Stern, Mike
Heads Up, 2009, CD
Instrument: Guitar
Issue: 15.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Fusion
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score:
O’s Notes: Mike is one of the best rock-fusion jazz guitarists and he delights live audiences around the world regularly. Big Neighborhood is his latest recording. It is appropriately titled as it includes a wealth of special guest artists. Among them are Medeski, Martin & Wood, Terri Lyne Carrington (d), Dave Weckl (d), Randy Brecker (t), Eric Johnson (g) and Esperanza Spalding (b). They inject a wide range of styles into Mike’s fusion mix. “Song For Pepper” and “Coupe De Ville” with Jim Beard (p, B3) and Spalding (b, vocals) are examples. We enjoyed the funky infusion form MMW on “Check One” and the spiritual blues of “Reach” with Richard Bona (b, vocals). Stern’s fans will love “Long Time Gone” and the title track. He wrote all of the music and successfully folded his guests into the program.
Publicist: Telarc Jazz