Mike Stern
These Times

To understand the value of Mike Stern, it is enough to take a look at his biography. You will find a series of collaborations with top-tier jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, Jim Hall, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, Bill Frisell, just to name the most significant. With such a resume, one would expect something extraordinary from the Boston guitarist.
Perhaps this time, it is not quite so.
In this case, indeed, the sounds that Mike Stern proposes and elaborates cannot be considered absolutely innovative and astonishing. In particular, the ethnic contaminations, the use and predominance of voices, the delicacy of the evoked atmospheres, and certain "new-age" nods, sometimes bring to mind some works of the Pat Metheny  - Lyle Mays duo, which characterized an important part of fusion towards the end of the '80s. I think of albums like “Still Life (Talking)” (Geffen, 1987), just to give a famous example. But there are also other musical memories in this Stern's CD. Occasionally, you can sense the ghost of Joe Zawinul and reminiscences of "Steps Ahead."
This, however, does not mean we are facing an operation of vulgar copying, nor by any means that “These Times” (ESC Records, 2003) is not a good job, actually the opposite is true. It is, in fact, a very pleasant album from start to finish, a delicate, sometimes gentle album, in which Mike Stern, while being in the forefront with his guitar, showcases his great talent without exceeding in unnecessary protagonism and deplorable mannerisms.

Perhaps it is not the most beautiful fusion album I have listened to in my life, perhaps it might not be the most original and innovative, but it is a spontaneous, cheerful, sincere work, that hits the heart and knows how to be listened to. Also because, not an irrelevant detail, Mike Stern manages to always be very expressive, lyrical, and extremely melodic, having harmonic fun along with all the musicians accompanying him, from saxophonist Kenny Garrett, capable of inventing some extraordinary solos, to drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassists Richard Bona, Victor Wooten and Will Lee, up to percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan and so on with all the others.
For these reasons “These Times” has been playing almost continuously on my player for several days now. I think that sooner or later I will get tired of listening to it, I can’t tell you when, but it will definitely take quite a bit of time.