Dave Stryker, Jared Gold & McClenty Hunter are fresh off their opening gig with the Steely Dan Earth After Hours Tour. The Trio will be celebrating 15 years together by playing music from their upcoming release “Prime”. They are fine-tuned with forward-facing momentum. And once again, Stryker was named one of the top Jazz Guitarists in the 2022 Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls...for the 15th time!
“Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was how great the opening act was. The Dave Stryker Trio had the guitarist ably accompanied by organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter. Their arrangements of two 1972 soul classics – The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” and Curtis Mayfield’s “Pusherman – were journeys through funk, fusion, jazz, and rock with chops to spare.” - Mike Greenblatt / The Aquarian...
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Dave Stryker, Jared Gold & McClenty Hunter are fresh off their opening gig with the Steely Dan Earth After Hours Tour. The Trio will be celebrating 15 years together by playing music from their upcoming release “Prime”. They are fine-tuned with forward-facing momentum. And once again, Stryker was named one of the top Jazz Guitarists in the 2022 Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls...for the 15th time!
“Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was how great the opening act was. The Dave Stryker Trio had the guitarist ably accompanied by organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter. Their arrangements of two 1972 soul classics – The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” and Curtis Mayfield’s “Pusherman – were journeys through funk, fusion, jazz, and rock with chops to spare.” - Mike Greenblatt / The Aquarian
Dave's latest album, “As We Are," the jazz gods have alighted on the guitarist and elevated his playing, his composing, his soloing, and his music. A beautiful, bittersweet concept album, As We Are includes pianist/ arranger Julian Shore, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade, who convey new-found depth and empathy to Stryker’s compositions. A shimmering string quartet led by Sara Caswell enhances some of the finest compositions of his 30-year career…." - Jazz Times
Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker leading his own group (with 34 CD’s as a leader to date), 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.”
Dave co-led The Stryker/Slagle Band for 30 years with saxophonist Steve Slagle. He has appeared on over 75 CD’s as a sideman. Past sideman work has included vocalist Kevin Mahogany’s group, with Dave writing and arranging music for Kevin’s Telarc release “Pride and Joy” and “Another Time, Another Place” on Warner Bros and tours of Europe, Japan, Brazil, Poland and Carnegie Hall. As a producer, Stryker compiled the CD “The Guitar Artistry of Billy Rogers” which is the only existing record of the brilliant jazz playing of the late underground legend who was his friend, former teacher and member of the Crusaders. He has also produced “A Tribute to Grant Green” on Evidence Music and has produced many other artists.
Organist Jared Gold's emergence as one of New York's most in-demand musicians comes from years of dedication and respect to his instrument. With such notable influences as Larry Young, Jack McDuff, and Don Patterson to draw upon as a foundation, the emphasis on finding his own voice has now clearly taken precedence and required Gold to construct his own unique philosophy based on extending harmony and solidifying the groove.
Gold's latest release, titled Metropolitan Rhythm (2015, Posi-Tone), features his steady trio of veteran guitarist Dave Stryker and drummer Kush Abadey. Gold brings two new compositions to the date and some wonderful remakes of familiar songs by a broad spectrum of composers including Thelonious Monk and Paul McCartney.
With the powerful combination of his obvious talent, the blessings of an affable personality and his unbelievable versatility and musicianship on the bandstand, Gold has been provided with the opportunity to work with many established veterans and can be seen performing regularly with his own group and appearing steadily alongside in the working groups of John Abercrombie, Dave Stryker, Oliver Lake, Ralph Bowen and David Gibson.
Hunter began playing music in the church at an early age. Hunter received a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC to study with Grady Tate, where he matriculated in 2005, with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education. In 2007, Hunter received a Master Degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School of Music, where he studied under drummer Carl Allen.
While at Juilliard, Hunter joined the Eric Reed Trio and recorded The Dancing Monk (2011). Hunter has earned the opportunity to work with Lou Donaldson, Cedar Walton, Buster Williams, Curtis Fuller, Les McCann, Wycliffe Gordon, Peter Bernstein, Eric Alexander, Mike LeDonne, and Paul Bollenback. McClenty’s drumming is represented on Dave Styrker’s Messin With Mr. T (2015) and Javon Jackson’s Live at Smoke: Expression (2013) to name a few.
In addition to performing, McClenty is the Director of KIPP Academy String and Rhythm Orchestra in the Bronx. As conductor, he has led students in performances in VH1’s Save the Music Foundation and Robin Hood Foundation galas with artists Roger Waters, Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, John Legend and John Mayer. Hunter is currently a member of the Kenny Garrett Quintet and has gained international exposure by performing on Kenny Garrett’s latest Grammy Award nominated album Pushing the World Away (2013).
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