For Yous Mike Stern - 1996 Betwixt The Lines

Mike Stern does what he does very, real well. He has carved out a unique niche for himself with modern fusion guitarists, a vision that combines funk as well as R&B bass/drum grooves with skittish melodies ofttimes involving extended chord fragments. Stern's Pb vocalism is ane of the most distinctive inwards the genre as well, as his chorused as well as sometimes distorted note is ever prominently displayed. Stern is joined on this 1996 offering yesteryear frequent collaborator Bob Malach, a tenor histrion with a detail talent for laying screaming lines on travel yesteryear of smoking drum grooves as good as ably doubling as well as bringing to life Stern's ofttimes bookish as well as theoretical melodies. Completing the band are twin musical rhythm sections, consisting either of Dave Weckl as well as Jeff Andrews or Lincoln Goines as well as Dennis Chambers. Like many of Stern's recordings, the problems prevarication to a greater extent than ofttimes than non inwards the sameness of the arrangements as well as the relatively forgettable nature of around of these songs. Although they are all thoughtfully composed, they sometimes tend to run together a flake inwards the hear of the listener. Jim Beard's keyboard textures as good could last done without, as they add together a distracting sheen to the compositions. But in that place has ever been this form of tension inwards Stern's operate betwixt the obvious as well as the unexpected. Take, for example, "Lose the Suit," which features an extremely funky intro as well as a peachy Stern solo, as good as an extremely predictable brace that almost sounds as if it could last the subject vocal to a long-running lather opera. Any lingering feel of treacle is dispelled ane time Stern kicks inwards the fuzz, however, as well as lays into the track, certain to delight fans.

Let's institute ane affair from the start: Mike Stern is ane of the greatest jazz guitarists of our time. He is unique stylistically, musically, as well as technically. By the fourth dimension this CD was released, Stern had enjoyed x years of both critical as well as commercial recording success. What sets this ane apart for me is the basic band used for the sessions: Dave Weckl on drums, Jeff Andrews on bass, Jim Beard on keyboards (who as good serves as producer on this as well as many other Mike Stern projects), as well as Bob Malach on tenor saxophone. As usual, all songs are written yesteryear Mike Stern with a reasonable residue of up- as well as down-tempo grooves.

This CD features outstanding recording character throughout. Nearly every solo, whether it last guitar or sax, is a tour de force. There's exclusively ane rails I actually don't like, as well as that's the terminal ane (Bait Tone Blues). The develop begins with the driving latin/rock groove of Sunnyside. Checkout Dave Weckl's slick stick operate on The Vine. Wing And Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Prayer is a dainty ballad with a beautiful tune (doubled on sax as well as guitar). You Never Know alternates betwixt a hard-driving stone as well as laid-back blues groove. The side yesteryear side ii cuts (numbers vi & 7) are the exclusively ii featuring an alternate (but as impressive) musical rhythm section: the peachy Dennis Chambers on drums as well as Lincoln Goines on bass. Both are long-time Mike Stern sidemen. Tell Me may last ane of my all-time favorite Mike Stern ballads, as well as With Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Twist features an interesting drum groove along with around dainty organ work. Back to the master copy band, Pages is on my all-time favorite Mike Stern playlist, as well as I tin never teach plenty of the out-chorus sax solo. Also, the interplay betwixt electrical guitar as well as acoustic pianoforte is special. As y'all tin guess, this is an outstanding develop of music, travel yesteryear to (almost) bottom!

While I similar virtually all of Mike Stern's work, I mean value this is (narrowly) his best CD from the 1990's. The band, writing, as well as production character are all first-rate, as well as there's over lxx minutes of music on the CD! You can't become incorrect with this one, as well as therefore set it on, sit down back, as well as bask around peachy fusion jazz.

On "Between The Lines", Mike Stern's follow-up to his Grammy-nominated "Is What It Is", Stern delivers to a greater extent than of his trademark bop 'n' curlicue on x novel master copy compositions. The band includes saxophonist Bob Malach (Steve Miller, Ben Sidran, Horace Silver), longtime bass associate Jeff Andrews (Steps Ahead, Vital Information) as well as footing renowned drummer Dave Weckl (Chick Corea Elektric/Akoustic Band, Brecker Brothers). Stern's quondam musical rhythm department mates inwards the Mike Stern-Bob Berg Band, drummer Dennis Chambers as well as bassist Lincoln Goines, as good look on ii tracks. From the energetic opener "Sunnyside" to the slamming funk of "Lose the Suit" to the ferocious "With a Twist", Stern as well as fellowship Earth their illustration with ability as well as conviction. "The visit behind this tape was to role guys that I had been touring with a lot", Stern explained. "I wanted a alive band audio as well as I experience similar that came across. I felt practiced close the whole vibe of the record. It's loose exactly tight at the same time. And there's materials going on with these cats that tin exclusively travel on if you've been playing together a bunch." "Between The Lines" is splendid jazz/fusion, as well as is highly recommended.

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Track listing:

1 Sunnyside 7:27
2 The Vine 6:27
3 Wing And Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Prayer 6:37
4 Lose The Suit 8:43
5 You Never Know 7:13
6 Tell Me 6:01
7 With Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Twist 6:37
8 True Enough 6:43
9 Pages 6:43
10 Bait Tone Blues 7:37

Personnel:

Guitar – Mike Stern
Bass – Jeff Andrews (tracks: 1 to 5, 8 to 10), Lincoln Goines (tracks: 6, 7)
Drums – Dave Weckl (tracks: 1 to 5, 8 to 10), Dennis Chambers (tracks: 6, 7)
Keyboards, Producer, Engineer [Additional] – Jim Beard
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Malach