Mike Stern – All Over The Place (2012)

There might not be a more accurate title for a Mike Stern album than the one coming out next week. All Over The Place highlights the musical personality of one of jazz’s most original guitarists of the last thirty years. Deservedly belonging in any sentence that includes Scofield, Frisell and Metheny, Stern took advanced courses in improvisation and phrasing from Miles like Sco, has developed a singular style no matter the setting like Frisell and is keen on the intricacies of melody and harmony like Metheny. Like all of those three, his comfort zone is as big as music itself.

One Stern hallmark found on this record is the ridiculous number of guest artists appearing on the album; it’s enough to make Carlos Santana jealous. But Stern has had a star-studded credit list on his records since the first one, and he knows how to put them to work for the sake of the song, not to just to have bragging rights. It never, ever feels like a “Mike Stern and friends” affair, it’s just Mike Stern making a record with some well-chosen help.

All Over The Place is set for wide release on June 19, by Concord affiliate label Heads Up International.