Mike Stern: Big Neighbourhood

Mike Stern is certainly one of my favourite guitarists because he's an exciting player despite treading firmly in his jazz turf. Also, he's one I look up to for a magnificent vocal-guitar harmony as well as appealing clean tones- I'm not a big driveless tone fan but Mike Stern's tones speaks!

In this release, Mr. Stern avoided the dreary jazz approach very well with the inclusion of guitarists Steve Vai & Eric Johnson. I actually listened to this release without looking at the inner sleeves for details & I can clearly hear a commanding humbucking tone (Vai) & that estranged but beautiful fuzz output (Johnson) which are clearly not Stern's. All in all, guitar fans would be pleased with this rock tinged release which stamped Mike Stern's guitar authority in this 6-string neighbourhood which is definitely big enough to hold this fretboard master. To all you brand name snobs out there, Mr. Stern laid down his Fender for a Yamaha. Ha!