CD Review: Dave Stryker, "Stryker WIth Strings Goes To The Movies"

Master Guitarist Dave Stryker and Arranger and Composer Brent Wallarab joined forces to create a beautiful new CD, "Stryker With Strings Goes to the Movies".   In addition to the outstanding playlist of songs, Wallarab and Stryker decided to employ an unusual instrumental configuration of a 30 piece studio orchestra featuring a Jazz Quartet, Strings, and Trombones, punctuated by solo work from Violinist Sara Caswell, Saxophonist Greg Ward, Flugelhornist Mark Buselli, and Trombonist Jim Pugh.  The Arrangements and musical sounds on this CD are perfect for all Jazz lovers who like to listen to Jazz that respects melody while at the same allows musicians room to show their musical skills.

Stryker picked some outstanding movie songs for his CD; some you will know well but there is a good chance you missed a couple along the way.  One example would be "Flirtibird" from the movie "Anatomy Of A Murder".  This song was composed by Ellington and Strayhorn and the sensational Wallarab arrangement features Dave Stryker on Guitar, Mark Buselli Plays a great Flugelhorn solo, Greg Ward adding some wonderful Sax work and master Trombone player Jim Pugh.  This cut alone is worth the cost of the Album in my opinion.  I have attached a YouTube video of this cut below.

                                                                    "Flirtibird"

PLAYERS:

Dave Stryker- Guitar

Brent Wallarab- Arrangements and Conducting

Xavier Davis- Piano & Fender Rhodes

Jeremy Allen- Bass

McClenty Hunter- Drums

Featured Soloists:

Sara Caswell- Violin

Greg Ward- Alto Ssxophone

Jim Pugh- Trombone

Mark Buselli- Flugehorn

PLAYLIST:

1. In Your Eyes

2. Cinema Paradiso

3. You Only Live Twice

4. Taxi Driver

5. Theme From Shaft

6. Cavatina

7. Flirtibird

8. Low Key Lightly

9. Moonglow

10. Dreamsville

11. Edelweiss 

I have attached another song from the CD from composers Mancini annd Livingston that fits it's title perfectly; "Dreamsville".

                                                                        "Dreamsville"

CD Review: Paul Marinaro, "Not Quite Yet"

 

I am delighted to introduce Vocalist Paul Marinaro to Music Man followers.  Paul's hometown is Chicago where he regularly performs at Joe and Wayne Segal's Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, Andy's Jazz Club and Winter's Jazz Club.  Paul has all the tools necessary to establish himself as one of the top male Jazz singers performing today.  First and foremost he is a story teller who brings life to the lyrics he sings.   His baritone voice is deep and golden.  Lastly and perhaps most importantly,  Paul takes his choice of songs for his albums very seriously.  The playlist is unusual in song selection because each song and emotional lyric is very different, and, yet they fit together perfectly.  According to Paul,  "this album is an honest and personal collection of songs which address themes and reflect moods that are characteristic of me at this stage. Though these eternal themes are common our interpretations were colored and shaped by the circumstances in which we most recently found ourselves."

Take some time to review the playlist list below.  I think it's a fascinating group of songs from many different genres that work great together.  Picking a couple off "YouTube" was no easy task.  There are two songs from David Bowie, a couple of songs from the Bergmans, one from Sondheim and others from outstanding composers of our time.   I attached two songs that I think illustrate the vast talents of Paul Marinaro.  The first is a song written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells called "Born To Be Blue" and the second song "No One Ever Tells You" was written by Hub Atwood and Carroll Coates for Frank Sinatra.  A special mention of Mike Allemana who in addition to playing Guitar on the album also wrote  outstanding, creative arrangements for all the songs.   

PLAYLIST:

1. Born To Be Blue

2. Someone To Light Up My Life

3. Make Me Rainbows

4. 5:15 the Angels Have Gone

5. Remind Me

6. No One Ever Tells You

7.  Invitation

8. The Island

9. Taking A Chance on Love

10. On A Wonderful Day Like Today

11. That's All 

12. Searching

13. I Remember

14. No Plan

PLAYERS:

Paul Marinaro- Vocals

Mike Allemana- Guitar and Arrangements

Tom Vaitsas- Piano

John Tate- Bass (All except 5, 13)

George Fludas- Drums

Horns (Tracks 1,3,6,7,9,10)

Marques Carroll- Trumpet

Raphael Crawford- Trombone

Chris Madsen- Tenor Sax

Greg Ward- Alto Sax

Rajiv Halim- Clarinet (Track 11 only)

Jim Gailloreto- Flute (Track 12 only)

KAIA String Orchestra  (Tracks 2,4,8,9,11,12,14)

Victoria Moreira- Violin

Naomi Culp- Violin

Amanda Grimm- Viola

Hope DeCelle- Cello 

                                                                  "Born To Be Blue"

                                                               "No One Ever Tells You"