Track Listings (11) - Disc #1| All Artists: Mike Stern Title: These Times Members Wishing: 3 Total Copies: 0 Label: Esc Records Original Release Date: 1/1/2000 Re-Release Date: 1/13/2004 Genres: Jazz, Pop Styles: Jazz Fusion, Modern Postbebop, Bebop Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 016728491129 |
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Search - Mike Stern :: These Times
 | Mike Stern These Times Genres: Jazz, Pop
The title of this Mike Stern release seems odd considering that the music herein could have been made any time in the last two decades. The opening "Chatter" delineates the distinctive, angular, funk-bop style that the gui... more » |
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Amazon.com The title of this Mike Stern release seems odd considering that the music herein could have been made any time in the last two decades. The opening "Chatter" delineates the distinctive, angular, funk-bop style that the guitarist pioneered with the Brecker Brothers in the early Eighties. Other tunes alternate between the kind of "world-music" jazz on which his contemporary Pat Metheny has built a career (albeit Stern's is a higher testosterone version), and your basic blues-inflected fusion. His 1999 outing, Play, featured Bill Frisell and John Scofield, and pushed him in some new directions. The follow-up, Voices, began his "world-music" explorations, and though it has been done before, and here again, he does it well. An engaging composer, Stern skillfully integrates vocals by Richard Bona and Elizabeth Kontomanou on tunes like "Silver Lining" and "Mirage." Sidemen Will Lee, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Dennis Chambers all turn in top shelf performances. This type of jazz is certainly popular, but Stern's signature funk skills are what set him apart from contemporaries like Metheny, John Abercrombie, and Bill Frisell. Incorporating some modern hip-hop elements might have stayed truer to that style while more interestingly referencing the tone of these times. --Michael Ross Similar CDs
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CD ReviewsThe ongoing transformation of Mike Stern Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 02/21/2004 (4 out of 5 stars) "The danger one faces when attempting these hybrid discs is that of the dreaded Jackalope (not, be assured, the fabulous John Abercrombie/Loren Stillman/Bob Meyer eponymous recording)--a monstrous amalgam, rather than a transcendent New Thang. Where does this disc fall on the spectrum? More toward the cool New Thang than toward the awkward Jackalope, but not entirely out of the woods awkward-wise (so to speak).I'm not opposed to schizoid musical sensibilities; it's just that they're so dang hard to pull off. Generally, I think Mike Stern does an andmirable job walking that dicey tightrope between killer funk-based jazz and jazz-beat sensibilities. The only problem is that he can't seem to seemlessly blend the two vibes consistently, except for "Silver Lining" and "If Only," which, for me, work equally well in both worlds. The remainder of the numbers seem to (rather wildly) oscillate between the two. Which is OK, but which also, it must be said, tends to dilute the integrity of the proceedings.Me, I'm more of a jazz-beat guy, so the the more overtly jazz-funk numbers lack the appeal of the world-jazz numbers. Now, if he could only make a disc that seemlessly combined the two sensibilities, he'd really have something. 4 and 1/2 stars." Burdened by Pat Metheny comparisons John Terry | Kansas City, Mo | 03/08/2004 (4 out of 5 stars) "The jazz-beat numbers on the album do warrant the comparisons to Pat Metheny. Especially those featuring the vocals of bassist Richard Bona. Metheny doesn't own the sound however and Mike Stern's resume stands on it's own. Stern's sound has a much harder edge to it and the jazz-funk numbers on the album are smokin. "These Times" is not really a "guitar hero" album. There are breathtaking solos but there are times that Stern is content to sit back and add color and texture to a song. This is a total band effort. I'm sure the all star supporting cast helped. I would say if you're a Metheny fan, check this out. However, I'm betting that if you know one man, you probably already know the other. Excellent stuff!" Inspiring music and playing Jerry Jazzman | 12/04/2005 (5 out of 5 stars) "This album has a little bit of everything for a music lover.Funky jazz soul, world music, bebop guitar, a little dab of everything. What holds it all together is that Stern is consistently melodic in his phrasing. At times this album shimmers as the layers of sound including wordless vocals from Richard Bona and Elizabeth Kontomanou mix with the other instruments seamlessly. Kudos to Stern."
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