Dave Stryker Quartet featuring Warren Wolf
FRIDAY, APRIL 5 @ 6:00 PM
MILLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
TICKETS $59
Dave Stryker
Guitarist Dave Stryker, a Nebraska native who moved to New York City in 1980 to break into the jazz scene, has been called “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years” by the Village Voice.
Stryker’s first break was touring with organist Jack McDuff’s band for two years, on the road and in a weekly gig at Dude’s Lounge in Harlem. There he met legendary saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, who invited him to join his quintet, and play with greats like Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard.
He was part of the quintet for 10 years and continued to work with Turrentine until 2000.
Stryker went on to release 35 albums as a leader, including his latest, “Prime” (2023) with the Dave Stryker Trio. He has played as a sideman on countless recordings, and has performed with James Moody, Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Heath, Kevin Mahogany, Eliane Elias, Joe Lovano, Steve Slagle and many others.
As a composer, Stryker has recorded and published more than 150 of his own compositions and has published “The Dave Stryker Songbook” with most of his originals. Turrentine recorded Stryker’s tune, “Sidesteppin’.” Stryker’s Trio opened for Steely Dan’s 2022 summer tour, “Earth After Hours.”
Warren Wolf
Baltimore native Warren Wolf began learning vibraphone, marimba, drums and piano at age 3 from his father (Warren Wolf Sr.).
After studying at the Peabody Institute’s prep program and the Baltimore School for the Arts, Wolf studied jazz vibraphone with Dave Samuels (seven semesters) and Ed Saindon (one semester) at the Berklee College of Music, graduating in 2001.
During his time at Berklee and after, he was active in the Boston jazz scene, working as a drummer at Wally’s Café and leading a band with trumpeter Jason Palmer. In 2003, he became an instructor in Berklee’s percussion department.
Since returning to Baltimore in 2005, Wolf has built a reputation as a “lion” on the international jazz circuit, including touring with Christian McBride’s Inside Straight and his own group, Wolfpack. His sixth album, “Chano Pozo: Origins,” was released in 2023.