Dave Stryker: Blue to the Bone II

Guitarist Stryker’s vision of the blues encompasses the low-down, late-night blues typified here by “Sittin on Top of the World” and the jazzier sort that makes up much of the rest of this disc. Backed by some of the players who made 1996’s Blue to the Bone, this sequel isn’t limited to the 12-bar form as evidenced by such lilting numbers as Stryker’s “Mystery Street” (with a fine slack key guitar solo) and “Goin to New Orleans” (with a solid backbeat from Adam Nussbaum). Pianist Bruce Barth is a standout-especially on his rollicking intro to Ellington’s uptown blues “Rockin in Rhythm”-and the four-man horn section gets in a lot of solid riffing and soloing throughout on Stryker’s intriguing compositions.

Originally Published July 1, 2000