COMPOSERS: Mike Stern
LABELS: Atlantic
ALBUM TITLE: Mike Stern
PERFORMER: Mike Stern (g), Bob Franceschini, Michael Brecker (ts), Jim Beard (ky), Jon Herington (g), Lincoln Goines, Chris Minh Doky (b), Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta (d), Richard Bona (v, b, kalimba), Philip Hamilton, Elizabeth Kontomanou, Arto Tuncboyaciyan (
CATALOGUE NO: 7567-83483-2
Stern’s punchy last album, Play, was mainly a jazz-rock affair. Here, though, he is joined by a varied cast of singers on a selection of material drawing on a plethora of world rhythms and textures.
The result, however, lacks none of the visceral appeal, power and accessibility of the former recording; Stern’s eloquent guitar-playing provides the perfect foil for each vocalist, and drives a tight, wonderfully muscular band. CP