Mike Stern

Who Let The Cats Out?

Heads Up International  HUCD 3115

           Three-time Grammy Award nominee and guitarist Mike Stern is looking capture his first Grammy gold at the 49th Grammy Awards set for Feb.11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Stern's latest project, Who Let The Cats Out? (Heads Up International) has been nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Also reaching for the coveted prize in the same category are Bela Fleck and The Flecktones (The Hidden Land - Columbia); Groove Collective (People People Music Music - Savoy Jazz Worldwide); Christian Scott (Rewind That - Concord Jazz); and Sex Mob (Sexotica - Thirsty Ear Recordings, Inc.). (See 2007 Grammy Nominations)

Stern is known for blurring the boundaries between jazz, funk, blues and rock. The eleven-track disc contains all Stern orginals. The album ranges from bluesy, powerful funk on Tumble Home and Roll With It, and lots of dynamic interplay on KT and Texas, to tightly-packed new jazz on Good Question and Leni Goes Shopping, and gentle, heartfelt ballads with We're With You and All You Need.

The album features guests including bassists Richard Bona, who also handles two vocals on Good Question and Language, Anthony Jackson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chris Minh Doky and Voctor Wooten, trumpter Roy Hargrove, saxophonists Bob Franceschini and Bob Malach, drummers Dave Weckl and Kim Thompson, harmonica player Gregoire Maret, and Keyboardist/producer Jim Beard.

The cats are indeed loose on this album! It's a fun ride.

Track selections:  Tumble Home, KT, Good Question, Language, We're With You, Leni Goes Shopping, Roll With It, Texas, Who Let The Cats Out?, All You Need, Blue Runway.

Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York City in January 2006.

- Stephen Fratallone/Jazz Connection Magazine

Rating:  ****

*****