Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed jazz guitarist Dave Stryker.

We caught up with Dave to talk about his 2026 album Blue Fire: The Van Gelder Session, a powerful new recording that captures his trio at the legendary Van Gelder Studio for the first time.

Dave first made his mark in jazz working with icons like Jack McDuff and Stanley Turrentine before launching a celebrated career as a bandleader and recording artist.

On Blue Fire, Stryker brings together his longtime trio featuring:

• Jared Gold on organ

• McClenty Hunter on drums

The album showcases the trio’s deep groove and chemistry through four new Stryker originals along with inspired interpretations of classics like “The Fool on the Hill” by The Beatles songwriting duo John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and “Dexterity” by bebop legend Charlie Parker.

Recording at the historic Van Gelder studio made this project a dream come true for Dave, and in this interview we dive into the music, the band’s chemistry, the inspiration behind the record, and thoughts on America today.

🎶 Get the album:

https://davestryker.bandcamp.com/album/blue-fire-the-van-gelder-session

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Joe Dimino Podcaster/Artist

Joe Dimino has been writing & creating in a variety of capacities since his college days at the University of Missouri-Kansas City somewhere around 1993. If you are keeping score, that would be about 29 years+. It all began at UMKCs University News as a Sports Writer & turned into a myriad of expressive avenues. Inventing poems, art, video & audio has always been in the proverbial cards.