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Mike Stern: All Over The Place

By Glenn Astarita
August 7, 2012
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Track review of "All Over The Place"

Guitarist Mike Stern projected a stylish, chops-heavy impression on the general jazz populous during his auspicious entry into the circuit, supporting jazz-fusion era

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis. Indeed, one of the more distinctive guitarists spanning several decades, the artist enlists a who's who of current bass greats amid appearances by longtime associates, trumpeter

Randy Brecker

trumpet
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Brecker and former Davis drummer

Al Foster

drums
1944 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Foster. With a proverbial star-studded cast, Stern ventures into non-jazz circles, covering blues, West African themes, country rock, and other genres.

While Stern does go all over the place by cutting and pasting the jazz vernacular into various song forms and ethnocentric deities, he revisits familiar fusion territory on the title track. With a souped-up rhythm section featuring bassist

Will Lee

bass
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Lee and drummer

Keith Carlock

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Carlock generating smack, crackle and pop, Stern goes head-to-head with saxophonist

Bob Malach

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Malach via odd-metered time signatures, touching upon funk, rock and slashing improvisational segments. Along with pianist/producer

Jim Beard

piano
1960 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Beard, the frontline delves into call-and-response mechanisms and reinvents the primary melody. Stern ups the ante with scathing linear runs, while bending his strings into submission and zooming in for the kill. It's a divergent program, modeled with emotive persuasions, affable arrangements and technical poise.

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Personnel

Mike Stern

guitar

Mike Stern: guitar; Bob Malach: saxophone; Will Lee: bass; Jim Beard: piano; Keith Carlock: drums.

Album information

Title: All Over The Place | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Heads Up International

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