Unadulterated music for NY-based Mike Stern Trio
By Devi M. Asmarani
JAKARTA (JP): This year's JakJazz highlight was the electrifying performance of the New York-based Mike Stern Trio.
More than a thousand jazz fans flocked to the main stage at the Gelanggang Mahasiswa Sumantri Brodjonegoro youth center to see the band perform seven compositions from their latest album Between the Lines during the opening of the three-day jazz extravaganza on Dec. 6.
Along with bassist Jeff Andrews and drummer Richie Morales, guitarist Mike Stern gave an enthralling performance that mixed jazz, rock and blues. Their unique style distinguished them from the rest of this year's JakJazz participants.
"We played the unwatered-down version of these three musical genres in their purest form," Stern told The Jakarta Post after the show.
Having played with jazz icons and top musicians like Miles Davis and rock band Blood, Sweat and Tears, Stern has mastered the art of blending different styles. During their performance, Stern and his group smoothly moved from one style to another. Bassist Andrew punctuated his tunes with bebop, Morales synchronized hard rock with a more ethnic beat on drums, while Stern used guitar riffs to smooth over the transitions.
Mike Stern's specialty is his ability to blend rock and roll guitar riffs with melodious improvisations. A few times on stage he played more like Jimi Hendrix than a jazz master. He admits that the band is greatly influenced by musicians like Hendrix as well as jazz musicians like John Coltrane.
"We've been compared to Eric Clapton's earlier band Cream," Stern said proudly.
Set up two years ago -- with the original drummer Dave Weckl, who could not attend the festival -- members of the group have been working together off and on for about 10 years.
Jeff Andrews, a graduate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and Towson State University, played with the Michael Brecker Band and the Wayne Shorter Quintet.
Richie Morales has played and composed songs for Spyro Gyra. His more recent project was playing with the Grover Washington Jr. Band. Although Morales has played with a handful of international musicians, he has found it hard to get his own album produced.
"It is not easy to find a producer who likes my eclectic taste," said Morales, who studied percussion under Joe Morello, Allan Dawson and some Latin percussionists.
Stern, who dismisses the idea of staying with one band, feels that those who want to become musicians must have a strong desire to learn.
"It is that desire that helps an artist flourish," Stern said.
For Stern learning does not stop at certain age. He is currently improving his guitar skills by studying and listening to piano and saxophone.
"I want to have a singing voice in our music without having a vocalist," he said.
Morales agreed that to become a good musician takes hard work and hours of daily practice, something that he cannot do it anymore.
"One must be a little selfish to be a good musician," Morales said. But Andrews added, "I will always be searching for more creativity."