

Framed by Lorber’s upbeat Righteous and Runner, a buoyant piece that spotlights Stern, this journey through texture never loses momentum. A variety of atmospheres makes Eleven, a joint effort by fusion veterans Jeff Lorber and Mike Stern, both unpredictable and entertaining.

Lorber has thrived in R&B and smooth jazz settings but is also steeped in the early world-funk fusion of Herbie Hancock and Weather Report.ĭrummer Dave Weckl gained renown for his extensive work with Chick Corea’s Elektric and Akoustic bands, groups largely defined by his torrential patterns. And bassist Jimmy Haslip was a founding member of the Yellowjackets. Mike SternJeff Lorber Fusion Eleven (Concord Jazz) By Carlo Wolff Published October 2019. Ever since his formative early-1980s tenure with Miles Davis, Stern has exemplified fusion’s lyrical potential, combining the searing concision of the blues with the extravagant harmonic dexterity of a modern jazz horn player. Stream ad-free with Amazon Music Unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. They collaborated on the recent album “Eleven” (Concord Music), a deeply satisfying project that effectively showcases the manifest gifts of the musicians while drawing them a few steps outside their familiar turf. Listen to your favorite songs from Eleven by Mike Stern & Jeff Lorber Fusion Now. Mike Stern Jeff Lorber Fusion Featuring Jimmy Haslip & Gary Novak. For his part, Stern offered, To be honest, I was aware of him. While both artists got their start in the late 1970s playing a hybrid of jazz and electric rock, they each moved in slightly different directions.

Jeff Lorber Fusion and Miles Davis were playing some of the same festivals back then, so I got to hear him play. Jeff Lorber Fusion and Miles Davis were playing some of the same festivals back then, so I got to hear him play. The first pairing between crossover jazz icons keyboardist Jeff Lorber and guitarist Mike Stern, 2019's Eleven is an engaging fusion album that balances each musician's distinct musical personality. Equally compelling are cuts like the kinetic electro-bop of "Ha Ha Hotel" and the soulful ballad "Tell Me." Eleven is an inspired match-up that lives up to the work of both Lorber and Stern's expansive careers.Mike Stern, Jeff Lorber bring fusion quartet to Bay Area Close Menuĭescribing the new band led by guitarist Mike Stern and keyboardist Jeff Lorber as a fusion supergroup isn’t inaccurate, but what makes the quartet so intriguing is the way the disparate players fit together. GRAMMY Award-winning keyboardist, composer, and producer Jeff Lorber recalls seeing guitarist Mike Stern during his much-ballyhooed tenure with Miles Davis in the early ‘80s. They split the difference on Lorber's "Rhumba Pagan," a driving modal piece with a funk underpinning that also features Stern's wordless vocal improvs. Conversely, "Jones St." is a dark-toned blues-groover culled from Stern's 1997 album Give and Take. The opening "Righteous" is a breezy Lorber number centered on a hooky acoustic piano and guitar melody. What's particularly interesting on Eleven is that you can pick out how Lorber and Stern have adapted their distinctive styles for each tune. There are also nicely done horn parts peppered throughout by Ned Mann. Joining them is producer and longtime Yellow Jackets bassist Jimmy Haslip, as well as drummer Dave Weckl, guitarist Leni Stern, drummer Gary Novak, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and others. Together, they bring all of their decades-long experience to bear on Eleven playing a handful of original songs. Conversely, Stern built upon his early years as a member of Miles Davis' ensembles, mixing post-bop and blues as one of the top virtuoso jazz guitarists of his generation. As the leader of the Jeff Lorber Fusion, Lorber helped to define the sound of groove-oriented contemporary jazz and R&B. While both artists got their start in the late 1970s playing a hybrid of jazz and electric rock, they each moved in slightly different directions while coming into their own in the '80s. Detractors might cal lit smooth jazz, a term that unsurprisingly Lorber dislikes. Lorber remembers, I’ve been a fan of his for a long time, Jeff Lorber Fusion and Miles Davis were playing some of the same festivals back then, so I got to hear. Though crossing paths when Stern was a part of Miles Davis’ group in the early ‘80s. The first pairing between crossover jazz icons keyboardist Jeff Lorber and guitarist Mike Stern, 2019's Eleven is an engaging fusion album that balances each musician's distinct musical personality. Nominally a jazz fusion keyboardist and composer, Jeff Lorber is known for a particular kind of highly melodic and accessible jazz. Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber join forces on a powerfully conceived new album titled Eleven.
