MIKE STERN - Voices (2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Most of Mike Stern's albums have been 100 percent instrumental; as a rule, he doesn't use vocalists because his guitar does all of the "singing." But Voices is an exception -- a highly engaging and memorable exception. This surprising and totally unexpected effort finds a 48-year-old Stern using wordless vocals in a manner that brings to mind fellow fusion guitarists Pat Metheny and Al DiMeola. Think of Metheny on Letter From Home and Still Life (Talking), or DiMeola on Orange and Blue, and one will know the type of approach that Stern is going for this time. While the wordless vocals that Stern uses on Voices add a lot to the album, his guitar is still the focal point. This isn't the type of project in which the leader brings in an acclaimed jazz singer like Dianne Reeves or Kitty Margolis and features her prominently on standards -- that isn't what he was going for. Ultimately, the vocalists who Stern employs (who include Arto Tuncboyaciyan and Elizabeth Kantomanou) are there to serve and compliment his guitar. If Voices were a cake, the vocalists would be the icing; the album still would have been meaningful even without them, but there's no doubt that they add a lot to it. Voices, which contains some of Stern's most lyrical and melodic playing, is full of world music influences. African and Spanish elements are incorporated, and Brazilian music is an especially strong influence. Going back to the Metheny and DiMeola comparisons, this album's world music influences will inevitably inspire comparisons to similar albums by those fellow fusion guitarists. But Stern is always his own man and his guitar playing never fails to sound distinctive -- Voices is most definitely a Mike Stern session. It's also one of the finest albums in his catalog. by Alex Henderson
1    One World 6:23
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou
Vocals, Bass, Kalimba – Richard Bona
2    The River 6:26
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Vocals, Bass – Richard Bona
3    Slow Change 7:13
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Dennis Chambers
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini
4    Wishing Well 6:10
Acoustic Bass – Chris Minh Doky
Acoustic Guitar [12-string ] – Jon Herington
Guitar – Mike Stern
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou, Philip Hamilton
5    Still There 7:30
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Dennis Chambers
Guitar [Nylon String] – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini
6    Spirit 6:35
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Rhythm Guitar – Jon Herington
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou, Philip Hamilton
7    What Might Have Been 5:32
Acoustic Bass – Chris Minh Doky
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou
8    Leni´s Smile 5:31
Bass – Richard Bona
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou, Philip Hamilton
9    Way Out East 7:04
Bass – Richard Bona
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Vocals, Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan