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''Voices'' is a killer album, I'd say it is my favorite. The voices by Richard Bona, and overall the African influence makes it very interesting and original. Highly recommended.
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11-18-2010 02:11 PM
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In A Different Light
Going For It
Two recordings of standards. Mike playing standards as if Charlie Parker were a metal shredder with a telecaster.
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Upside Downside is my favorite recording of Mike’s as a leader, but I like most of his recordings a lot, including his early Japanese release Neesh. He writes amazing bebop heads over blues and rhythm changes. So many classics, including Chromazone, Gossip, Jigsaw, Kwirk, D.C.
I studied briefly with Mike around 1988 and it was really wonderful. I was inexperienced at the time in Jazz and he gave me some very valuable stuff that I never forgot. I even studied briefly with a composition teacher that Mike and Mike Brecker studied with, Edgar Grana.
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The new one- Going For It released as the Harvie S Trio- is just amazingly good. Trip is also pretty good, written after his fall and injuries, and remarkable comeback from his hand disability.
And I know I've said this before, but I'm not sure I have ever seen a musician exude more joy while playing than he does. He is so obviously so happy at being able to do what he does. It's infectious.
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I was lucky to have one of Mikes students send me a live 2 set gig at the 55 bar with same bass player but Adam Nussbaum on drums doing all standards. I was really impressed. This was about 20 years ago. He also sent me Bill Conners with Dave Weckel on drums and Tom Kennedy on bass. He also included lessons with Bill. The live gig was outstanding from the Step It period. He didnt think much of Chick Corea as a employer. He made them all wear white and fill out report cards on their performances and paid them about a 100$ a week. And preached a lot about how great Scientology was.
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Originally Posted by Cunamara
I spoke with him about a month ago. He was excited about cracking open Mick's Almanac of voice leading at Julian Lage's recommendation, and in our discussion of that work he mentioned he's got yet another operation, and it's been painful and more exhausting than anything ever. "But I want to keep playing. If there's a crowd out there that's into it, and it brings them joy, I'll keep doing it. That's what it's all about."
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I'm a big Mike fan - I think he doesn't quite get his due.
My favourite albums are Trip, Time in Place, Who let the dogs out, Big Neighbourhood... and the others mentioned here I haven't said...
Here's an article I wrote as an introduction to Mike - hope it helps...
Mike Stern - Toppermost
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Originally Posted by steve burchfield
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I pretty much agree with the consensus here: Give and Take, Standards, and Play. But am I the only one w a soft spot for Trip? It’s a bit of a sampler of his various styles, but strong throughout.
And his work on the 4 Generations of Miles live album
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Originally Posted by Average Joe
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Here's a direct question, for those well-versed in Mike's stuff:
I really dig the GUY. I watch his rig rundowns and all interviews. I like him, and he's one of the coolest cats ever.
But I don't like his music much. I just can't connect with it. It's too "out there" for me, maybe? Too acid/bebop I feel like? He's just all over the place, a million notes.....
This is not a criticism. Just an observation. But does he have any music that could be considered more "standard" or "straight-ahead playing"? A "gateway album" perhaps? I actually have the album he did with Eric Johnson "Eclectic" and I enjoy that... but Stern and Johnson are trying to complement each other, so each has changed their approach a bit to accomplish that, I think.
So- gateway Stern? Something not so frantic as he seems to be most of the time?
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Originally Posted by ruger9
No studio tricks, just great live playing in the tradition of the bebop small groups...with a modern twist.
https://www.jazzwax.com/2021/07/harv...N_wd2buH1Sn4Sk
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I'm a huge, huge fan.
I discovered him playing with the brecker brothers and as a sideman for miles. Maybe you should check those as well. Many free videos on YT.
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Originally Posted by dlew919
It's certainly up there among my favourites but if I could have only one it might be Give and Take. I have a copy of Going For It in the mail though, and I'm looking forward to that one.
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Most of the ones I like are where he's a sideman. As a leader, Neesh is my favorite, followed by Time in Place.
As a sideman:
Dedication - Bunny Brunel
In a Different Light - Harvie Swartz, John Scofield
Vertical Reality - Jerry Bergonzi
In The Shadows - Bob Berg
IMO, nothing beats seeing him live.
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Originally Posted by ruger9
Just saying...
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Originally Posted by Doug B
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Originally Posted by ruger9
Fair enough, I like all sorts from KB to Barney, Jim Hall, Mike Stern, Bruce Forman, Eddie Lang, etc, etc.
We can def. agree on Kenny B- one of my first jazz guitar heroes!
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Upside Downside is mine...and On Tribute to Miles I really dig his version (or his playing on that version) of So What.
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I've had the Howie S - Going For It album for a few days now. Get it if you are at all interested in Stern's standards playing. He's on fire. It's a warts and all live album so whether it'll rank as his best album I'm less sure about, but the playing is phenomenal
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