Tickets & Info Watch Dave Stryker Eight Track Band Perform "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" on WBGO Dave Stryker-Guitar, Stefon Harris-Vibes Jared Gold-Organ, McClenty Hunter-Drums, Myra Casales-Percussion  | |
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 "Dave we need to complete the Trilogy!" said Stefan Harris as we drove to a gig last summer. We had recorded Eight Track with my working trio of Jared Gold and McClenty Hunter back in 2013 and Eight Track II followed three years later with the great Steve Nelson on vibraphone. A Trilogy? I didn't have to be asked twice! The Eight Track projects have been not only fun, but musically rewarding. Playing these classic melodies from the '70s has been a great way to connect with people and bring more people to the music, whether they remember the songs or are just discovering them. I enjoy the challenge of finding my way into these tunes by putting my own stamp on them through the arrangements and playing. (Besides, I had an Eight Track player in my van in high school and spent many hours listening to everything from Miles and Coltrane to Santana and Marvin Gaye!) This time out we tackle Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up", The Temptations' "Papa was a Rollin' Stone", Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic", and two tunes by Stevie Wonder: "Too High" and Joy Inside My Tears". The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" and Burt Bacharach's "This Guys In Love" show that a great melody is a great melody no matter the decade. And Stefon does Roy Ayer's classic "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" proud before we start to wind down with Marvin Gaye's "After the Dance." Throughout I have to tip my hat to these outstanding musicians and friends who brought this music to life: Stefan Harris, Jared Gold, McClenty Hunter and Mayra Casales. In these crazy times, I hope our takes on these classic songs can bring some joy and positivity into the world. The Trilogy is complete - Viva Eight Track! -Dave Stryker Here’s what people are saying so far: “Stryker Strikes Again!!” William Johnson KPOV "Stryker remains as ruggedly stylish and direct as ever... 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 / All About Jazz "When it comes to ultracool & hip jazz, guitarist Dave Stryker is at the very TOP of the list… what an absolutely fun album. The album opener, “Move on Up“, alone, makes it well worth purchasing the full album. Jared’s organ just KICKS IT OUT on this superb tune! Stevie Wonder’s “Too High” is one of the best performances of the tune I’ve ever heard. The recording is just flawless. I give Dave & his superb players a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.99 out of 5.” Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews "Dave Stryker’s third Baby Boomer covers album is, quite frankly, a can’t-lose proposition. That’s ‘cos the melodies are rich with timeless soul and everyone in the band are veteran masters who can effortlessly kick back and take an easygoing approach that these songs need to make them as engaging in these interpretations as they are with the originals."S.Victor Aarons / Something Else Reviews "It’s all in the special sauce. In which we find guitar man Stryker paying tribute to his youth by hitting it on everything that was playing in your car 45 years ago when we were young and eclectic. A gift shop record in lesser hands, the set list in impeccable again and the on board jazzbos are enjoying being there for the trip---all of whom are no slouches either. Tasty fun that means so much more as Stryker and company dig beneath the commercial veneer for the real deal.“ CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher |
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