Mike Stern Announces New Album with an All-Star Cast on Bass
Jazz guitar vet Mike Stern has a new album coming out on June 19, 2012, and bass fans have a lot to look forward to with this release.
All Over the Place features eight different bassists on the 11-song release, including Esperanza Spalding, Richard Bona, Victor Wooten, Anthony Jackson, Dave Holland, Tom Kennedy, Will Lee and Victor Bailey.
Stern recruited other notable musicians for the record, with appearances by Randy Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Dave Weckl, Keith Carlock, Lionel Cordew and others.
In typical fashion – and fitting of the album’s name – Stern’s latest effort is one of musical diversity.
“I’ve been playing a lot of different kinds of great music with a lot of different musicians on some of my more recent records,” Stern said. “I love bebop, swing, rock, all the stuff that a lot of guitar players – especially jazz players – tend to include in their music. It’s the nature of the instrument, but very much a part of my nature as well. There’s a lot of music that really inspires me, and it usually covers quite a few territories.”
The album kicks off with “AJ”, a funk groove Stern wrote specifically for Anthony Jackson, who plays on the song along with saxophonist Chris Potter, keyboardist Jim Beard, rhythm guitarist Leni Stern (Mike’s wife), drummer Keith Carlock and percussionist Tim Keiper.
“As Far As We Know” offers a quieter approach, thanks in large part to the bass and vocals of Esperanza Spalding.
Stern offers up a gritty blues track with some nifty slide guitar in “Halfway Home”. Victor Wooten adds his trademark bass work to the track.
All Over the Place is available for pre-order.
Saw Mike Stern at BA a couple months back, don’t miss this album.
I’ve enjoyed Upside Downside, Voices ad Big Neighborhood CDs. Haven’t heard this one yet. Here’s some of his material out on GrooveShark. Enjoy! http://grooveshark.com/#!/artist/Mike+Stern/18572/songs