Aaron Stroessner Quartet - Haymarket Station (2020)

The Aaron Stroessner Quartet debut Haymarket Station resonates with memorable themes set in creative explorations of mood and style. Inspirations are cryptically referenced in the titles; while “Amtrak,” “Kief,” “There and Back” and “Django Unchained” pays homage to John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Jeff Beck, and the MJQ, other titles directly reference style, as in “Ocho Rios” and “Blue Shoe Samba.” Each inspiration begins as a seductive starting point for Stroessner’s simple yet resilient narratives, which are guided as much by intuition as tradition. Haymarket Station is undoubtedly a jazz recording, with extensive improvisations throughout; its ten songs were all recorded in a single day by GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Tom Ware.
Stroessner’s guitar playing is a lot like his songwriting, with a developed melodic sense that can be both simple and sophisticated. The same could be said of Hammond B3 player Kevin Lloyd, who generates tremendous emotional peaks and valleys on Haymarket Station. Lloyd also comes from a varied background, playing jazz, blues, and funk gigs by night and gospel by day at the New Beginning Community Baptist Church in Omaha, NE. At age 13, Lloyd started a decade-long engagement at Lee’s Chicken Restaurant in Lincoln and joined Chicago bluesman Magic Slim’s band just a few years later. The variety of tones evoked by Lloyd’s B3 and Stroessner’s telecaster complement the songs on Haymarket Station, at times suggesting an otherworldly landscape.
Besides playing in the Aaron Stroessner Quartet, bassist Mitchell Benson also writes, sings, and performs in several different bands. With that mindset, Benson developed his contribution to Haymarket Station organically, discerning each song’s identity on a case-by-case basis. Drummer Andrew Wray, on the other hand, seems to experiment on every take, fearless on his instrument. The youngest of the group, Wray arrived in Lincoln playing beyond his years, having grown-up studying with noted Kansas City drummer Brandon Graves. The future looks bright for Wray, recently performing with the likes of Donny McCaslin, Victor Lewis, and Shodekeh. A composer in his own right, Wray always keeps an eye on the big picture.
The audience for Haymarket Station is wide and far-reaching; perhaps the Aaron Stroessner Quartet is destined to keep playing jazz in blues bars, or maybe they’ll cross over to some jam band scene. Whatever the audience, Stroessner’s discerning, memorable songs are perfect for the challenge, providing listeners with easy access to exotic places.