MIKE STERN - Big Neighborhood (2009) WV (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like all the legends he ever worked for or with, from Miles Davis to Jaco Pastorius, Billy Cobham to the Brecker Brothers, the five-time Grammy nominee has learned over the course of his 26-year recording career -- 33 since he got his breakthrough gig with Blood, Sweat & Tears -- something about the nuanced art of collaboration. Not only does it take a village to make a great, boundary-stretching jazz recording, the wild excursions on his second Heads Up date seem to be shouting, as it actually involves a whole Big Neighborhood. On this diverse 12-track set, whose styles range from blazing jazz fusion to African-tinged exotica and trippy Middle Eastern journeys, Mike Stern invites a few of his pals back who populated his similarly eclectic 2006 label debut Who Let the Cats Out? Especially significant is the renewed invitation extended to Richard Bona, whose rumbling bass and spirited vocalese bring authenticity to the highly spiritual African vibes of "Reach." Looks like Stern's got a little crush on the brilliant young bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding, whose voice, he says, knocks him out. Pairing her with drum great Terri Lyne Carrington isn't just a cool, girl-power endeavor. The two have genuine chemistry with the guitarist; "Song for Pepper" drifts dreamily with Spalding's endearing vocalizations, and "Coupe de Ville" darts and swings playfully as Bob Malach's sax and Stern's strings weave through the rhythmic foundation forged by Spalding and Carrington. Finally, Stern swings the door open to a lot of fresh melodic and improvisational ideas via his jazz-rock cohorts Eric Johnson (playing it cool on the moody, soulful "6th Street") and Steve Vai (wailing like crazy on the searing title track). He goes artsier with "jam band godfathers" Medeski, Martin & Wood, who help spin a wild blues-rock web on "Check One" and cool to a simmer on the more pop/rock-oriented "Check One." There's also an appearance by Stern's old friend, Randy Brecker. This is one block party jazz fusion fans won't want to miss in 2009! by Jonathan Widran 
Credits
1 Big Neighborhood 7:40
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Mike Stern, Steve Vai
Piano, Keyboards – Jim Beard
2 6th Street 7:48
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Lionel Cordew
Guitar – Eric Johnson, Mike Stern
Organ [Hammond] – Jim Beard
3 Reach 5:29
Bass, Vocals – Richard Bona
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Mike Stern
Piano, Keyboards – Jim Beard
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini
4 Song For Pepper 5:43
Bass, Vocals – Esperanza Spalding
Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington
Guitar – Mike Stern
Piano, Organ [Hammond] – Jim Beard
5 Coupe De Ville 4:35
Bass, Vocals – Esperanza Spalding
Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington
Guitar – Mike Stern
Piano – Jim Beard
Saxophone – Bob Malach
6 Bird Blue 5:42
Bass, Vocals – Esperanza Spalding
Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington
Guitar – Mike Stern
Piano, Keyboards – Jim Beard
7 Moroccan Roll 7:04
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Mike Stern
Piano, Keyboards – Jim Beard
Sitar [Sitar Guitar] – Steve Vai
8 Long Time Gone 7:51
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Lionel Cordew
Guitar – Eric Johnson, Mike Stern
Organ [Hammond] – Jim Beard
9 Check One 7:37
Drums – Billy Martin
Electric Bass – Chris Wood
Guitar – Mike Stern
Organ [Hammond], Clavinet – John Medeski
Saxophone – Bob Malach
10 That's All It Is 4:50
Acoustic Bass – Chris Wood  
Drums – John Medeski
Guitar – Mike Stern
Organ [Hammond], Piano [Wurlitzer] – John Medeski
Saxophone – Bob Malach
11 Hope You Don't Mind 5:18
Bass – Chris Minh Doky
Drums – Cindy Blackman
Guitar – Mike Stern
Piano – Jim Beard
Trumpet – Randy Brecker