Dave Stryker: Blue Fire

STRIKEZONE 8828 (RELEASED JANUARY 9, 2026)

Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, has been the site for its fair share of monumental recordings — everything from John Coltrane’s Love Supreme to Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage and Don Cherry’s Complete Communion to Freddie Hubbard’s Red Clay. Guitarist Dave Stryker and his trio of Jared Gold on organ and McClenty Hunter on drums walked into this historic setting for Blue Fire, their first-time ever Van Gelder session. Inspired by the setting (not to mention the original Jimmy Smith/Larry Young Hammond organ), the trio does what they do best — deliver a set of soulful grooves. The set kicks off with Stryker’s “Van Gelder’s Place.” a classic up-tempo blues with strong burning solos from the guitarist and Gold. The band shows their more modern side with Stryker’s modal “Blue Fire,” as the guitarist and Gold deliver the intricate opening lines in unison before giving way to more blues-infused solos. Stryker contributes two more originals to this session — the ballad “Waiting for Ruby” and the noirish “Every Dark Street.” Reminiscent of his recent Eight Track series, the trio transforms Lennon and McCartney ‘s “The Fool on the Hill” into a soulful bossa nova. They also add their classic groove to Charlie Parker’s “Dexterity.” Gold’s “Back and Forth” is appropriately named for a tune that shifts from funk to blues. Stryker’s Wes Montgomery stye chording provides the perfect opening to Kern’s “The Folks Who Live on the Hill “ and Warren and Dubin’s “Summer Night.” Having worked together for 20 years, Stryker, Gold and McClenty imbue each tune with a sense of intuitive interplay and sensitive support. Recording at Van Gelder’s studio was a longtime dream for Stryker. Although the result may not qualify for one of those “memorable” Van Gelder sessions, the experience was more than memorable for Stryker, Gold and Hunter and Blue Fire is a memorable addition to Stryker’s sparse recordings in the classic organ/guitar/drum setting.

BOTTOM LINE: Guitarist Dave Stryker returns to the classic organ/guitar/drum trio format, which he hasn’t recorded with since his 2009 Keystone date for Steeplechase Records. This stripped-down setting is ideal for Stryker’s soulful groove. Recorded at Van Gelder Studios, Blue Fire ranks right up there with the many organ trio sessions recorded in that hallowed hall.