Best known as a master of the organ-driven groove, guitarist Dave Stryker discovers new territories, as he brings in a rich string quartet to add textures to his post bop team of Julian Shore/p, John Patitucci/b and Brian Blade/dr, the latter two best known for their work with Wayne Shorter.
The string team of Sara Caswell/v1, Monica K. Davis/v2, Benni von Gutzeit/va and Marka Hughes/cel are used in different roles for the nine tunes. They are featured on the Bartokian “ Overture” while giving a pastoral introduction to “As We Were”, giving an edgy atmosphere to the dream y “River Man” which Shore glides around. Stryker bops around the quartet’s sustained tension on “Lanes” and introduces the reflective “Dreams Are Real”. Patitucci delivers a fragrant bass line under the strings on the bopping “One Thing At A Time” and creates a soft landing on the rich “Hope”. The unison lines of Stryker with the Quartet forms an enticing sway over Patitucci’s pulse on “Soul Friend”, with the symbiotic conversations making this a delight, deserving multiple listenings.