Mayra Casales spices things up by making a few appearances on the date. Otherwise, things remain unchanged. The same sense of enthusiasm still shines through in the music, organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter continue to artfully underpin the arrangements, and Stryker remains as ruggedly stylish and direct as ever. Shuffling and swinging their way through Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," the core four go at it right from the start. Then the straight-time hip of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" settles on the soul, the slick intelligence behind Steely Dan meets with Stryker's earthy resonance for "Pretzel Logic, a spirited trip through Stevie Wonder's "Too High" lives up to its name, and a beautiful "We've Only Just Begun" serves as an understated breather of a centerpiece. Whether observing that opening portion of the program, addressing what follows, including a lightly funky "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" highlight, or looking back at the first two Eight Track dates, one thing remains true and constant: the strength of the song itself remains paramount. Stryker doesn't bend the originals into unrecognizable shapes or use the art of the cover as a means for intellectual exercise. He plays the songs in relatively straightforward manners, leaves space for solos, and lets the magic take shape on its own. And that, in a nutshell, is his formula for success when dealing with this terrain. While this may mark the end of Stryker's Eight Track projects, it's doubtful that (m)any would complain if a fourth happened to find its way to the marketplace. As fun dates go, these are hard to beat. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/eight-track-iii-dave-stryker-strikezone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Stefon Harris: vibraphone; Jared Gold: organ; McClenty Hunter: drums; Mayra Casales: congas & percussion (2, 3, 6-9).

Eight Track III

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Dave Stryker - The Chaser

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:54
Size: 145,1 MB
Art: Front

(7:06)  1. The Great Divide
(7:15)  2. Brighter Days
(7:32)  3. I Wish You Love
(7:03)  4. Close To You
(5:52)  5. The Chaser
(7:08)  6. Katmandu
(7:12)  7. Mode J.W. (For James Williams)
(6:41)  8. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
(7:03)  9. Our Miss Brooks

This chapter in guitarist Dave Stryker's musical book, which already includes some 25 titles as a leader or co-leader in settings ranging from trios and quartets to his Blue to the Bone band, Trio Mundo and the exciting Stryker/Slagle Band, is a neoclassic organ trio outing providing ample opportunity for his agile playing with its warm, resonant tone. He's accompanied by organist Jared Gold, whose sound exhibits the influences of Larry Young's harmonic chording and Jimmy Smith's virile attack, along with drummer Tony Reedus, whose percussive embellishments and integral, exhilarating work help to create this group's fat sound. Stryker's musical interests and ability are such that each project affords listeners an often unique and exciting listening experience. The guitarist worked in the bands of organist Brother Jack McDuff and, later, tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine between the mid-'80s and mid-'90s, honing his chops in the presence of the masters. He also developed that most revered of musical traits a distinctive sound on his instrument. His style embraces influences of Delta blues, Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino while being individualistic, mature and showing an eagerness to evolve. 

The Chaser is anything but predictable, featuring five Stryker originals including a couple straight-ahead burners the title track as well as "The Great Divide," which has a stunning change in tempo from Stryker's fiery exploration of the melody to a smoldering walk as Gold begins his solo. "Brighter Days" is an effervescent swinger, "Katmandu" a bluesy samba; "Mode J.W.," a remembrance of late pianist James Williams, boils with intensity and passion. There's a fine, up-tempo waltz treatment of "I Wish You Love," the arrangement in contrast to a more sedate, if equally delicious, reading of this tune on Grant Green's Street of Dreams album from the '60s. "Close to You" is done as a delicately crafted ballad, while the standard "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" is captivating in its use of shifting meters. The album closes in a soulful visit with Harold Vick's good and greasy line "Our Miss Brooks," which surely had Stryker thinking of his time with McDuff. It's in the bag. If you're not already hip to Stryker, The Chaser is a grand introduction to his superior playing and should whet your appetite for other elements in his discography. If you're already a fan, the album should speak for itself. 

~ Rick Erben https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-chaser-dave-stryker-mel-bay-records-review-by-rick-erben.php

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Jared Gold: organ; Tony Reedus: drums.

The Chaser

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Avi Rothbard - Going Somewhere

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:25
Size: 120,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:18)  1. The Place
(8:25)  2. JT's Blues
(7:36)  3. Just One of Those Things
(5:37)  4. Unstabe
(6:09)  5. Wives and Lovers
(4:29)  6. 26-2
(7:42)  7. A Flower Is a Lonesome Thing
(7:05)  8. Going Somewhere

New York City-based Avi Rothbard exhibits the influence of Grant Green throughout Going Somewhere (MidLantic), an organ-trio project. Drummer Joe Strasser and organist Jared Gold capably provide support while Rothbard tests his mettle with a mix of standards and originals. “Just One of Those Things,” taken at a brisk tempo, just doesn’t convince as an organ-trio number, despite Gold’s efforts to keep things moving with kinetic bass pedal work. Rothbard sometimes gets in some nice lines, but his overly staccato phrasing and relatively thin tone take their toll after a while, something that’s especially telling on “Wives and Lovers,” a tune once played by Green. Rothbard’s own material fares a bit better, primarily due to the underlying bluesiness of “The Place” and “JT’s Blues,” during which he generates a variety of soulful moments. Overall, Going Somewhere doesn’t seem to have quite reached its destination, but it eventually could with a little more time and refinement. ~ Jim Fergunson https://jazztimes.com/departments/guitartistry/avi-rothbard-going-somewhere/

Going Somewhere

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Jared Gold - Reemergence

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:19
Size: 118,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:53)  1. Reemergence
(5:27)  2. It Ain't Necessarily So
(5:59)  3. Looking for Another Pure Love
(4:59)  4. She's Leaving Home
(5:30)  5. One for John A
(6:25)  6. How Long Has This Been Going On
(5:07)  7. Blues Connotation
(4:37)  8. Sweet Spirit
(7:19)  9. Nomad

The title of organist Jared Gold's newest release seems to suggest that he is returning to the fold after being away for a time. In actuality, he has been a mainstay on the New York scene for some time now and can boast eight previous albums as a leader dating back to 2008's Solids and Stripes. More likely is that the title alludes to the fact that Gold's discography appears exclusively on the Posi-Tone label, an imprimatur known for short, radio-friendly tracks that don't always allow for much development. So indeed, Reemergence seems like a fresh start for Gold as it permits him a better opportunity to fully display his wares. From the moment trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's clarion call ushers in the title track, it's clear that Gold and company are headed down an open path boasting all kinds of surprises along the way. Gold's bass lines are full and supportive, and drummer Billy Hart brings his own share of creative notions. Hart's solo here is a lesson in musicality, not to mention the wide stereo spread provided by engineer Chris Sulit. The waltz tempo of "It Ain't Necessarily So" keeps the pots on with guitarist and producer Dave Stryker stretching out for the first solo spot. Gold's own statement is a model of his imaginative improvisational vigor. As things start to simmer, he includes a quote of "Little B's Poem" and then goes on to smash chords and furl out 16th notes runs before literally pulling out all the stops at the tune's conclusion. 

Think a combination of the foundational bass lines of Richard "Groove" Holmes mixed with the intricate runs of Larry Young and you get an idea of Gold's modus operandi. Two pop numbers of note, Stevie Wonder's' "Looking for Another Pure Love" and The Beatles' "She's Leaving Home," get updated treatments, much like the type of thing Stryker himself has been doing lately for his own 8-Track projects. Both versions offer proof of the substance and fodder available in some of the great pop tunes of our time.  A warhorse that has been done too many times to expect any kind of welcome, "How Long Has This Been Going On," manages to rise above the usual in an airy bossa nova version by Gold and company. The polar opposite in terms of intensity, Ornette's clever "Blues Connotation" is ripe for exploration as Gold spins a dark tale filled with brilliant uses of shading and rhythm. Stryker offers up an equally stunning solo followed by Hart's matchless riffing and cymbal splashing. From start to finish, it is perfectly clear that Gold has found the perfect forum for showing off all the sides of his resourceful personality. He certainly couldn't have picked a better crew of like-minded musicians to aid him in his task or a better producer. Here's hoping the alliance with Strikezone continues; it fits Gold to a tee. ~ C.Andrew Hovan https://www.allaboutjazz.com/reemergence-jared-gold-strikezone-records-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Jared Gold: organ; Dave Stryker: guitar; Billy Hart: drums; Jeremy Pelt: trumpet (tracks 1, 3, 5).

Reemergence

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William Ash - Skyline Dreams

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:55
Size: 88,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:25)  1. The Soho Strut
(4:15)  2. Love Letters
(4:45)  3. Freewheelin'
(5:01)  4. Stardust
(3:46)  5. Coffee Rhumba
(3:52)  6. Four On Six
(3:14)  7. Skyline Dreams
(4:10)  8. S.O.S.
(4:24)  9. Usted Abuso

William Ash has been playing guitar most of his young life. He began learning the instrument at the age of nine, and by the time he was twelve he was working hard at mastering Wes Montgomery's style. During his high school years William studied with Barry Harris and Rodney Jones, and won the Young Talent Search of the National Association of Jazz Educators (NAJE), as well as the McDonald's Combo Contest. This led to him performing as a soloist with a big band at the Oakland Jazz Festival at the request of Buddy Montgomery, brother of the late Wes. William has continued to work as a sideman with a host of jazz legends, including Jack McDuff, Cecil Payne, Roy Hargrove, and Larry Goldings. On his own instrument, William acknowledges Wes Montgomery as a major influence, and William has been selected several times to appear in tributes to Montgomery. William's style emerges from his experiences playing with the great bop masters, as well as from playing in hard-driving organ combos with the likes of John Patton and Bobby Forrester, and you can clearly hear how he combines twisting bop melodies with deep groove. William Ash astounds on guitar, performing in a hard-swinging trio setting. William deploys his craft sincerely, and without guile, always drawing on his deep jazz roots. "a soulfully mellow sound with a driving dynamic approach" ~ All About Jazz

Personnel: William Ash - guitar; Jared Gold - organ; Yoichi Kobayashi - drums.

Skyline Dreams

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Dave Stryker - Strykin' Ahead

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:45
Size: 145,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:59)  1. Shadowboxing
(6:39)  2. Footprints
(5:50)  3. New You
(5:33)  4. Passion Flower
(6:12)  5. Strykin' Ahead
(7:15)  6. Blues Down Deep
(8:12)  7. Joy Spring
(7:32)  8. Who Can I Turn To
(6:27)  9. Donna Lee

Hot on the heels of his 2016 release, the soul and rock infused Eight Track II comes Dave Stryker's punningly titled Strykin' Ahead with a mix of standards and Stryker originals. Following the lively opener, "Shadowboxing," a Stryker original, comes a rather more sedate version of Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" followed by Stryker's "New You" in which both Steve Nelson and Jared Gold provide imaginative, swinging solos backed by McClenty Hunter's solid drumming. A dreamy interpretation of Billy Strayhorns "Passion Flower" is given a subtle bossa nova beat by Hunter. "Strykin' Ahead" is a helter skelter affair where Stryker shows his mettle with a flurry of fast and fluid notes breaking out immediately after the head. To some extent Stryker sounds not unlike the late Johnny Smith in his considered and articulate style, which is no bad thing, but Stryker has his own unique voice too. Another Stryker original is the slow "Blues Down Deep" where the guitarist wrings out restrained emotion from his guitar. Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring" is a perfect example of just how well the organ, vibes and guitar gel together propelled by highly effective yet unobtrusive drums.  "Who Can I Turn To" by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley is afforded a delicate and respectful interpretation but Charlie Parker's (or Miles Davis's, depending on who you read) "Donna Lee" is a lively version with the guitar and vibes playing the famous boppy melody in unison, no easy task but it's executed with aplomb. Stryker's playing is characterised by warmth and articulacy and those traits extend to the whole of this very well-produced album. ~ Roger Fabey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/strykin-ahead-dave-stryker-strikezone-review-by-roger-farbey.php

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Steve Nelson: vibraphone; Jared Gold: organ; McClenty Hunter: drums.

Strykin' Ahead

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Dave Stryker Organ Trio - One For Reedus

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:25
Size: 136,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:33)  1. Pure Imagination
(7:44)  2. Burn For ERN
(7:11)  3. One For Reedus
(7:18)  4. Alone Again (Naturally)
(8:24)  5. For All We Know
(6:31)  6. Zoltan
(8:43)  7. Make Someone Happy
(6:58)  8. Nefertiti

Dave Stryker had a working group with drummer Tony Reedus, though he is not present as he died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism two weeks prior to the session. Steve Williams is an excellent replacement, while the third member of the trio is the in-demand young organist Jared Gold. Stryker chose a diverse playlist, including a breezy midtempo bop setting of "Pure Imagination" (penned for the soundtrack to the film Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) and Gilbert O'Sullivan's seemingly unpromising "Alone Again (Naturally)," which the guitarist tackles very deliberately in an understated fashion, revealing the possibilities within its melody (though thankfully without having to hear its weak lyrics). Williams' brushwork introduces the perky arrangement of "Make Someone Happy" (a favorite of the late pianist Bill Evans), while Stryker's choosing to alternate between two time signatures adds a unique touch to his interpretation of "For All We Know." The guitarist appreciates modern jazz compositions as well, delivering an exotic treatment of Woody Shaw's "Zoltan" and Wayne Shorter's catchy "Nefertiti." Stryker salutes his late drummer with "One for Reedus," a soulful affair with a solid groove.~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-for-reedus-mw0001961316

Personnel: Dave Stryker (guitar); Jared Gold (Hammond b-3 organ).

One For Reedus

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Dave Stryker - Blue Strike

Styles: Guitar Jazz 
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:55
Size: 174,3 MB
Art: Front

(8:12)  1. Joy Spring
(6:57)  2. Billie Jean
(8:04)  3. Different Worlds
(7:50)  4. Daahoud
(5:24)  5. Pursuit
(8:27)  6. Blue Strike
(6:50)  7. Jordu
(6:25)  8. The Crusher
(5:43)  9. Jabali

Guitarist Dave Stryker, who got his start working with Jack McDuff and Stanley Turrentine stretches the boundaries of the organ sound while keeping the groove deep on his new CD “Blue Strike”.  Once again Dave teams with young Hammond organ phenom Jared Gold, as well as legendary drummer Billy Hart, and adds to the front line two rising stars with their own sounds; Freddie Hendrix on trumpet and Stephen Riley on tenor sax.  Dave burns through his new arrangements of Clifford Brown’s “Joy Spring”, “Daahoud” and Duke Pearson’s “Jordu”, and rounds out the serious groove of this CD with four of his own originals, as well as a swinging version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. http://www.jazzguitarlife.com/dave-stryker-releases-new-cd-blue-strike/

Personnel:  Dave Stryker – guitar;  Freddie Hendrix – trumpet;  Stephen Riley – tenor sax;  Jared Gold – organ;  Billy Hart – drums

Blue Strike

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Tom Tallitsch - Heads Or Tales

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:51
Size: 121,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Coming Around
(6:20)  2. Tenderfoot
(6:02)  3. Double Shot
(5:31)  4. Perry's Place
(5:15)  5. Flat Stanley
(5:58)  6. Travel Companion
(5:17)  7. The Lummox
(6:45)  8. Dunes
(3:20)  9. Don't Let It Bring You Down

Lots of sharp changes here deft tenor work from Tom Tallitsch, really cooking strongly alongside the Hammond of Jared Gold! Gold's fast becoming one of our favorite contemporary players on his instrument  and for this sweet little set, he brings out a lot of Larry Young-like lines arcing and curving with an angular feel that's really great and setting fire to Tom's tenor nicely, as it runs alongside the organ with a Joe Henderson sort of vibe. Guitar is from Dave Allen, drums from Mark Ferber, and titles include "Tenderfoot", "Coming Around", "Double Shot", "Flat Stanley", "Travel Companion", and "Dunes".  https://www.dustygroove.com/item/619310

Personnel:  Tom Tallitsch - tenor saxophone;  Dave Allen – guitar;  Jared Gold – organ;  Mark Ferber - drums

Heads Or Tales

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Dave Stryker - Messin' With Mister T

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:37
Size: 162,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:04)  1. La Place Street
(6:49)  2. Pieces of Dreams
(8:13)  3. Dont Mess With Mister T
(6:27)  4. In a Sentimental Mood
(9:10)  5. Impressions
(6:29)  6. Gibraltar
(7:02)  7. Salt Song
(6:55)  8. Sugar
(5:40)  9. Side Steppin'
(6:43) 10. Let It Go

On Messin' with Mister T, guitarist Dave Stryker could have enlisted only his organ trio to salute friend, mentor and musical hero Stanley Turrentine; instead, he chose to step back and let other voices do most of the talking. The encomiums are thus provided by ten of the world's most accomplished tenor saxophonists, making this one of the most unique and impressive testimonials ever recorded. Turrentine would no doubt have been pleased to see such heavyweights as Houston Person, Jimmy Heath, Don Braden, Chris Potter, Bob Mintzer, Eric Alexander and others lining up to pay homage to his artistry, and even more pleased that every one of them, in Stryker's words, "came immediately on board" when asked to take part in the enterprise.

Not only did Stryker's guests agree enthusiastically to appear on the album, each of them, doubtless in deference to Turrentine, brought his "A" game, an observation that is borne out on every number. No one is phoning anything in, from Person who opens the session with Turrentine's bluesy "La Place Street" to young lion Tivon Pennicott who seals it with another engaging Turrentine composition, "Let It Go." The highlights are many, among them Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood," played with warmth and dexterity by eighty-eight-year-old Jimmy Heath, and Potter's emphatic reading of John Coltrane's "Impressions." Alexander is eloquent on the powerful "Salt Song," as are Braden on Marvin Gaye's "Don't Mess with Mister T," Mintzer on Freddie Hubbard's funky "Gibraltar," Javon Jackson on Turrentine's jazz evergreen "Sugar," Mike Lee on the enchanting "Pieces of Dreams" and Steve Slagle on Stryker's frisky "Sidesteppin,'" introduced by Turrentine in 1995 on the album T Time.

As for the organ trio, it is there to offer unflagging support, amplified on most numbers by tasteful solos from Stryker and organist Jared Gold. Drummer McClenty Hunter, a diligent and sturdy timekeeper, is aided and abetted on half a dozen tracks by percussionist Mayra Casales. Together, they make sure that each guest is loose and comfortable. The result is an album whose artistry and passion mirror that of its honoree, the sublime Stanley Turrentine. Kudos to everyone involved, and especially to Stryker for bringing them together. ~ Jack Bowers  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/messin-with-mister-t-dave-stryker-strikezone-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Jared Gold: Hammond B3 organ; McLenty Hunter: drums; Mayra Casales: percussion (2, 6-10). Special guests – Houston Person: tenor sax (1); Mike Lee: tenor sax (2); Don Braden: tenor sax (3); Jimmy Heath: tenor sax (4); Chris Potter: tenor sax (5); Bob Mintzer: tenor sax (6); Eric Alexander: tenor sax (7); Javon Jackson: tenor sax (8); Steve Slagle: tenor sax (9); Tivon Pennicott: tenor sax (10).

Messin' With Mister T

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Jared Gold - Intuition

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:40
Size: 109,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:42)  1. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
(5:02)  2. The Crusher
(5:27)  3. Pro Zeca
(5:21)  4. Hoopin' On Sundays
(5:20)  5. You've Got A Friend
(5:05)  6. Shadowboxing
(4:30)  7. Right Nowish
(5:41)  8. As It Were
(6:29)  9. Bedo's Blues

Intuition is organist Jared Gold's sixth outing for the Posi-Tone label in as many years. He walks a similar path on all of his prior dates for this imprint, extending the organ group tradition(s) while fronting trios and quartets and working his way through catchy originals and diverse covers, but no two albums are really the same. Part of the reason for this has to do with his personal growth as an artist, but the more significant factor surrounds the shuffling of personnel; Gold has never used the same combination of musicians on more than one album, so he's never had to worry about falling into a same-old-sound rut.

Some people have popped up on more than one of his records, like guitarist Ed Cherry and drummer Mark Ferber, but never as part of the same unit. Both musicians who join Gold on Intuition guitarist Dave Stryker and drummer McClenty Hunter have also appeared with him on different albums in the past, but 2013 seems to be the year they were all destined to join together; Gold and Hunter also appear on Stryker's Blue To The Bone IV (SteepleChase, 2013), which hit shelves shortly before this album.

Four Gold pieces, two Stryker songs, a pair of classics from Carole King's landmark, Tapestry (Epic, 1971), and a fusion-y take on Victor Assis Brasil's "Pro Zeca" make up the program, which starts off on mundane ground but gets better with each number. The first two pieces on the album King's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and Gold's "The Crusher" begin with some promising ideas but take turns toward the pedestrian during swing-backed solo sections. The third song Brasil's "Pro Zeca" comes off like a '70s Chick Corea tune performed at Carnaval; this performance turns everything around. The music that follows is full of energy and enthusiasm of the funky ("Hoopin' On Sundays"), soulful ("You've Got A Friend") and feisty ("Shadowboxing") varieties. Things do take a mellow turn on the penultimate performance ("As It Were"), but it's a welcome respite from the heat at that point in the album. It's not clear whether musician's intuition or other factors led Gold to select these men for this project, but they were the right choice. Together, Gold, Stryker and Hunter have a blast, and their enthusiasm is contagious. ~ Dan Bilawsky  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/intuition-jared-gold-posi-tone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 

Personnel: Jared Gold: organ; Dave Stryker: guitar; McClenty Hunter: drums.

Intuition

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Jared Gold - JG3+3

Size: 112,1 MB
Time: 48:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Hammond B-3
Art: Front

01. Pendulum (5:26)
02. Spirits (3:40)
03. Sermonette (5:37)
04. Shower The People (5:34)
05. No Moon At All (4:07)
06. I Just Can't Stop Loving You (6:26)
07. Fantified (5:06)
08. Cubano Chant (4:47)
09. Charcoal Blues (7:19)

Personnel:
Jared Gold - organ
Dave Stryker - guitar
Sylvia Cuenca - drums
Patrick Cornelius - alto sax
Jason Marshall - baritone sax
Tatum Greenblatt - trumpet

Posi-Tone Records would seem to have the market cornered on both saxophonists and organists with Jared Gold at the top of the list on the latter.

The organ trio format gets a kick in the ass with the addition of a three person horn section and Gold's best compositions thus far. Joining Jared we have improvisational guitar wizard in Dave Stryker and rock steady Sylvia Cuenca on drums. Let's get the negative stuff out of the way first, shall we? I don't know that the covers of "Shower The People" and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" make the transition to this format as well as perhaps intended. That being said, when you put together a band this tight then they could record the music of Sesame Street and it would swing!

Jared's tunes "Pendulum" and "Fantified" showcase his exponential growth as a composer as his skills as an instrumentalist certainly go unchallenged. The other two covers of Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant" and Wayne Shorter's "Charcoal Blues" smolder with intensity. This is passion on a shiny silver disc. The horn section of Patrick Cornelius, Jason Marshall and Tatum Greenblatt add a smoldering soul that elevates a release that one might consider "predictable" to a new level of swing. Jared Gold is a force in modern jazz and an organ player that continues to grow artistically. Nothing to grind on here, you like organ? You will love this! ~Brent Black

JG3+3

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