| 1. This Christmas 2. What Child Is This? 3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 4. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) 5. Soulful Frosty 6. Christmas Time Is Here 7. Sleigh Ride 8. Blue Christmas 9. We Three Kings 10. O Tannenbaum |  |
Here's an album that just snuck by us, officially released on July 19. I love Jazz and there's just something about the Hammond B3 organ that sounds like Christmas. Throw in some vibraphone and you've got a Christmas album that's hitting all the right notes for me. And it doesn't hurt that Dave had the good taste to feature three great Christmas albums on his own cover (James Brown, the underrated "Christmas Soul Special", and the indispensable Jimmy Smith).
Guitarist Dave Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, moving to New York City in 1980. He joined Jazz organist Jack McDuff's group in 1984 and then spent a decade as part of sax man Stanley Turrentine's quintet. Working with Turrentine impressed upon Dave the importance of developing your own sound and writing your own music. He has written more than 150 original songs and released 30 albums under his own name or as band leader. Among those titles is a solo Jazz guitar Christmas album, "Six String Santa" (1996). (For the completists, Dave also released a promotional CD single of "O Tannenbaum" in 2016).
For the past several years, Dave has been working with a trio that features Hammond B3 organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter. Throw in the vibraphone of Stefon Harris and you have what Dave calls his Eight Track Band (so named after the musical format that was popular when Dave was growing up). Together, they've released a series of Eight Track albums featuring Jazz covers of popular hits from the 70s (occasionally tossing in an earlier or later Top 40 tune). And, now, Dave Stryker is bringing the Eight Track sound to the songs of the season.
On "Eight Track Christmas", Dave and the boys bring the Swing to "O Tannenbaum", turn "Blue Christmas" into an actual Blues number, fly with the greatest of ease through "Sleigh Ride", find the Funk in "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and simmer soulfully on "This Christmas". The most interesting arrangement might be "Soulful Frosty", a Mash-Up of "Frosty The Snowman" and the Young-Holt Unlimited's "Soulful Strut".
"Eight Track Christmas" is a very cool record for any cats and kittens who dig holiday Jazz and/or the Hammond B3 organ. And the best part is that it's available now. No need to wait until October to get your holiday groove on.
Guitarist Dave Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, moving to New York City in 1980. He joined Jazz organist Jack McDuff's group in 1984 and then spent a decade as part of sax man Stanley Turrentine's quintet. Working with Turrentine impressed upon Dave the importance of developing your own sound and writing your own music. He has written more than 150 original songs and released 30 albums under his own name or as band leader. Among those titles is a solo Jazz guitar Christmas album, "Six String Santa" (1996). (For the completists, Dave also released a promotional CD single of "O Tannenbaum" in 2016).
For the past several years, Dave has been working with a trio that features Hammond B3 organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter. Throw in the vibraphone of Stefon Harris and you have what Dave calls his Eight Track Band (so named after the musical format that was popular when Dave was growing up). Together, they've released a series of Eight Track albums featuring Jazz covers of popular hits from the 70s (occasionally tossing in an earlier or later Top 40 tune). And, now, Dave Stryker is bringing the Eight Track sound to the songs of the season.
On "Eight Track Christmas", Dave and the boys bring the Swing to "O Tannenbaum", turn "Blue Christmas" into an actual Blues number, fly with the greatest of ease through "Sleigh Ride", find the Funk in "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and simmer soulfully on "This Christmas". The most interesting arrangement might be "Soulful Frosty", a Mash-Up of "Frosty The Snowman" and the Young-Holt Unlimited's "Soulful Strut".
"Eight Track Christmas" is a very cool record for any cats and kittens who dig holiday Jazz and/or the Hammond B3 organ. And the best part is that it's available now. No need to wait until October to get your holiday groove on.
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