West Orange guitarist Dave Stryker got himself some strings and he’s taking ‘em all to the movies. The album—Stryker with Strings Goes To The Movies (Strikezone Records)—doesn’t come out until January 10 but he’s laid a little something on us for the meantime. And it’s a flat-out doozy.

We’ve thrilled to West Orange guitarist-composer-educator Dave Stryker before…but not like this. His opening sets for Steely Dan last year proved his funky versatility. His set at Sculler’s in Boston blew the roof off the joint. His ‘Prime’ album was a deeeep groove. Now, though, he’s in a subservient role, yet his artistry is still in full flower, blossoming when called upon to add subtle layers of sophistication to ‘Brian Landrus Plays Ellington & Strayhorn’ on Palmetto Records.

They loved him in Boston! Guitarist-Composer-Educator Dave Stryker blew the roof off Sculler’s in Boston recently with his high-powered groove quartet featuring Walter Smith III on tenor sax, Jared Gold on organ and McClenty Hunter on drums. The addition of Smith gave his acclaimed organ trio new vitality and added muscle to an already solid unit.