Dave Stryker with Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band - Blue Soul (2020) [WEB]

Guitarist Dave Stryker keeps part of his winning hand of playing 60s soul pieces, but mixes it up a bit by joining in with Yellowjackets member Bob Mintzer, who conducts the WDR Big Band through a hefty mix of Boomer tunes and originals. The band includes Billy Test on the organ, and he’s working overtime here, with his humming Hammond at work with Stryker on a grooving take of Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man” and a sleek “What’s Going On”. Mintzer’s arrangements create a dreamy mood on “Wichita Lineman” and the sounds get exciting as drummer Hans Dekker cracks the whip on a rich read of Prince’s “When Doves Cry”. Stryker’s clean and melodic guitar work signs on for every tune, feeling most at home when he digs in with Mintzer’s tenor on the boogie-ing “Stan’s Shuffle” and working with the arranger on “Aha”. Strong and goes down easy on the ears. by George W. Harris