Jazz guitar ace Dave Stryker takes a break from the Eight Track series of all-boomer covers to make Baker’s Circle, his first ‘regular’ album since 2017’s Strykin’ Ahead.
Stryker’s combo this time includes two stalwarts in Stryker bands, drummer McClenty Hunter and the criminally underrated organist Jared Gold. Replacing vibraphonist Stefon Harris is sax wunderkind Walter Smith III, one of the better rising star tenor men whose post-bop bonafides make him a great fit in Stryker’s combo.
“Tough” is no-nonsense soul-jazz burnin’ and everyone in the band gets their own turn in the sun. Percussionist Mayra Casales is on hand to bolster the Latin rhythm that underpins “El Camino,” where Smith plays it a little hot and then Stryker cools it down, while Gold just makes his solo soar.
“Dreamsong” is where everyone gets to show off their well-honed blues chops, and then the band deliver a crisp, swinging take on the Cole Porter classic “Everything I Love.” Gold’s contribution “Rush Hour” is a noticeable changeup from the rest of the fare, given its energetic, shifty procession, a composition that would challenge most musicians but these cats breeze through the song’s unconventional changes. “Baker’s Circle” was written by Stryker in tribute to his long-time mentor David Baker; it’s established by McClenty’s Brazilian sway with an assist by Casales.
Stryker uses octaves for Ivan Lins’ luscious ballad “Love Dance” to cast that same romantic sentiment, then the guitarist gets deeply soulful on his solo run. “Trouble (No. 2)” originates from Stanley Turrentine’s 1965 Hustlin’ album, so it’s likely a tune that former Turrentine sideman Stryker has played it a time or two before. Here, Stryker and Smith double up on the oh-so-soulful main theme before taking turns alone, when Smith is riding that groove like a champ.
Did I say the Stryker had taken a clean break from the Eight Track covers? I lied. There are a couple tunes here that would qualify for that series. Delaney and Bonnie’s song “Superstar” — made most famous by The Carpenters — is menthol cool in Stryker’s hands and his guitar lines so cleanly and tastefully fit in where the lyrics would go, while Gold puts the right amount of B3 oomph behind it. Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues” kicks as hard than the original, with Stryker and Smith amplifying the melody by their unison pattern. As the song goes along during Stryker’s Benson-ish asides, this funky strut keeps getting jazzier.
Baker’s Circle is another solid outing by Dave Stryker and is due out March 5, 2021 via Strikezone Records. Get it at Bandcamp.
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