Mike Stern "Play"

Mike Stern "Play"

album cover

Mike Stern
Play
The Story
"Play" finds guitar ace Mike Stern alongside two other modern guitar masters, John Scofield and Bill Frisell. The results are stunning, to say the least. Though each of the three guitarists has a distinctive sound and style, an unmistakable camaraderie develops over the course of the album. It is the powerful work of Stern, Scofield, and Frisell that is the focus on this session. Scofield steps up first as he and Stern take the first three tracks together. On the exciting title track, the two spar ferociously on the intricate theme and burning solos. The New Orleans groove of "Small World," familiar sonic territory for Scofield, is a particular highlight. Frisell makes his entrance with the atmospheric "Blue Tone," which fits his signature eclectic sound perfectly. Likewise, Stern sounds right at home on the ultra-funky "Tipatina's," a raucous tune that features muscular work by Malach. Frisell also makes a beautiful contribution to the expressive ballad "All Heart." Other highlights on "Play" include the up-tempo romp "Links" and the final Frisell feature, "Big Kids."
The Music
07:15 Play Instrumental
05:23 Small World Instrumental
06:09 Outta Town Instrumental
06:43 Blue Tone Instrumental
06:35 Tipatina's Instrumental
06:22 All Heart Instrumental
05:41 Frizz Instrumental
06:50 Link Instrumental
04:10 Goin' Under Instrumental
07:29 Big Kids Instrumental
The Artists
Mike Stern Guitar
John Scofield Guitar (Tracks 1, 2 & 3)
Bill Frisell Guitar (Tracks 4, 6, 7 & 10)
Ben Perowsky Drums (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 10)
Dennis Chambers Drums (Tracks 5, 8 & 9)
Lincoln Goines Bass
Bob Malach Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 3, 5, 6, 8 & 9)
Jim Beard Keyboards, Production
Joe Ferla Mixing
Rory Romano Mixing Assistance
Andrea Yankovsky Mixing Assistance
Matt Bayles Engineering
David Fischer Engineering Assistance
Dan Gellert Engineering
Anthony Ruotolo Engineering Assistance
Phil Magnotti Engineering
Greg Thompson Engineering Assistance
Matt Gold Engineering Assistance
Caleb Lambert Engineering Assistance
Yves Beauvais A&R
Greg Galbi Mastering
All songs written by Mike Stern.

Recorded at Litho Studios, Seattle, December, 1998; Avatar Studios, New York, NY, January, 1999; Kampo Studios, New York, NY.

Mixed at Avatar Studios, New York, NY.

Mastered at Sterling Sound, Inc., New York, NY.