Steve Slagle New

Saxophonist Steve Slagle and guitarist Dave Stryker have been developing a group sound for over 15 years. But in this new century they formed the critically acclaimed Stryker/Slagle Band -
a quartet that is a showcase for ”one of today’s most inspired
two-man teams”(Jazz Times’05). Together Dave and Steve compose new music and new angles on music that comes from all directions. They play with the very best rhythm sections NYC has to offer - like on the most recent recording “Live at the Jazz Standard” (Zoho Records) with the exemplary Victor Lewis on drums and Ed Howard on bass.

Stryker/Slagle Band Live at the Jazz Standard, NYC. Photo by Sergio Royzen

Through years of being on bandstands and in the recording studio together Dave and Steve have developed an ”ESP” in their musical thoughts that is un-paralleled by many short lived ensembles on today’s scene! You have to hear it to believe it!

Steve has released over 10 CD’s as a leader, and performed as a sideman on countless others. He has played with Charlie Haden, Milton Nascimento, Carla Bley ,Ray Barretto Stevie Wonder, and Joe Lovano to name a few. Steve was musical director of the Mingus Big Band for many years and wrote many arrangements for this band. The recording featuring most of his arrangements ”Gunslinging Birds” was nominated for Grammy award. His last solo CD New New York (OmniTone), features Stryker and Joe Lovano. He is also on Joe Lovano’s Grammy winning CD “52nd St. Themes” and "On This Day" on Blue Note. However his main focus has been in leading his own bands - culminating now with the Stryker/Slagle Band. As Downbeat Magazine says ”they have achieved an empathy that results in several passages of remarkable collective improvisation”. Jazz Times says “Slagle ranks in the upper echelon of alto sax players on the scene today”.


Steve Slagle/Dave Stryker at Cecil's, NJ, 2006. Photos by George Kopp

Dave spent over 13 years with Stanley Turrentine, and also worked with Jack McDuff and Kevin Mahogany, and has over 15 CD's out as a leader, (most featuring Slagle.) He’s also been a sideman on over 25 others. Stryker was voted one of the Top Ten Guitarists in both the Critics and Readers Poll of Downbeat Magazine in 2001, and his latest CD, Blue to the Bone III (SteepleChase Music), was picked as one of the top CD’s of 2002 by jazz station WBGO and by Jazz Review. Gary Giddins in the Village Voice calls Dave “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.”

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