Dave Stryker

Dave Stryker Biography

Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker fronting his own group (with 23 CD’s as a leader to date), or as a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and many others, you know why Gary Giddins in the Village Voice calls him “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” He was voted one of the Top Ten Guitarists in the 2001 Downbeat Readers poll, and a Rising Star for the last 5 years in the Downbeat Critics Poll. His approach combining the jazz burn to a soulful blues feeling is communicating to new fans wherever he plays. His most recent CD “Blue Strike” has made many Best of 2011 lists including WBGO Jazz Radio and Tom Reney/New England Pulic Radio. Dave Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and moved to New York City in 1980. After establishing himself in the local music scene, he joined organist Jack McDuff’s group for two years 1984-85. When McDuff wasn’t on the road (literally traveling by van all over the country) they worked a steady four-night a week gig at Dude’s Lounge in Harlem. His first break, this turned out to be an invaluable experience, paying his dues night after night with the soulful jazz organist. It was at Dude’s Lounge that Stryker met tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, who would occasionally sit in. After leaving McDuff, Turrentine asked Stryker to join his quintet. From 1986-1995 he played with the legendary saxophonist at all the major festivals, concert halls, and clubs throughout the world. He is featured on two Turrentine CD’s (Stanley recorded Stryker’s tune “Sidesteppin”). With Turrentine, Stryker was able to play with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard. The ten years playing alongside the tenor legend helped Stryker realize the importance of having his own sound. Dave continued to work with Stanley and was with him during his final week at the Blue Note in NYC, when he passed in Sept. 2000. Early on Stryker realized that as much as he loved playing standards and the jazz repertoire he had to have something of his own to give to the music. He feels that his writing combined with his playing is what shapes his musical expression. He has recorded and published over 130 of his own compositions. Eighteen of those compositions (from the first five SteepleChase CD’s) are compiled in the book : The Music of Dave Stryker (SteepleChase Music) which can be ordered on this website. Some of the other artists who have recorded his music are: Stanley Turrentine, Kevin Mahogany, Victor Lewis, and Steve Slagle. Dave continues to perform with his working unit The Stryker / Slagle Band as well as his other projects: The Dave Stryker Organ Trio, and The Blue to the Bone Band. Recent gigs for The Stryker / Slagle Band have included a recent week at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival, The Blue Note in Las Vegas, The Jazz Bakery in LA, and a 2003 tour of Japan. Recent sideman work has included vocalist Kevin Mahogany’s group, with Dave writing and arranging music for Kevin’s Telarc release Pride and Joy and Another Time, Another Place on Warner Bros and tours of Europe, Japan, Brazil, Poland and Carnegie Hall. He also has worked with Blue Note saxophonist Javon Jackson and pianist Eliane Elias. He has appeared on over 50 CD’s as a sideman. As a producer, Stryker compiled the CD The Guitar Artistry of Billy Rogers which is the only existing record of the brilliant jazz playing of the late underground legend who was his friend, former teacher and member of the Crusaders. He has also produced “A Tribute to Grant Green” on Evidence Music. Dave is also involved in teaching both privately and at the Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop, the Litchfield Jazz Fest Camp, and The Veneto/ New School Workshop in Italy. Dave is an Adjunct Professor at The Cali School for the Arts at Montclair State University. His book “Dave Stryker’s Jazz Guitar Improvisation Method” (Mel Bay Publishing) is available on Amazon.com. “I have followed Dave Stryker’s playing since his early days in Omaha through his long stay with Stanley Turrentine and his longstanding relationship with the great alto player Steve Slagle (another undersung heavy out there) and he just gets better and better with one of the most joyous feels around.” – Pat Metheny Dave Stryker Discography as a Leader: • First Strike (1988) Someday 1011 (Japanese) • Strikezone (1990) SteepleChase 31277 • Guitar on Top (1991 Ken 019) Strikezone Records 8805 • Passage (1991) SteepleChase 31330 • Blue Degrees (1992) SteepleChase 31315 • Full Moon (1993) SteepleChase 31345 • Stardust (1994) SteepleChase 31362 • Nomad (1994) SteepleChase 31371 • The Greeting (1995) SteepleChase 31387 • Blue to the Bone (1996) SteepleChase 31400 • Big Room (1996) SteepleChase 31426 • All the Way (1997) SteepleChase 31455 • Blue to the Bone II (1998) SteepleChase 31465 • Shades of Miles (1998) SteepleChase 31480 • Changing Times (1999) SteepleChase 31510 • Blue to the Bone III (2001) SteepleChase 31524 • Shades Beyond (2001) SteepleChase 31559 • Strike up the Band (2003) SteepleChase 31637 • Big City (2004) Mel Bay Records MB06562CD • The Chaser (2005) Mel Bay Records MB10212CD • One for Reedus (2008) SteepleChase 31679 • Keystone (2009) SteepleChase 31702 • Blue Strike (2010) SteepleChase 31729 • Dave Stryker Organ Trio Live (2007) Strikezone Records 8807 DVD • Six String Santa (1996) Strikezone Records 8806 Dave Stryker Discography With Others: • The Stryker / Slagle Band (2005) Live at the Jazz Standard / ZOHO 200509 • The Stryker / Slagle Band (2006) Latest Outlook / ZOHO 200703 • The Stryker / Slagle Band (2008) The Scene / ZOHO 200810 • The Stryker / Slagle Band (2010) Keeper / Panorama PAN003 • Stryker/Slagle Band (2003) Khaeon World Music • Stanley Turrentine (1989) Say Brother/WGBH (video only) • Stanley Turrentine (1990) Live at the Village Gate / Kultur Video 1294 • Stanley Turrentine (1991) Live at Blues Alley / Blues Alley Records 110004 • Stanley Turrentine (1995) T Time / MusicMaster 65124-2 • Kevin Mahogany (1997) Another Time, Another Place / Warner Bros. 946699-2 • Kevin Mahogany (2000) Portrait of Kevin Mahogany / Warner Bros. 947364-2 • Kevin Mahogany (2001) Pride and Joy / Telarc 83542 • Steve Slagle (1991) Smoke Signals / Panorama 001 • Steve Slagle (1995) Our Sound / DoubleTime 107 • Steve Slagle (1997) Plays Monk / SteepleChase 31446 • Steve Slagle (2000) New New York / Omnitone 12005 • Alan Botschinsky (1992) Last Summer / MA Music A804-2 • Alan Botschinsky (1995) I’ve Got Another Rhythm / MA Music A916-2 • Javon Jackson (1999) Pleasant Valley / Blue Note 99697 • Larry Schneider (1997) Ali Girl / SteepleChase 31429 • Danny Walsh (1997) D’s Mood SteepleChase 31428 • Andy LaVerne (1996) Stan Getz in Chappaqua / SteepleChase 31418 • SteepleChase Jam Session Vol. 2 (1996) SteepleChase 31523 • SteepleChase Jam Session Vol. 10 (1998) SteepleChase 31555 • Tony Reedus (1993) Minor Thang / CrissCross 1117 • Craig Handy (1999) Reflections in Change / Sirocco1005 • Bill Warfield Big Band (1993) The City Never Sleeps / Sea Breeze 2048 • Royce Campbell (1994) 6 x 6 / Paddle Wheel KJCJ 220 • Steve Doyle (1997) Presence / Axis 1031 • Terry Lee Burns (1998) Song Speak 5332 • Mike Freeman (1991) Spellbound / Best Records 9181-2 • Jorge Nila (2003) The Way I Feel / Strikezone Records 8804 • Ultrablue (2003) Dusk 2 Dawn / Khaeon World Music • Trio Mundo (2002) Carnaval / Khaeon World Music 200204 (also producer) • Trio Mundo II (2004) ZOHO Music (also producer) • Billy Rogers (1993) The Guitar Artistry of Billy Rogers / Stash 566 (also producer) • A Tribute to Grant Green (1996) Evidence 222112 (also producer) • Sylvia Cuenca (2002) Exit 13 / Etoile Records 002 1475 • Mark Weinstein (2007) Straight no Chaser / Jazzheads JH 1161 • Pete Levin (2010) Jump! / PLM -2010B • Jared Gold (2010) Out of Line / Posi-Tone PR 8067 • Jimmy Duchowny Organ Trio / The Brazilian Sessions / JD Records