Customer Reviews

Big Neighborhood

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The 55-year-old American is no rocker, but a Berklee-trained jazz musician. His musical acquaintances speak for his tastes: Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, John Scofield and Dennis Chambers are among his collaborators over the years. And of all those names, it is Stern's that represents jazz's closest accommodation with rock.
He's very eclectic and the title of the record explains it all!
Over the years his music has been incorcorating into his music many genres: rock, jazz, Latin, African and Middle Eastern grooves and he has travelled the word: his playing transcends genres and he's just as likely to attract a rock crowd as much a discerning jazz audience. The world is his backyard.
That's the reason why he calls his music ... his "big neighbourhood"!
His playing transcends genres and he's just as likely to attract a rock crowd as much a discerning jazz audience
We can feel it in his latest abum, which at the first listen, may appear a little idiosyncratic, since it shows so many genres packed desparately together.
"Big Neighborhood" is firmly tied together by the excellent production by pianist Jim Beard and Mike's distinctive compositions.
It's a largely live in the studio sound, with the usual musicians dave Weckl, Lincoln Goines and Minh Doky, in order to keep the core rhythm section secure and his trademark bedrock sound ever-present, whoever the guest is.
He is joined by guitarists Steve Vai and Eric Johnson, bassist-vocalists Esperanza Spalding and Richard Bona, Medeski Martin and Wood, drummers Dave Weckl, Terri Lyne Carrington, Cindy Blackman and Lionel Cordew. And of course other "guests" - Franceschini, Beard - are all long time associates.
Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Bob Malach (saxophone) also lend a hand on a couple of tracks.
The record is fuelled and fiery, wavering between full on fusion through to tasty hard bop. The prodigious gunslinger fires out riffs ten to the dozen, bristling with indefatigable energy and pushing the harmonic limits where ever he can.
His sheer voluminous, virtuoso fretwork shines throughout and the natural rapport the band has is all too self evident,egged on by Stern's utter enthusiasm.
There really is something for everyone here.
Enjoy!
The album debuts at # 7 of the Billboard Top Jazz Albums.
Issue date: August 29, 2009
Who Let the Cats Out
Tiki
Randy in Brasil

Mike Stern, brilliant as always, usually includes several styles on every CD, as he does here. The vast range is sometimes difficult for casual fans to absorb, and that's fair. But I'd suggest being patient and listening a bit closer, because it's only a matter of time before you're mesmerized. He's an insanely talented guitarist and composer, and he surrounds himself with flamethrowing collaborators (Weckl, Tom Kennedy, Dennis Chambers, all the tenor players). I'll be the first to admit his CDs don't have quite the level of fire of his live shows, but that's true for just about every band. Live, he rips. On record, equally amazing.

Another very good album from what we would expect from Mike Stern. Rock and roll attitude, but still jazz. Steve Vai is incredible, reminds me that anyone that has written him off as just another guitar wanker overlooks the fact that this guy is an incredible musician, and ungodly talented at that. Eric Johnson is on here too, although this may not be his best playing on record, but still solid. Two of my personal heroes from the eighties, these were guys who sent me back to the woodshed with my guitar. Sorry SAtriani couldn't make it :). But the guitar interplay between Stern and Vai is a match made in guitar player heaven (on the limited songs that Vai is on). Stern is in incredible form on here. That said, there is not a lot different here, no surprises from a compositional standpoint, that makes this stand out from any other Stern album. Very good but not great (Play was the last great Stern album). Worth buying. What Mike Stern isn't?

If you are reading this review, I assume you are already familiar and a fan of Mike Stern's previous offerings. Unlike the usual Stern album, there are a plethora of guests who join this musical neighborhood (Steve Vai and Eric Johnson; bassist-vocalists Esperanza Spalding and Richard Bona; Medeski Martin & Wood; drummers Dave Weckl, Terri Lyne Carrington, Cindy Blackman and Lionel Cordew; bassists Chris Minh Doky and Lincoln Goines, and several others). These players bring a new dynamic and texture to things, because Mike is not only playing the songs but is also part of the interplay with the other artists who are bringing their own interpretation of the music to the table. In the end, I found the result to be an outstanding and very diverse fusion album. And it is a true fusion: different tempo, timbres, styles, etc. all intertwined into a wonderful collaboration.

When I initially listened to this album the first several times, I felt that it was not anything new or too memorable. However after further listening, I have concluded that this is a unique insight into Mike's style and sound. This is because of the various guitarists and new guests gracing this album. Steve Vai and Eric Johnson provide a memorable contrast to Mike's playing and style, allowing one to compare differences in styles, taste, and approach between world class players. Eric Johnson and Steve Vai, are each world class guitarists in their own rights, and provide a unique opportunity for comparison with Mike's playing and compositions. Also notable is the inclusion the group Martin,Medeski and Woods. While I have never heard them previously, I hugely enjoyed their inclusion on this album, and their unique sound put Mike's playing and writing in a new light for me. Overall, this is a very fun, exciting album, with plenty of great musical moments that will require many multiple listenings!

If you like Mike's recent releases, particularly the ones with Richard Bona, this is right there with them.
I own way too much music, and rotate new stuff through the car constantly so everything receives a great, concentrated "listen."
Can't seem to get this one out of the car player.
Highly recommended. No reservations. And the pieces with Esperanza are terrific.

Here Mike collect a bunch of great musicians to make this record,specially Weckl on drums.

There are some good tunes on here, but it's a bit of a let down from his last few releases. The songs with Esperanza are probably my favorite, but most of the others seem like slight variations of other previous works without the magic. Get his recent live DVD instead.

Mike Stern has been recording "jazz" since the late 1980s. But his jazz guitar sounds on this album sound at best like John Scofield and at worst like a bad Hendrix cover band. He's associated with some jazz greats like Miles Davis and Roy Hargrove but his truly admirable skills as a guitarist are wasted, in my opinion, on this David Sanborn-esque borderline smooth jazz-rock. There are a few redeeming tracks on the album like Coupe De Ville (tk 5) and Check One (9) which are only mildly cheesy. Play at your own risk.