New York Times Best Of 2019 Picks A Track From Dave Stryker’s Eight Track Christmas

New York Times Best of 2019
picks a track from Eight Track Christmas

The guitarist Dave Stryker trades melody duties with the vibraphonist Stefon Harris on this cover of Donny Hathaway’s modern-day Christmas classic. Rounded out by the organist Jared Gold and the drummer McClenty Hunter (doubling on jingle bells), Stryker’s Eight Track Band plays the tune at the same sauntering, medium tempo that Hathaway used; even without Hathaway’s munificent voice or the boisterous horn section of the original, the tune’s infectious, syncopated melody and the low-key virtuosity of this quartet’s members are enough. GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO

Dave Stryker-guitar 
Stefon Harris-vibraphone 
Jared Gold-organ 
McClenty Hunter-drums 
Mayra Casales-percussion 

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