NGUYÊN LÊ — Purple : Celebrating Jimi Hendrix (2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Nguyên Lê pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix by performing ten of the late rock innovator's songs on this 2002 CD. Lê plays in the tradition of Hendrix without directly copying him, being creative and stretching himself. The occasional vocals by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, Aïda Khann, and Corin Curschellas (which are sometimes spoken as much as sung) are unfortunately not as interesting and are mostly distracting. Bassist Michel Alibo is excellent during his solos and Lê shows originality in his improvisations, but the music overall is more heartfelt than essential, particularly since Hendrix's own records are easily available. Scott Yanow

"CD of the Month, November 2002: 'Nguyên Lê sets standards with 'Celebrating Hendrix'" - (STEREOPLAY) ACT
Tracklist :
1    1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) 6:05
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Piano [Acoustic] – Bojan Zulfikarpasic
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
2    Manic Depression 5:27
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Aïda Khann
3    Are You Experienced 6:13
Electric Bass – Meshell Ndegeocello
Percussion [Loop] – Tino Di Geraldo
Vocals – Corin Curschellas
4    Purple Haze 5:19
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
5    Burning Of The Midnight Lamp 7:13
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
6    If 6 Was 9 4:06
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Bojan Zulfikarpasic
Vocals – Aïda Khann
7    Voodoo Child (Slight Return) 6:42
Electric Bass – Meshell Ndegeocello
Percussion [Gumbri], Percussion [North African] – Karim Ziad
Vocals – Aïda Khann
Vocals, Handclaps – B'net Houariyat
8    South Saturn Delta 4:44
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
9    Up From The Skies 3:48
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
10    Third Stone From The Sun 5:44
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Corin Curschellas
Credits :
Nguyên Lê - Guitars, Guitar-Synth
Michel Alibo - Electric Bass
Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums & Vocals
Aïda Khann & Corin Curschellas - Vocals
Meshell Ndegeocello - Electric Bass
Karim Ziad - Gumbri & North African Percussions
Bojan Zulfikarpasic - Acoustic Piano & Fender Rhodes Piano

MIKE STERN - Who Let the Cats Out? (2006) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

More than two decades into his solo career, Mike Stern, on his 13th album as a leader, continues to prove why he's earned so many "Best Jazz Guitarist" honors through the years. Stern's skills are undeniable, and new ideas never fail to materialize when he's at work. But what makes Stern stand out from the pack of virtuosic guitar technicians is that he always insists on letting his, and his support team's, abilities serve the music, not vice versa. On Who Let the Cats Out?, Stern and his well-chosen crew spill out lick upon impressive lick, but they never get so carried away with themselves that they lose sight of the tune's purpose and structure. Grandiosity is never a factor here, although there are dozens of occasions to applaud these musicians' chops. Richard Bona, the Cameroonian bassist, has worked with Stern before, but here he is given an expanded role, appearing on four tracks and contributing his falsetto-style, scat-like vocals to three of them: On "All You Need," one of the prettiest tracks on the record, Bona provides an uplifting sensuality. He also shines on "We're with You," a ballad featuring Stern on acoustic guitar. Devoid of pyrotechnics, this song of support to those hurting utilizes synth-derived orchestration and a mournful, quiet tone to bring home its emotionalism. Drummer Dave Weckl -- who alternates throughout with the excellent Kim Thompson -- is another major pacesetter here: On "Texas," the often-overdriven Weckl restrains himself, his no-frills drums and Me'Shell NdegéOcello's creative bass chasing Stern's skronky slide while Gregoire Maret's harmonica provides the necessary borderland flavor. The title track, a quasi-swing/bop showpiece, finds Stern -- peeling out some of his most blazing, how'd-he-do-that? riffs -- and trumpet great Roy Hargrove trying to outdo each other and calling it a draw. Stern's soloing throughout the record is, in fact, ceaselessly imaginative: Whether within a total funk exercise like "Roll with It," which borrows Victor Wooten from the Flecktones for bass duties and spotlights sexy sax from Bob Malach, or the moody ballad "KT," on which Stern's guitar escalates in intensity alongside Jim Beard's soulful organ, Stern finds his place within the song's architecture, then rises several levels above what's required of him to present something unexpected and rewardingly original. Only on "Blue Runway," the eight-and-a-half-minute closer, with Anthony Jackson taking over the bass, do the players allow themselves to approach tediousness. Overextending themselves as they shift into hyperdrive, they turn the piece into a jam for its own sake. An anomaly, it doesn't by any means detract from the album's overall quality, though it does allow it to end on a disappointingly self-absorbed note. by Jeff Tamarkin
Tracklist:
1    Tumble Home    8:14
2    KT    7:57
3    Good Questions    4:17
4    Language    7:03
5    We're With You    5:48
6    Leni Goes Shopping    4:38
7    Roll With It    5:02
8    Texas    7:04
9    Who Let The Cats Out?    7:44
10    All You Need    6:57
11    Blue Runaway    8:37
Credits:
Bass – Anthony Jackson, Chris Minh Doky, Meshell Ndegeocello, Victor Wooten
Drums – Dave Weckl, Kim Thompson
Guitar – Mike Stern
Harmonica – Gregoire Maret
Keyboards, Producer – Jim Beard
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini, Bob Malach
Trumpet – Roy Hargrove
Vocals, Bass – Richard Bona