Groove Street
In the summer of 2023, the Dave Stryker Trio joined forces with tenor saxophone legend Bob Mintzer to record an album of new music prior to playing a week at Birdland in NYC. Stryker and Mintzer had been friends for many years and Bob arranged and conducted an album of Dave’s music for the album Blue Soul with the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany. Although Bob had guested with the trio on a few tours, they had never played THIS music together before arriving at the studio. The magic and energy that was captured speaks to the beauty of jazz and the height of communication among first-class players exploring new music for the first time. Subsequently, most of the songs were captured in one take.
From the classic organ shuffle of Dave’s title track to Mintzer originals: “Overlap” and “Straight Ahead,” Stryker’s burner “Summit,” “Code Blue” and Gold’s “Soulstice,” the swinging standard “The More I See You,” the groove of Eddie Harris’ classic “Cold Duck Time,” and a tribute to the great Wayne Shorter with a fresh take on “Infant Eyes”… Stryker and company are definitely exploring new avenues on Groove Street.
DAVE STRYKER guitar
BOB MINTZER tenor saxophone
JARED GOLD organ
McCLENTY HUNTER drums
Review By Alexa Peters
Downbeat Jan 2024
"With driving, rhythmic counterplay and an understated steadfastness, Groove Street, the newest record from the Dave Stryker Trio featuring Bob Mintzer, is aptly named... Groove Street is a pot set to simmer, allowing for some delectable improvisations from Mintzer and interplay between organ, guitar and tenor saxophone...
The album's eponymous track is perhaps its greatest triumph, blending the familiarity of a shuffle beat with a forward-looking angular melody, twisting progression and stand-out solo from Stryker. Snugly and safely in the passenger seat, the listener is transported."
