Intellectually satisfying music also swings like crazy
Marke Andrews - The Vancouver Sun
Stride's writing is lively, fun and inventively swinging. ...........this is a killer session well worth grabbing. A-
Stuart Derdeyn - The Vancouver Province
Stride’s Vancouver-based ensemble unravels his elaborate charts with machine-like precision, adeptly underlining every nuance and shading while making certain that the assorted changes in tempo are squarely on the mark. There’s not a lot of ear candy on Forward Motion—Stride hasn’t made things easy by aiming low—but discerning and open-minded listeners will uncover music that is both pleasurable and rewarding.
Jack Bowers - www.allaboutjazz.com (full review)
Good to know this kind of creative music is being written and played and recorded on Canada's west coast.
John Tapscott
Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra’s Forward Motion is a laudable sampling of what an instrumental jazz album should sound like.
Sari N. Kent www.celebritycafe.com
We like Stride's work because he ventures into new jazz space with his big band. This is so much more refreshing that just rearranging standards!
O's Place www.OsPlaceJazz.com