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
