Mike Stern: Big Neighbourhood

Former Miles Davis guitarist Mike Stern is a formidable player in most contemporary styles - but unlike John Scofield, Bill Frisell or Pat Metheny, he never sounds as if he's figured out which one works for him. Not that he has to, or that the most eclectic of mixes can't make it, but while there's some superb playing here (from Stern, and guests Richard Bona, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Randy Brecker, Cindy Blackman and Esperanza Spalding), Big Neighbourhood sounds a bit like box-ticking across the successful formulae of other musicians. Stern's full-on rock blast on the title track with fellow guitarist Steve Vai has a raw-boned, if somewhat Spinal Tap-like exhilaration; the African shuffle Reach (with Richard Bona) is a light and playfully engaging groove; and bassist/singer Spalding lends a delicious jazz-vocalese lilt to a couple of episodes for a small group that also features Cindy Blackman on drums. Stern's graceful lines and warm tone work well on the ballads, but by the time the chattering melody of Moroccan Roll has distractingly brought John McLaughlin's eastern exploits to mind, and the Medeski, Martin and Wood collaboration Check One has done the same for John Scofield, Stern's identity recedes somewhat. There's plenty here for guitar buffs, though.