Guitarist Mike Stern had for years had the idea of adding vocals to his music, which can mainly be characterized as jazz fusion. On the album Voices he gives shape to this wish and takes a new path. For this he has enlisted the help of the virtuoso singer / bassist Richard Bona from Cameroon, the vocalist Elisabeth Kontomanou and the Armenian singer / instrumentalist Arto Tuncboyaciyan. Among
… the many cooperating musicians we find some old-timers such as saxophonist Michael Brecker, drummer Vinny Coliauta and bassist Lincoln Goines. It is not surprising that the songs in which Richard Bona appears, such as One World, have a predictable African coloring, both due to the rhythm and due to his characteristic melodic vocals. In contrast, Kontomanou's songs, with her low, dark timbre, evokes a mysterious atmosphere. It is great that, despite all the variations in rhythm and style, Stern succeeds in staying true to his own style. Apparently effortlessly he integrates his - often blues-tinted - playing with the colorful, exotic musically woven carpet. (RM)more