Guitarist Dave Stryker has hit a groove with his collection of “Boomer Hits” albums, but this time around he goes back to his roots with B3legend Jack McDuff to team up with organist Jared Gold, tenor saxist Walter Smith III , McClenty Hunter on drums and guest percussionist Mayra Casales for a mix of modal and swinging blues.
Stryker’s “Tough”, the bluesy “Dreamson” and peppy “Baker’s Circle” are actually reminiscent of vintage Blue Note days of Grant Green with Larry Young, with a level of modal ideas and sophisticated harmonies. Smith II gets funky on a hip read of Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues” and the team shuffles hard on R&B legend Lloyd Price’s fun and funky “Trouble (No. 2). Stryker taps into his inner Wes Montgomery on the trio reads of “Love Dance” and “Superstar” with some nice meat and potatoes, with the whole album served up like a blue plate special. You’ll feel full for a while after this one.