Dave Stryker Interview

01/23/25 • 33 min

30 Albums For 30 Years (1964-1994)

Dave Stryker is a renowned American jazz guitarist with over 25 albums as a leader and collaborations with jazz greats like Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and Kevin Mahogany. Raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Stryker began playing guitar at ten, initially inspired by The Beatles and later drawn to jazz . By 17, he was performing jazz locally.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1978 and then began working with Jack McDuff, touring with him in 1984–1985. Stryker spent a decade with saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and formed bands with Steve Slagle and Jared Gold. He also worked extensively with singer Kevin Mahogany as a sideman and arranger, performing at Carnegie Hall and internationally. An experienced educator, Stryker has taught at Indiana University, Montclair State, William Paterson University, and Rutgers University, as well as online via ArtistWorks.

For More On Dave Stryker go to: https://www.davestryker.com/

https://www.davestryker.com/

For More On Dave Stryker go to: https://www.davestryker.com/

https://www.davestryker.com/

Previous Episode

Aretha Franklin -I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

(S4 E7) Aretha Franklin -I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Atlantic)

Released March 10, 1967. Recorded January 10 – February 26, 1967

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) marked Aretha Franklin’s breakthrough as the "Queen of Soul," blending gospel, blues, and R&B into a revolutionary sound. Released by Atlantic Records, the album featured iconic tracks like Otis Redding’s reimagined “Respect,” which became a feminist and civil rights anthem, and the heartfelt title track, her first major hit. Recorded at Muscle Shoals and Atlantic Studios, the album showcased Franklin’s commanding vocals, her piano playing, and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section's soulful backing. Its mix of original compositions and inspired covers, such as Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” elevated it as a timeless masterpiece. Topping R&B charts and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the album cemented Franklin’s legacy as a cultural icon. Its impact extended beyond music, symbolizing empowerment and resilience while inspiring generations of artists and shaping soul music's trajectory.

Signature Tracks: "Respect," "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)," "Dr. Feel Good (Love is a Serious Business)"

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Next Episode

The Velvet Underground and Nico

(S4-Ep8) The Velvet Underground and Nico (Verve Records)

Released March 1967- Recorded April-May and November of 1966 (Verve Records)

Despite its initial commercial failure, the Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) is one of the most influential albums in rock history. The album, produced by artist Andy Warhol, fused avant-garde art with raw, experimental rock, tackling taboo subjects like drug use and urban decay. Lou Reed’s stark lyricism and John Cale’s avant-garde instrumentation—particularly his electric viola—set the band apart from their contemporaries. Tracks like Heroin, Venus in Furs, and All Tomorrow’s Parties showcased their uncompromising artistic vision. Though largely ignored upon release, the album became a blueprint for punk, noise rock, and indie music, influencing artists from David Bowie to Sonic Youth. The iconic banana cover, designed by Warhol, remains one of rock’s most recognizable images. Over time, The Velvet Underground & Nico earned its place as a seminal work, proving that commercial success is not always a measure of artistic impact.

Signature Tracks "Heroin," “Venus in Furs,” "All Tomorrow's Parties"

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