JAZZIZ Editors’ Choice: Dave Stryker, Brian Blade, Ben LaMar Gay & More – JAZZIZ Magazine

As We Are, the latest release from Dave Stryker, finds the guitar master addressing one of the few configurations he hasn’t tackled during 40-plus years in the jazz trenches: a quartet featuring bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade, fleshed out by harmonically erudite pianist Julian Shore’s bespoke string quartet arrangements that include solos by violinist Sara Caswell. “I always wanted to do something where strings would really be integrated into the music, not a coloring or sweetening that comes in later,” Stryker says. As We Are is due out on Strikezone Records on January 7, 2022. (Photo: Courtesy the artist)

The editors of JAZZIZ have the good fortune of being able to listen to new music before it’s officially released in stores and streaming platforms. And because we’re listening to new tunes all day every day, we know just what to recommend when new albums are released every Friday. That’s why, each Monday, we’ll be bringing you a roundup of our 10 favorite songs from the weekend courtesy of our Editors’ Choice playlists, which will feature our favorite new albums, singles and other tunes that may have flown under your radar.