VITAL INFORMATION — Ray Of Hope (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Ray of Hope is Vital Information's seventh release, the first for Intuition Records and their first in four years. The material was actually recorded long before the release, while leader/drummer Steve Smith shopped around for a record deal. The majority of the selections have heavy commercial overtones, but the heavy grooves, nice melodies, and superb musicianship save this from being just another light fusion affair. Ever the selfless leader, Smith gives all bandmates plenty of opportunities to shine. In particular, keyboardist Tom Coster and bassist Jeff Andrews both shine on their duet of Horace Silver's "Peace." Drummers will be most pleased with the Max Roach-inspired drum solo "Maxed Out," a three-minute tour de force that proves why Smith is held in such high regard among his colleagues. While Ray of Hope may not be the most inspired recording the band has released, there is enough here to please most fans of high-energy jazz/rock fusion and/or contemporary jazz. Robert Taylor
Tracklist :
1. Clouds ( 1:01 )
 Jeff Andrews / Tom Coster / Frank Gambale / Steve Smith 
2. Celebrate Life ( 4:57 )
 Jeff Andrews / Tom Coster / Frank Gambale / Steve Smith 
3. Rio Lize ( 4:48 )
  Frank Gambale / Morris Pleasure
4. Lorenzo`s Soul ( 5:32 )
 Jeff Andrews / Tom Coster / Frank Gambale / Steve Smith 
5. Sacred Treasure ( 5:49 )
 Frank Gambale / Narada Michael Walden 
6. Sixth Sense ( 4:37 )
 Jeff Andrews 
7. Ray Of Hope ( 5:41 )
 Jeff Andrews / Tom Coster / Frank Gambale / Steve Smith 
8. Maxed Out ( 2:56 )
 Steve Smith 
9. All My Love, Always ( 6:30 )
  Frank Gambale
10.Peace ( 4:13 )
 Horace Silver 
11.Fit To Be Tied ( 6:25 )
 Jeff Andrews 
12.Over And Out ( 5:39 ) 
 Jeff Andrews / Tom Coster / Frank Gambale / Steve Smith 
Credits :
Steve Smith - Drums
Tom Coster - Keyboards
Frank Gambale - Guitar
Jeff Andrews - Bass

MIKE STERN — Upside Downside (1988) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

Mike Stern's debut as a leader mostly features the high-powered guitarist heading a sextet also including tenor saxophonist Bob Berg, keyboardist Mitch Forman, bassist Mark Egan, drummer Dave Weckl and percussionist Dr. Gibbs. Altoist David Sanborn makes a guest appearance on "Goodbye Again," while "Mood Swings" features the quartet of Stern, Berg, electric bassist Jaco Pastorius (with whom Stern had worked in the Word of Mouth Orchestra) and drummer Steve Jordan. The guitarist wrote or co-wrote all six selections, which generally have viable chord changes. The playing mostly fits into the genre of funky fusion, with Stern's passionate guitar heard throughout in fine form. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Upside Downside    5:41
Mike Stern
2.    Little Shoes    5:33
Mike Stern
3.    Goodbye Again    6:33
Mike Stern
4.    Mood Swings    6:01
Mike Stern
5.    After You    5:25
Mike Stern
6.    Scuffle    6:11
Mike Stern
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn (tracks: 3)
Arranged By – Jeff Andrews (tracks: 6)
Bass – Jaco Pastorius (tracks: 4), Jeff Andrews (tracks: 2), Mark Egan (tracks: 1 to 3, 5)
Drums – Dave Weckl (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 6), Steve Jordan (tracks: 4)
Guitar, Composed, Arranged By – Mike Stern
Percussion – Dr. Gibbs (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 6)
Piano, Synthesizer – Mitch Forman (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 6)
Producer – Hiram Bullock
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Berg

MIKE STERN — Time in Place (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Mike Stern's music has often been a little difficult to classify, featuring strong improvisations, the sound and power of rock, and elements of funk, R&B and sometimes pop. For his second recording as a leader, Stern is joined by either Bob Berg or Michael Brecker on tenor, keyboardist Jim Beard, electric bassist Jeff Andrews, drummer Peter Erskine and percussionist Don Alias; Don Grolnick sits in on organ during "No Notice." The music (seven Stern originals) ranges from the rhythmic to the more sophisticated and features plenty of the leader's high-powered guitar. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Gossip    5:59
Mike Stern
2.    Time In Place    6:49
Mike Stern
3.    Before You Go    5:31
Mike Stern
4.    No Notice    6:40
Mike Stern
5.    After All    7:36
Mike Stern
6.    Four Shades    5:04
Mike Stern
7.    Chromazone    7:42
Mike Stern
Credits :
Drums – Peter Erskine
Electric Bass, Fretless Bass – Jeff Andrews
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Organ – Don Grolnick (tracks: 4)
Percussion – Don Alias
Producer – Steve Khan
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker (tracks: 1, 7)
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Bob Berg

MIKE STERN — Jigsaw (1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This is a fairly typical Mike Stern fusion date, featuring his rocking guitar on seven of his pieces. Stern is joined by his usual sidemen -- tenor saxophonist Bob Berg, keyboardist Jim Beard, electric bassist Jeff Andrews, either Peter Erskine or Dennis Chambers on drums and percussionist Manolo Badrena -- and plays with plenty of fire, yet a good amount of restraint. Michael Brecker is a guest on "Chief," jamming on his fairly anonymous-sounding EWI. A decent effort, easily recommended to fans of the more adventurous rock guitarists. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.     Another Way Around 6:25
Mike Stern
2.     Loose Ends 6:11
Mike Stern
3.     To Let You Know 6:30
Mike Stern
4.     Jigsaw 7:06
Mike Stern
5.     Chief  7:45
Mike Stern
6.     Rhyme or Reason 5:46
Mike Stern
7.     Kwirk 6:58
Mike Stern
Credits :
Mike Stern – Guitar
Jim Beard – Keyboard, Synthesizer
Peter Erskine – Drums (except tracks 1, 4, 5)
Dennis Chambers – Drums (tracks 1, 4, 5)
Manolo Badrena – Bongo, Shaker
Don Alias – Percussion
Jeff Andrews – Bass
Bob Berg – Saxophone
Michael Brecker – Saxophone

MIKE STERN — Between the Lines (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Mike Stern does what he does very, very well. He has carved out a unique niche for himself among modern fusion guitarists, a vision that combines funk and R&B bass/drum grooves with skittish melodies often involving extended chord fragments. Stern's lead voice is one of the most distinctive in the genre as well, as his chorused and sometimes distorted tone is always prominently displayed. Stern is joined on this 1996 offering by frequent collaborator Bob Malach, a tenor player with a particular talent for laying screaming lines on top of smoking drum grooves as well as ably doubling and bringing to life Stern's often bookish and theoretical melodies. Completing the band are twin rhythm sections, consisting either of Dave Weckl and Jeff Andrews or Lincoln Goines and Dennis Chambers. Like many of Stern's recordings, the problems lie generally in the sameness of the arrangements and the relatively forgettable nature of some of these songs. Although they are all thoughtfully composed, they sometimes tend to run together a bit in the mind of the listener. Jim Beard's keyboard textures also could be done without, as they add a distracting sheen to the compositions. But there has always been this sort of tension in Stern's work between the obvious and the unexpected. Take, for example, "Lose the Suit," which features an extremely funky intro and a great Stern solo, as well as an extremely predictable bridge that almost sounds as if it could be the theme song to a long-running soap opera. Any lingering sense of treacle is dispelled once Stern kicks in the fuzz, however, and lays into the track. Not the best thing he's ever done, but quite good, and sure to please fans. Daniel Gioffre
Tracklist :
1.    Sunnyside    7:27
Mike Stern
2.    The Vine    6:27
Mike Stern
3.    Wing And A Prayer    6:37
Mike Stern
4.    Lose The Suit    8:43
Mike Stern
5.    You Never Know    7:13
Mike Stern
6.    Tell Me    6:01
Mike Stern
7.    With A Twist    6:37
Mike Stern
8.    True Enough    6:43
Mike Stern
9.    Pages    6:43
Mike Stern
10.    Bait Tone Blues    7:37
Mike Stern
Credits :
Bass – Jeff Andrews, Lincoln Goines (tracks: 6, 7)
Drums – Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers (tracks: 6, 7)
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards, Producer – Jim Beard
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Malach