Album Review: Yellowjackets Featuring Mike Stern, "Lifecycle" (Heads Up International)

It's been 15 years since the Yellowjackets featured a guitarist on an album, so you had to figure if they were going to do it, they were going to get a ringer. Mike Stern [ tickets ] more than fits the bill. The four-time Grammy nominee, besides having released many acclaimed solo albums, has played alongside Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, and Blood, Sweat & Tears.The fusion quartet--keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, saxophonist Bob Mintzer and drummer Marcus Baylor--performed with Stern at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2007. "We've all been [fans] of Mike's for a long time," Ferrante commented in a statement. "Our goal was to make a recording that sounded like Mike had been in the band forever, and I think we accomplished that. To my ears, it feels cohesive--like five musicians with a genuine rapport."Indeed, Stern fits right in to the angular funk of "Falken's Maze," effortlessly blending with the unison lines, and stepping forward with his signature blues-to-bebop style when the space is there. "Country Living," as the name implies, slows things down, but it's more of a lazy funk turn than anything resembling country. Not surprisingly, Stern comfortably trades phrases with Mintzer.The guitarist penned the sprite swing of "Double Nickel" (featuring some aggressive drumming by Baylor) and the somber ballad "Dreams Go," while Mintzer's "Yahoo" rekindles earlier Yellowjackets fusion, with Ferrante dropping playful synth lines all over the odd time signature. The odd feel is also there for the group-written "3 Circles" and lush, atmospheric "Lazaro," which features a lyrical bass solo from Haslip, who had originally written the piece for a solo album.Mission accomplished with "Lifecycle." Mike Stern fits in like he's been with the band for the last 15 years, and the result is an adventurous jazz-fusion release. The only questions posed by this five-piece lineup are: one, where do the studio albums grow from here?; and two, how will the new (and old) tunes stretch out live? Luckily, the second question will be answered throughout the rest of the year.