Mark Stryker
@markstryker.bsky.social
Author, Journalist, Critic, Filmmaker.
Books: “Jazz from Detroit”; “Destiny: 100 Years of Music, Magic, and Community at Orchestra Hall in Detroit.”
Film: “The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit.”
Former Detroit Free Press arts reporter/critic, 1995-2016
Books: “Jazz from Detroit”; “Destiny: 100 Years of Music, Magic, and Community at Orchestra Hall in Detroit.”
Film: “The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit.”
Former Detroit Free Press arts reporter/critic, 1995-2016
Now streaming on Prime Video, YouTube TV, and Google Play. To watch on your computer or phone, go here: www.amazon.com/gp/video/det...
To watch on your TV, go to your Prime account and search for us by title or use your voice activated remote to go directly to the film. Happy watching!
To watch on your TV, go to your Prime account and search for us by title or use your voice activated remote to go directly to the film. Happy watching!
December 22, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Now streaming on Prime Video, YouTube TV, and Google Play. To watch on your computer or phone, go here: www.amazon.com/gp/video/det...
To watch on your TV, go to your Prime account and search for us by title or use your voice activated remote to go directly to the film. Happy watching!
To watch on your TV, go to your Prime account and search for us by title or use your voice activated remote to go directly to the film. Happy watching!
Reposted by Mark Stryker
Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Nancy Wilson. 1963. Good God, what she could do with a ballad in her early prime. The song was written for Sinatra in 1959 by his court composers, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Arranged by Gerald Wilson; Joe Pass, g; Jack Wilson, p. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCGG...
All My Tomorrows
YouTube video by Nancy Wilson - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Nancy Wilson. 1963. Good God, what she could do with a ballad in her early prime. The song was written for Sinatra in 1959 by his court composers, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Arranged by Gerald Wilson; Joe Pass, g; Jack Wilson, p. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCGG...
Reposted by Mark Stryker
She’s one of my favorite vocalists of all time:
Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Nancy Wilson. 1963. Good God, what she could do with a ballad in her early prime. The song was written for Sinatra in 1959 by his court composers, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Arranged by Gerald Wilson; Joe Pass, g; Jack Wilson, p. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCGG...
All My Tomorrows
YouTube video by Nancy Wilson - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
She’s one of my favorite vocalists of all time:
Reposted by Mark Stryker
Good God indeed! Interesting Gerald Wilson arrangement.
December 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Good God indeed! Interesting Gerald Wilson arrangement.
Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Nancy Wilson. 1963. Good God, what she could do with a ballad in her early prime. The song was written for Sinatra in 1959 by his court composers, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Arranged by Gerald Wilson; Joe Pass, g; Jack Wilson, p. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCGG...
All My Tomorrows
YouTube video by Nancy Wilson - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Nancy Wilson. 1963. Good God, what she could do with a ballad in her early prime. The song was written for Sinatra in 1959 by his court composers, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Arranged by Gerald Wilson; Joe Pass, g; Jack Wilson, p. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCGG...
Reposted by Mark Stryker
Happy Birthday to Barry Harris (1929-2021). Here's an excerpt from The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit--now streaming on Prime Video--that captures his bebop mastery. A long sequence in the film goes deep on his playing and role as a legendary teacher and mentor. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWC0...
Barry Harris: Bebop!
YouTube video by The Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Happy Birthday to Barry Harris (1929-2021). Here's an excerpt from The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit--now streaming on Prime Video--that captures his bebop mastery. A long sequence in the film goes deep on his playing and role as a legendary teacher and mentor. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWC0...
Reposted by Mark Stryker
OK. I’ve seen the film now. As the linked interview says, this is an effort to express why we have this music.
Thanks to all who made this.
Thanks to all who made this.
December 14, 2025 at 6:33 PM
OK. I’ve seen the film now. As the linked interview says, this is an effort to express why we have this music.
Thanks to all who made this.
Thanks to all who made this.
Happy Birthday to Barry Harris (1929-2021). Here's an excerpt from The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit--now streaming on Prime Video--that captures his bebop mastery. A long sequence in the film goes deep on his playing and role as a legendary teacher and mentor. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWC0...
Barry Harris: Bebop!
YouTube video by The Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Happy Birthday to Barry Harris (1929-2021). Here's an excerpt from The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit--now streaming on Prime Video--that captures his bebop mastery. A long sequence in the film goes deep on his playing and role as a legendary teacher and mentor. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWC0...
Nice feature in Film Daily about "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit," now streaming on Prime Video. Don't miss the Q-and-A with the filmmakers--me, Daniel Loewenthal, Roberta Friedmam--following the writer's survey of the doc's themes and approach. filmdaily.co/indie-film/m...
'Jazz from Detroit' rewrites America’s jazz story – Film Daily
Discover how Mark Stryker’s “Jazz from Detroit” rewrites America’s jazz story, elevating Detroit’s essential role and celebrating Black musical excellence.
filmdaily.co
December 14, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Nice feature in Film Daily about "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit," now streaming on Prime Video. Don't miss the Q-and-A with the filmmakers--me, Daniel Loewenthal, Roberta Friedmam--following the writer's survey of the doc's themes and approach. filmdaily.co/indie-film/m...
Reposted by Mark Stryker
With "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" now streaming on Prime Video, Tia Graham, co-host of "The Metro" on
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
The Metro: Documentary highlights Detroit's contributions to American Jazz - WDET 101.9 FM
Mark Stryker is a journalist, author and filmmaker. He is also a co-producer of “The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit”.
wdet.org
December 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
With "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" now streaming on Prime Video, Tia Graham, co-host of "The Metro" on
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
Reposted by Mark Stryker
I envy you that. The box has been on my list for a while, but hard to find it a reasonable price. Encore is filled with gems like this one.
December 13, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I envy you that. The box has been on my list for a while, but hard to find it a reasonable price. Encore is filled with gems like this one.
Audrey in her little black dress and Nancy in her little yellow dress both entered the culture a few months apart in 1961-62. Those were some damn good months.
December 13, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Audrey in her little black dress and Nancy in her little yellow dress both entered the culture a few months apart in 1961-62. Those were some damn good months.
New acquisition
Thrilled to find this box in the wild at the indispensable Encore Records in Ann Arbor at a reasonable price. Fantastic quartet at its early peak. I have the Vegh Quartet's later Beethoven cycle but have always wanted the earlier recordings too.
Thrilled to find this box in the wild at the indispensable Encore Records in Ann Arbor at a reasonable price. Fantastic quartet at its early peak. I have the Vegh Quartet's later Beethoven cycle but have always wanted the earlier recordings too.
December 13, 2025 at 12:27 AM
New acquisition
Thrilled to find this box in the wild at the indispensable Encore Records in Ann Arbor at a reasonable price. Fantastic quartet at its early peak. I have the Vegh Quartet's later Beethoven cycle but have always wanted the earlier recordings too.
Thrilled to find this box in the wild at the indispensable Encore Records in Ann Arbor at a reasonable price. Fantastic quartet at its early peak. I have the Vegh Quartet's later Beethoven cycle but have always wanted the earlier recordings too.
Nice words about "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" from author David Ritz, who collaborated with Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Etta James, Buddy Guy, and others on their autobiographies.
December 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Nice words about "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" from author David Ritz, who collaborated with Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Etta James, Buddy Guy, and others on their autobiographies.
Frank Sinatra - P.S. I Love You
YouTube video by Micah Gwinn
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Mark Stryker
yes - stay on it!
and thank you!!!
and thank you!!!
December 12, 2025 at 1:12 AM
yes - stay on it!
and thank you!!!
and thank you!!!
Staying on message ...
December 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Staying on message ...
Reposted by Mark Stryker
Currently watching. Congrats mark!
December 10, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Currently watching. Congrats mark!
With "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" now streaming on Prime Video, Tia Graham, co-host of "The Metro" on
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
The Metro: Documentary highlights Detroit's contributions to American Jazz - WDET 101.9 FM
Mark Stryker is a journalist, author and filmmaker. He is also a co-producer of “The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit”.
wdet.org
December 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
With "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" now streaming on Prime Video, Tia Graham, co-host of "The Metro" on
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
@wdet.bsky.social, had me on the show on Tuesday to talk about the film. I really enjoyed the conversation, as I always do with Tia. You can listen here: wdet.org/2025/12/09/t...
Awesome. Sammy was a bad m.f. when he was focused and his taste antennae were fully engage, especially in the decade between 1957-67. That's the real peak, though he could still bring it later too, but not as consistently. Post the whole show when convenient ...
December 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Awesome. Sammy was a bad m.f. when he was focused and his taste antennae were fully engage, especially in the decade between 1957-67. That's the real peak, though he could still bring it later too, but not as consistently. Post the whole show when convenient ...
Reposted by Mark Stryker
Watched it yesterday, such a well made film that brought across the essence of Detroit Jazz, and the city too, to someone in London UK. Highly recommended. Can we have a sequel, solely about Yusef Lateef please...?
December 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Watched it yesterday, such a well made film that brought across the essence of Detroit Jazz, and the city too, to someone in London UK. Highly recommended. Can we have a sequel, solely about Yusef Lateef please...?
Reposted by Mark Stryker
Launch Day!
"The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" is now officially streaming on Prime Video! My co-producers and I hope that this holiday season you, your families and friends enjoy this entertaining, deep dive into a one-of-a-kind jazz legacy and a one-of-a-kind city.
"The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" is now officially streaming on Prime Video! My co-producers and I hope that this holiday season you, your families and friends enjoy this entertaining, deep dive into a one-of-a-kind jazz legacy and a one-of-a-kind city.
December 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Launch Day!
"The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" is now officially streaming on Prime Video! My co-producers and I hope that this holiday season you, your families and friends enjoy this entertaining, deep dive into a one-of-a-kind jazz legacy and a one-of-a-kind city.
"The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" is now officially streaming on Prime Video! My co-producers and I hope that this holiday season you, your families and friends enjoy this entertaining, deep dive into a one-of-a-kind jazz legacy and a one-of-a-kind city.
Reposted by Mark Stryker
Day off work, it's snowy outside, and I was reminded this came out today. Great watch this afternoon. Congratulations @markstryker.bsky.social - I loved it.
December 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Day off work, it's snowy outside, and I was reminded this came out today. Great watch this afternoon. Congratulations @markstryker.bsky.social - I loved it.
Thanks, John! Appreciate it.
Day off work, it's snowy outside, and I was reminded this came out today. Great watch this afternoon. Congratulations @markstryker.bsky.social - I loved it.
December 9, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Thanks, John! Appreciate it.