Strike Up the Band in Bloomington, MN

Dave Stryker
' fifteenth CD for
Steeplechase
obviously makes him one of producer
Nils Winther
's favorite musicians. For this 2003 session, the veteran guitarist is joined by pianist
Xavier Davis
, bassist
Andy McKee
, and drummer
Billy Hart
, producing a
post-bop
oriented session that has a number of surprises.
Stryker
's reworking of
George Gershwin
's
"Strike Up the Band"
reharmonizes the standard and adds quite a different perspective. He disguises the introduction to
Sonny Rollins
'
"Airegin"
with a tense vamp, with
Davis
shining in its up-tempo setting.
Cole Porter
"I Love You"
is another favorite of
jazz
musicians; the pianist's easygoing, slightly funky scoring of it gives it a fresh sound.
penned three originals, including
"What Is This?,"
a deliberately obvious reworking of the chord changes to
"What Is This Thing Called Love."
His swaggering
"Blues Strut"
and the demanding
modal
piece
"Saints and Sinners"
also produce inspired performances.
wrote the lyrical
waltz
"The Message,"
a low-key but infectious tune, while
McKee
opens his subtle
"Peace Song"
alone, with the band gradually making its entrance. Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden