Echoes And Other Songs
Mack Avenue, 2024
9/10
Listen to Echoes And Other Songs
The seminal guitarist Mike Stern brings along some excellent company for these 11 tracks that pull from a variety of influences and are as powerful as they are memorable.
“Connections” starts the listen warm and rich, where Stern’s precise guitar is met with Christian McBride’s fluid bass and Antonio Sanchez’s intricate drumming, and “Echoes” follows with Chris Potter’s well timed tenor sax helping illuminate the melodic landscape.
“I Hope So” and “Where’s Leo?” occupy the middle spots. The former welcomes Leni Stern’s ngoni and Bob Franceschini’s soprano sax for the cultured delivery that even uses scatting, while the latter benefits much from Arto Tuncboyacian’s animated percussion that suits Stern’s meticulous guitar.
Close to the end, “Curtis” is a more intimate moment where Dennis Chamber sits behind the drum kit and Stern even provides backing vocals, and “Could Be” exits with Jim Beard’s lively keys complementing the breezy guitar licks and McBride’s skilled acoustic bass.
Stern has racked up an impressive 6 Grammy Nominations and it’s clear why; his unique vision and superb execution make for a diverse, hook-friendly and bop fueled journey you won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Oz Noy- Riverside; Lee Ritenour- Dreamcatcher