Legendary guitarist Mike Stern came to the Baked Potato Friday night that was stuffed like a stocking on the mantle, and the audience was treated to a night that reflected the allure of improvisation, in more ways than one.
First, while Stern is mostly known for his playing prowess and chops, the evening also featured both his and his lovely wife Lena’s composing skills, demonstrated on the tunes that were included this evening from his recently released Echoes…album.
Playing ngoni, Leni started the evening with a light blue “Like A Thief” from her own album, with hubby Mike supplying rich chords and framework and the rhythm team of Dennis Chambers/dr and Janek Gwizdala creating an exotic cadence evoking thought of the Sahel desert.
Speaking of Gwizdala, he was the other “surprise” of the night, sitting in for the first time without even a rehearsal and teaming up with Chambers for some fiery combustion on the deep rivulet of the manical “Chatter” while creating a groove for tenor saxist Bob Franceschini to sear around from tenor sax to something that sounded like a EWI. Funny, he didn’t look EWIsh!
Similarly, Gwizdala created some moody and blue synthscapes somehow from his bass, taking the baton from Stern’s lyrical guitar intro on the moody “Echoes” that had Chambers swatting the drums like a pelican wing flapping in ascension. Chambers also formed an avalanche on the hard driving “Connections” before shifting gears into shuffling mode for Franceschini’s rich tenor to long board over.
And while we’re on the topic of the saxist, he showed the flexibility of a Cirque du Soleil performer by soloing around, through and during some technical stage factors that required the wires and plugs to be changed during one of the songs. A lesser man would have simply given up, but the problems was turned into an opportunity as the reed vet just kicked up the butanes to bring more fire to the fumes of the pretty and plaintive “Gospel Song”.
And as for the leader, well, Stern was in literally great voice on the ethereal and dreamy “Wishing Well” showing that great playing shines best when helped by similar composing. On the other hand, he led the band through a 10+ minute improv jam that bent, stretched and fired away like a slingshot before closing down the 90 minute set with an earthy blues fest of “Red House”.
Sly Stone once sang that “Everyone’s A Star”, while Stern and company showed that it can happen in one night at the Baked P otato.
Upcoming shows at The Baked Potato include Lynne Fiddmont 12/18, John Daversa Big Band 12/19-22, Lao Tizer 12/27, Ernie Watts 12/28 and Don Randi & Quest 12/31