1. Big Neighborhood. 7:40
2. 6th Street. 7:49
3. Reach. 5:30                 play
4. Song For Pepper. 5:43
5. Coupe De Ville. 4:36        play
6. Bird Blue. 5:44
7. Moroccan Roll. 7:06
8. Long Time Gone. 7:52
9. Check One. 7:39
10. That's All It Is. 4:52
11. Hope You Don't Mind. 5:18

Personnel: 
Mike Stern (guitar); 
Richard Bona, Esperanza Spalding (vocals, bass guitar); 
Eric Johnson , Steve Vai (guitar); 
Bob Franceschini, Bob Malach (saxophone); 
Randy Brecker (trumpet); 
Jim Beard (piano, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); 
John Medeski (Wurlitzer piano, Clavinet, Hammond b-3 organ); 
Chris Wood (electric bass); 
Chris Minh Doky, Lincoln Goines (bass guitar); 
Cindy Blackman, Dave Weckl, Terri Lyne Carrington, Billy Martin, Lionel Cordew (drums).

Like all the legends he ever worked for or with--from Miles Davis to Jaco Pastorius, Billy Cobham to the Brecker Brothers--this five-time Grammy nominee has learned over the course of his 26-year recording career something about the nuanced art of collaboration. Not only does it take a village to make a great, boundary-stretching jazz recording, the wild excursions on his second Heads Up date seem to be shouting, as it actually involves a whole BIG NEIGHBORHOOD. On this diverse 12-track set, whose styles range from blazing jazz fusion to African-tinged exotica and trippy Middle Eastern journeys, Mike Stern invites a few of his pals back who populated his similarly eclectic 2006 label debut WHO LET THE CATS OUT? Especially significant is the renewed invitation extended to Richard Bona, whose rumbling bass and spirited vocalese bring authenticity to the highly spiritual African vibes of "Reach."

Pairing the brilliant young bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding with drum great Terri Lyne Carrington isn't just a cool, girl-power endeavor; the two have genuine chemistry with the guitarist--"Song for Pepper" drifts dreamily with Spalding's endearing vocalizations, and "Coupe de Ville" swings playfully as Bob Malach's sax and Stern's strings weave through the rhythmic foundation forged by Spalding and Carrington. Finally, Stern swings the door open to a lot of fresh melodic and improvisational ideas via his jazz-rock cohorts Eric Johnson (playing it cool on the moody, soulful "6th Street") and Steve Vai (wailing like crazy on the searing title track). He goes artsier with "jam band godfathers" Medeski, Martin & Wood, who help spin a wild blues-rock web on "Check One" and cool to a simmer on the more pop/rock-oriented "Check One." There's also an appearance by Stern's old friend, Randy Brecker. This is one block party jazz fusion fans won't want to miss in 2009! ---Bill Milkowski

download (mp3 @192 kbs):

uploaded yandex 4shared mega mediafire solidfiles zalivalka cloudmailru oboom

back

1. Another Way Around 
2. Loose Ends 
3. To Let You Know 
4. Jigsaw                play
5. Chief 
6. Rhyme Or Reason 
7. Kwirk

Mike Stern: guitar
Michael Brecker: Akai EWI en “Chief” 
Jeff Andrews: bass electric & Fretless 
Denis Chambers: drums in “Loose ends”, “Jigsaw” and “Chief” 
Bob Berg: sax tenor 
Jim Beard: keyboards 
Peter Erskine: drums 
Manolo Badrena: shekére in “Another way around”, bongos in “Chief” .

Another fusion album and a great one. It starts with Another Way Around, some overdrive solo-ing by Mike. Loose Ends follows, a jazzy piece. A slower song emerges in To Let You Know. Then my favourite: Jigsaw. This has a great rythm, great stuff with sax and the guitar and a great solo. Chief features the great Michael Brecker on EWI. In Rhyme Or Reason Mike shows his ability on the acoustic guitar, a nice ballad. The album closes with Kwirk, which is another uptempo jazzy piece.

In a career that spans three decades and a discography that includes more than a dozen eclectic and innovative recordings, five-time GRAMMY nominee Mike Stern has established himself as one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarists and composers of his generation. Born in Boston in January 1953, Stern grew up in Washington, DC, then returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. After college, he got his start as a guitar player with Blood, Sweat & Tears at age 22. Following a brief stint with Billy Cobham’s powerhousefusion band from 1979 to 1980, he moved to New York City, where he was recruited by Miles Davis to play a key role in Miles’ celebrated comeback band of 1981 (which also included bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Al Foster, percussionist Mino Cinelu andsaxophonist Bill Evans). During his three-year period with Miles, Stern appeared on three recordings with the jazz maestro – Man with the Horn, Star People and the live We Want Miles. He toured with Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth Band from 1983 through 1985 and returned to Miles’ lineup for a second tour of duty that lasted close to a year.

In 1985, Stern recorded Neesh, his first recording as a leader, for the Japan-based Trio label. A year later, he made his debut on Atlantic with Upside Downside, featuring such celebrated colleagues as David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius, saxophonist Bob Berg, bassists Mark Egan and Jeff Andrews, keyboardist Mitch Forman and drummers Dave Weckl and Steve Jordan. Over the next two years, Stern was a member of Michael Brecker’s potent quintet, appearing on Don't Try This At Home. In the summer of 1986, Stern took to the road with David Sanborn and later joined an electrified edition of Steps Ahead, which featured Mike Mainieri on midi vibes, Michael Brecker on the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), Darryl Jones on electric bass and Steve Smith on drums.

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

uploaded yandex 4shared mega mediafire solidfiles zalivalka cloudmailru oboom

back

1 	Chatter 	6:10
2 	Silver Lining 	6:34
3 	I Know You 	5:06
4 	Mirage 	6:44
5 	If Only 	5:31
6 	Street Rhyme 	6:36
7 	Avenue B 	6:13
8 	Remember (For Bob Berg) 	6:02
9 	These Times 	8:12
10 	What You Believe 	6:45
11 	Last One Down 	5:30

Alto Saxophone – Kenny Garrett (tracks: 7, 9)
Banjo – Béla Fleck (tracks: 3)
Bass – Richard Bona (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 10), Victor Wooten (tracks: 8, 11), Will Lee (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8)
Drums – Dennis Chambers (tracks: 8), Vinnie Colaiuta (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 11)
Guitar – Jon Herington (tracks: 10), Mike Stern
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 6, 9), Don Alias (tracks: 8, 10), Richard Bona (tracks: 2, 10)
Piano – Jim Beard
Soprano Saxophone – Kenny Garrett (tracks: 1)
Synthesizer – Jim Beard
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Franceschini (tracks: 4, 8, 11), Bob Malach (tracks: 6)
Vocals – Elisabeth Kontomanou (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6), Richard Bona (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 10)

Combine the innovative guitar energy of legendary fusion master Mike Stern with old friends (bassist Richard Bona, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta) and new (saxman Kenny Garrett), and anything is bound to happen. But fans expecting raucous swinging and jamming the whole time may be surprised at the subtle lyricism and exotic explorations that define these times for their hero. Yes, his electric is crackling on the hypnotic opener, "Chatter," but it's in the crazy, exotic context of a Middle Eastern vibe inspired by Pakistani great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (look out, Eddie Vedder!). Jim Beard's jumpy piano, Colaiuta's wild, New Orleans groove, and Garrett's swirling lines provide great support. Once Stern and company have the listener's attention, they can become seductive with more intimate affairs like the Joe Zawinul-influenced "Silver Lining," which features an exotic falsetto vocal by Bona, a former Zawinul Syndicate member who also propels the tune with his increasingly muscular basslines. Bona adds the same touch in a gentler way to the lush romance of "I Know You," featuring a soft-spoken harmony line by guest star banjo great Béla Fleck. This sequence of tunes sets the tone of the rest of the disc, which mixes more Khan-flavored gems (the colorful singalong "Mirage," featuring vocals by Elisabeth Kontomanou), soft ballads, and a sexy midtempo funk number that (gasp!) might translate to the smooth jazz format. Another highlight is the punchy bebop number "Remember," dedicated to Stern's longtime collaborator the late Bob Berg. Perhaps the only drawback is having Garrett on hand but only featuring him on three numbers. ---Jonathan Widran, AllMusic Review

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto gett

back

01. Swunk 
02. A Little Luck 
03. What I Meant To Say 
04. Showbiz 
05. Believe It                   play
06. Wherever You Are 
07. Ha Ha Hotel 
08. Signs 
09. 55 Dive                      play

Personnel:
Mike Stern (guitars); 
Michael Brecker (saxophone); 
Jim Beard (synthesizers, piano, hammond organ, wurlitzer piano); 
Will Lee (bass); Dennis Chambers (drums); 
Ben Perowsky (drums); 
Harvie Swartz (acoustic bass); 
Bob Malach (saxophone).

Mike Stern is one of the more creative fusion guitarists, playing with the power of rock but often taking sophisticated improvisations. On this passionate set (which consists of nine of his originals), Stern is joined by the keyboards of Jim Beard, bassist Will Lee, Dennis Chambers or Ben Perowsky on drums and (on three songs apiece) the tenors of Michael Brecker and Bob Malach. Overall this is one of Mike Stern's better recordings. ---Scott Yanow, Rovi

Mike Stern (ur. 10 stycznia 1953) – amerykański gitarzysta jazzowy. Prezentuje styl muzyczny fusion, czyli jazz z elementami charakterystycznymi dla muzyki rockowej. Jego idolami w młodości byli Jimi Hendrix i Eric Clapton. To właśnie im zawdzięcza ten rockowy pierwiastek, który zawarty jest w jego grze i muzyce. Jest absolwentem prestiżowej akademii bostońskiej Berklee College of Music. Jednym z jego wykładowców był Pat Metheny, który w 1976 roku zarekomendował Sterna do słynnej grupy Blood, Sweat and Tears, otwierając mu drogę do świata jazzu. W 1981 roku rozpoczął współpracę z Milesem Davisem. Dwa lata później wraz z Jaco Pastoriusem stworzył formację World of Mouth, która szybko zyskała uznanie. Od początku lat 80. prowadzi karierę solową prezentując styl fusion, jazz-rock. Inspirują go tacy gitarzyści jak George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, jednak w jego grze słychać również wpływy idoli z młodości. Gra z takimi muzykami jak: Richard Bona, Bob Franceschini, Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Bob Berg, Herbie Hancock, Mino Cinelu, Billy Cobham, Mike Mainieri. Współpracował z zespołem Steps Ahead i grupą braci Brecker.

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

uploaded yandex 4shared mega mediafire solidfiles zalivalka cloudmailru oboom

back