Dave Stryker "Eight Track 2"

Dave Stryker, guitar;

There's no way that Metallica would take on Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite". Nor would Pearl Jam tackle Monk's "Straight No Chaser". And I can't imagine Taylor Swift testing her lack of chops on Wardell Gray's "Twisted". So tell me, why is it that jazz musicians occasionally turn their attention to the questionable quality of rock and pop? Well, that's what the three above musicians have done. Guitarist Dave Stryker brings us material by Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Zombies, Prince and Cream. Should I continue? Okay, consider the work of bassist and trio leader Joe Policastro. He brings us the efforts of these not-so-notables: Neil Young, The Pixies, The Bee Gees, Pink Floyd and The Cars. I could rest my case here, but c'mon, I'm on a roll. So finally there's Tierney Sutton, a formidable jazz singer, with a new CD devoted entirely to the meanderings of something called Sting. Kinda makes you hunger for "Bruce Springsteen sings Johnny Hartman". Right?

Stryker: Strikezone Records; 2016; appx. 66 min.

Policastro: JeruJazz Records; 2016; appx. 70 min.

Sutton: BFM Jazz; 2016; appx. 56 min.