Play

Mike Stern | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 14, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B00000K3H2
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,158 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

STERN MIKE PLAY

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stern's Play Breaks Stern Rut, December 16, 1999

By 

David Hildebrand "hildephilosopher" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Play (Audio CD)

Jazz guitar fans often find Stern frustrating: he has great jazz chops and credentials, but he often gives in to the clichés and riffs of the rock guitar hero. His tunes have tended toward the following formula: quirky, upbeat head, long solo culminating with rock and roll flash muscle-moves. Play breaks this pattern. The signature Stern heads are there, but he seems to consciously be trying to avoid his more familiar rock riffs in order to try out more adventurous harmonic ideas. The additions of Scofield and Frisell are interesting--there are not the typical ego collisions one finds on multiple-star guitar projects. They all push each other and there is a genuine sense of good fun and play in the tunes. Bottom line: if you'd gotten sick of Stern, like I had, try out Play. He's doing something different here.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NUEVO BEBOP CRACK ROCK, May 22, 2003

By 

G. Case "Graham Case" (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Play (Audio CD)

This album is why the universe needs Mike Stern. I can't seem to take this one out of my car and as a result, I have listened to it all the way through almost every day for the last 2-3 weeks.

The contrast of Frisell and Stern is otherworldly, and you really get to hear their personalities come out and gel together. Scofield is also here, and this cd shows that he is still badass. This one ranges from modern bebop sounding on the title track, "Play", to soft and spaced out ballads like "Blue Tone", to hard edged emotion of "Tipatina's". Link is a modal fusion tune with not many chord changes, which, could get boring. However, this one is supercharged all the way through; a testament to the musicians'abilities (THERE ARE SAX SOLOS, AND GREAT DRUMMING HERE TOO! NOT JUST GUITARS).

I have been listening to what Scofield and Frisell, and Metheny are doing. They seem to be taking jazz sensabilities to music that is really not jazz anymore. It is improvised music and thats great stuff, really great stuff, but what jazz needs, what the world needs is "Play". Stern takes his rock influence with his voice to jazz and not the other way around. I can still hear all the way back to Charlie Parker on "outa town" (i'm 24). Not only that him and his band play their hearts out. In summation if you have to buy one jazz record that matters in the world, it is Mike Stern's Play or Wayne Shorter's Alegria. In short, I hope you get it and give it a good listening because it is beatiful NEW BEBOP CRACK ROCK.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stern has finally arrived!, September 18, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Play (Audio CD)

Mike Stern was in danger of becoming one of music's great enigmas. His talent and potential have always been apparent, but over the years his music had become static. With the realease of his new CD "Play" Stern has taken a giant leap into and above the mundane world of his contemporaries. This is truly an amazing pioneering event for the world of jazz. It is music that is completely new and fresh. If you buy one album this year, this is the one! Congradulations Mike, you're one of the biggest kids now!