Blue Soul is a collaboration between guitarist Dave Stryker, saxophonist and arranger Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band. This is a unique project putting Stryker’s soulful guitar in front of a world-class big band led by MIntzer’s creative arrangements and playing...

Dave Stryker and Bob Mintzer have assembled a varied program which include Mintzer’s orchestrations of Stryker’s versions of Marvin Gaye’s 'Trouble Man' and 'What’s Going On,' Prince’s 'When Doves Cry' and Jimmy Webb’s 'Wichita Lineman.'

The orchestrations interesting, and feels like they've ripped the originals apart, worked out how they tick and then reassembled them with the band, guitar and sax parts all carefully mapped out.

While the end result won't appeal to everyone, big band lover's will be onboard with the direction and really get a kick out of the arrangements.

Mintzer also expanded Stryker’s originals 'Came to Believe,' 'Shadowboxing' and 'Blues Strut' as well as contributing his own 'Aha.' Stanley Turrentine’s 'Stan’s Shuffle' closes out this hard-hitting, guitar-meets-big-band recording - Blue Soul.

A treat for big band and Stryker fans, and there's more than enough going for it to draw in a new audience.

Track listing

01 - Trouble Man
02 - Aha
03 - What's Going On
04 - Came to Believe
05 - Blues Strut
06 - When Doves Cry
07 - Wichita Lineman
08 - Shadowboxing
09 - Stan's Shuffle

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Nick Smithson