ArtistWorks and Chuck Loeb are pleased to have acclaimed jazz guitarist Dave Stryker pitch in as the “guest professor” of jazz guitar for a little while.  Chuck is home recuperating, so we’re going to continue the learning and teaching here with Dave for the next month or so.  If you want to hear him play, check out his itinerary here. 

Dave’s recorded a recent message video introducing himself and playing a little something for you that will be posted later today.  Please join us in welcoming him to campus!

Here’s a little bit about Dave:

“I have followed Dave Stryker’s playing since his early days in Omaha through his long stay with Stanley Turrentine and his longstanding relationship with the great alto player Steve Slagle (another undersung heavy out there) and he just gets better and better with one of the most joyous feels around.” –Pat Metheny

Dave Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and moved to New York City in 1980. After establishing himself in the local music scene, he joined organist Jack McDuff’s group for two years 1984-85. 

Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker leading his own group (with 26 CD’s as a leader to date), co-leading The Stryker/Slagle Band, or as a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and many others, you know why the Village Voice calls him “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.”

When McDuff wasn’t on the road (literally traveling by van all over the country) they worked a steady four-night a week gig at Dude’s Lounge in Harlem. His first break, this turned out to be an invaluable experience, paying his dues night after night with the soulful jazz organist. It was at Dude’s Lounge that Stryker met tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, who would occasionally sit in. After leaving McDuff, Turrentine asked Stryker to join his quintet. From 1986-1995 he played with the legendary saxophonist at all the major festivals, concert halls, and clubs throughout the world. He is featured on two Turrentine CD’s (Stanley recorded Stryker’s tune “Sidesteppin”). With Turrentine, Stryker was able to play with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard. The ten years playing alongside the tenor legend helped Stryker realize the importance of having his own sound. Dave continued to work with Stanley and was with him during his final week at the Blue Note in NYC, when he passed in Sept. 2000.

Dave is an in demand educator as the Adjunct Professor of Jazz guitar at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. He is passing along his experience by teaching privately and at The Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop, The Litchfield Jazz Camp, and the Jazzhouse Kids Workshop in Montclair, NJ. His book “Dave Stryker’s Jazz Guitar Improvisation Method” (Mel Bay Publishing) is available here on his website at www.davestryker.com.