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The Stryker-Slagle Band featuring Joe Lovano at Dizzy's February 5th - 10th |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Sunday, 03 February 2008 |
"The co-leaders, having played together for nearly two decades, have achieved an empathy that results in several passages of remarkable collective improvisation." Will Smith - Downbeat 9/05
 Steve Slagle
Voted a Rising Star Acoustic Jazz Group in the 2004 Downbeat Critics Poll Guitarist Dave Stryker and Saxophonist Steve Slagle have been developing a group sound for almost 20 years. Recent gigs have included a packed week at the Jazz Bakery in LA where Don Heckman in the the LA Times called them "first-rate jazz talents", and a SRO show at the 2002 Monterey Jazz Festival. The group's most recent recording is the self-titled The Stryker/Slagle Band (Khaeon World Music). It has received great reviews including a feature story in the Dec. 2003 issue of Downbeat, and was picked as one of the Top Ten CD's of 2003 in the New Jersey Star Ledger and Jazzreview.
 Dave Stryker © Paul Aresu
Guitarist Dave Stryker and Saxophonist Steve Slagle have been developing their own group sound for over 20 years. “Latest Outlook”, their third CD as The Stryker / Slagle Band, follows the previous year’s “Live at the Jazz Standard” (ZOHO Music). The latest edition of The SSB includes bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Billy Hart who have played with Dave and Steve off and on since the beginning.
Dave and Steve consider this band their main focus after years as sidemen with many of the greats. Dave spent over 13 years with Stanley Turrentine, and also worked with Jack McDuff and Kevin Mahogany, and has over 15 CD's out as a leader, (most featuring Slagle.) He's also been a sideman on over 25 others. Stryker was voted one of the Top Ten Guitarists in both the Critics and Readers Poll of Downbeat Magazine in 2001, and his latest CD, Blue to the Bone III (SteepleChase Music), was picked as one of the top CD's of 2002 by jazz station WBGO and by Jazzreview. Gary Giddins in the Village Voice calls Dave "one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years."
Saxophonist Steve Slagle also has released 10 CD's as a leader, and performed as a sideman on countless others. He has played with Charlie Haden, Milton Nascimento, and Carla Bley to name a few. Steve was musical director of the Mingus Big Band for many years. His CD New New York (OmniTone), features Stryker and Joe Lovano. He is also on Joe Lovano's Grammy winning CD "52nd St. Themes" on Blue Note. Jazz Times says "Slagle ranks in the upper echelon of alto sax players on the scene today."  Joe Lovano © Andrea Canter
Joe Lovano joined Woody Herman’s 40th Anniversary tour in 1976. For his second Carnegie Hall appearance, Joe shared the stage with Stan Getz on the classic Early Autumn, and was a featured soloist during the celebration, along with Frank Tiberi, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Jimmy Guiffre and Flip Phillips. In 1980, Joe joined the Mel Lewis Orchestra when Bob Brookmeyer served as Musical Director, becoming part of the group’s weekly Monday night concert at the Village Vanguard for the next eleven years. During his tenure with Mel’s band, Joe began working gigs as a leader, with Mel as his drummer. Joe Lovano has been recording and touring with the major Jazz musicians of the late 20th century, including: Gunther Schuller, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Brubeck, Billy Higgins, Dave Holland, Ed Blackwell, Michel Petrucciani, Lee Konitz, Abbey Lincoln, Tom Harrell, McCoy Tyner, Jim Hall, and Bob Brookmeyer, among many others. Joe has long experimented with varying ensembles and formats, including playing unaccompanied saxophone and gongs, as well in duets, trios, quartets, quintets, his Wind Ensemble, Street Band and Nonet, all reflecting his searching and dynamic personality.
Jay Anderson has played bass with Dave and Steve since the 80’s and is on several of their CD’s. He has 2 CD’s out as a leader and has also played with Michael Brecker, Joe Sample, Paul Bley, Bob Berg, Maria Schneider, and Frank Zappa.
Victor Lewis can most often be found in the city's recording studios. In addition to the many jazz dates he's recorded with people like Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Janis Siegel, Larry Willis, John Hicks and Abbey Lincoln, he has recorded a jazz method record with educator-saxophonist Fred Lipsius. Lewis is also a freelance instructor with The New School University Jazz School-Mannes Music School Jazz Program in New York City.
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola is located in Frederick P. Rose Hall. Jazz at Lincoln Center Broadway at 60th Street on the 5th Floor. For reservations call: 212 258-9595. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis either at tables or at the bar.
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 Thursday, 20 November 2008
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