As of March 18, Groove Street, the Dave Stryker Trio with Bob Mintzer album (Strikezone) was ranked Number 2 after spending nine weeks on the JazzWeek charts. Jersey Jazz‘s Joe Lang called Groove Street “consistently appealing and refreshing.” AllAboutJazz‘s Jack Bowers wrote of “its captivating sounds and charming ambience.” In addition to Stryker, the album featured Jared Gold on organ, McClenty Hunter on drums, and Mintzer on tenor saxophone.
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, Stryker will bring his quartet to the Metuchen Public Library as part of Metuchen Jazz’s Cornerstone series. Gold will again be organ, along with drummer Steve Johns, and saxophonist Ralph Bowen.
Stryker has long been a favorite among New Jersey jazz fans. After moving to New York from Omaha in 1980, he worked as a sideman for tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and organist Jack McDuff, among others. He has recorded 35 albums as a leader and was co-leader for 30 years of the Stryker-Slagle Band with saxophonist Steve Slagle. He is also a leading jazz educator, teaching at such schools as Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts, the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University.
The Metuchen Public Library is located at 480 Middlesex Ave. in Metuchen, NJ. Admission to the concert is free, but advance registration at Eventbrite is a MUST. For more information or questions, log onto info@friendsofmetuchenarts.org or call (732) 762-5224.
PHOTO BY STEVEN PETERSON