Mike Stern Announces New Album with Christian McBride and Richard Bona – No Treble

Mike Stern: Echoes and Other Songs

Jazz guitar giant Mike Stern has announced a new album called Echoes and Other Songs, which promises to be a killer record. A press release states it has “all the elements that longtime Stern fans want, and then some: the hook-filled rapid-fire bebop writing; the gorgeous melodic sensibility culled from African music, gospel and other influences; the breakneck improvisations that pepper hornlike bop virtuosity with rock fire.”

Aside from Stern’s great compositions, the music is brought to life by a lineup of monster musicians. Stern tapped saxophonists Chris Potter and Bob Franceschini, drummers Antonio Sanchez and Dennis Chambers, and percussionist Arto Tunçboyacian. The late Jim Beard, who also produced the album, provided all the piano and keyboards for the album.

Bass duties on the album are shared between the great Christian McBride (who performs on electric and acoustic bass) and Richard Bona, who also provides vocals on three tracks.

The album will not be out until September 13th, but Stern has released the first single, “Stuff Happens.”

“It’s definitely got a Blues vibe and it opens with a short but really wonderful solo from Christian McBride,” Stern says of the track. “He is definitely not only one of the greatest upright bass players ever, but he plays amazing electric bass. Of course, I knew that going into this project, so I asked him to play a lot of electric bass, and he did that so beautifully on this tune. He played great on everything.”