Review: Guitarist Stern comfortable with customized sound

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2002 | 8:15 a.m.

What jazz guitarist Mike Stern does is so unique he came up with his own way to describe it -- "Bop 'n' Roll."

Stern's style is a fusion of bebop, rock, jazz and blues.

He is giving fans a taste of his musical buffet at the Blue Note Las Vegas this week, with performances at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. through Saturday.

When you listen to the sounds jumping out of Stern's guitar -- which he can play equally well fast and hard or slow and tender -- you can almost hear those who most strongly influenced him over the years: such legends as Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King.

Stern is one of the top jazz guitarists in the world, an innovator who likes challenges and isn't afraid to take chances. He has been nominated for Grammys three times -- most recently this year in the category of Best Contemporary Jazz Album for "Voices," the first of his 10 albums that includes vocals (the Grammys will be broadcast tonight on KLAS Channel 8 from 8-11:30 p.m., during Stern's performances at the Blue Note).

The vocals in "Voices" have African and Middle-Eastern flavors. Stern used Cameroonian bassist-vocalist Richard Bona of the Zawinul Syndicate, along with vocalists Elizabeth Konotomanou, Arto Tuncboyaciyan and Philip Hamilton. Stern performed just one number ("Slow Change") from the album Tuesday night -- without the vocals.

While the voices may have been silent, Stern's guitar spoke volumes.

Too bad no one was there to listen.

The Blue Note's seating capacity is about 250. Fewer than 40 fans were in the audience, and they were relatively subdued.

But Stern didn't seem to pay attention to the vacant seats as he and his three-piece backup band played their hearts out.

Backing Stern were some of the greatest jazz musicians in the country.

On saxophone was Bob Francescini, who toured with Paul Simon and played with Latin jazz greats Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente. Lincoln Goines was on bass. Goines has played with Sonny Rollins, John Scofield and Elvin Jones. On drums was Richie Morales, longtime drummer for Spyro Gyra. He also played with the Brecker Brothers and saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.

The group put together some powerful sounds that jazz fans would appreciate if they heard them -- but they aren't going to hear them unless they "Bop 'n' Roll" down to the Blue Note.