Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded-“Routes” | January CD of the Month

We start off sweet 2016 with a superb effort by the veteran band leaders, guitarist Dave Stryker and alto saxophonist Steve Slagle who for their latest recording expand their band by adding a few guest horn players. The Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded Routes album is on Dave Stryker’s own Strikezone Records. Dave is a gifted guitarist who spent many years honing his craft touring and recording with Jack McDuff and Stanley Turrentine.  Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Dave has been a resident of New York since the early 1980s. Stryker is known for his distinctive style of playing the guitar and he is also very well versed in various styles of music. Since his first recording as a leader in 1989, Dave has had saxophonist Steve Slagle as an accompanist, their co-leadership dates back to 2003 with the first Stryker/Slagle Band session even though both gentlemen have appeared on each other’s album frequently over the years. Although he enjoys playing standards and covers of other composer’s music, Stryker takes prides as a composer with over 150 entries in his songbook. Moreover, Dave is an accomplished educator teaching at both Montclair State University and at the Indiana University in addition to offering private lessons

Saxophonist Steve Slagle was born in Los Angeles and picked up his first saxophone while still an adolescent. He attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and received his Master’s in Music at the Manhattan School of Music. Slagle began his professional career in 1976 playing with the renowned Machito Orchestra and Ray Barretto’s band that instilled in him a love for Latin jazz which grew to his affinity in Brazilian and world music he was involved throughout the 1980s. Over the years Steve has played, toured and recorded with the Mingus Big Band, Lionel Hampton, Carla Bley, Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden and many others. Similar to his co-leader, Slagle is an educator, he’s a faculty member at his alma mater, the Manhattan School of Music. The combination of Dave’s guitar and Steve’s reeds has produced some magnificent live shows as well as a series of fine recordings, Routes being no exception.

The expanded version of the Stryker/Slagle Band features guests John Clark-French horn, Billy Drewes on tenor sax and bass clarinet, Clark Gayton-trombone & tuba, along with the formidable rhythm section of Bill O’Connell, Gerald Cannon and McClenty Hunter. Each leader contributes 4 originals each with the 9^th song of the CD being a Charles Mingus tune. All compositions are a reflection of the writer’s life experiences, the routes they have travelled and the roots of the music. After you listen to the Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded Routes CD, a very personal statement, you too will feel like you have been a part of the routes they have taken throughout their long association.