Guitarist Mike Stern, best-known for playing rock-oriented fusion and in more commercial settings, surprised many listeners by recording an album dominated by standards. Actually, there are three originals included among the 11 pieces, but Stern also digs into such songs as "Like Someone in Love," "Moment's Notice," Chick Corea's "Windows," and "Straight No Chaser." Among Stern's sidemen on this fairly straight-ahead but adventurous set are trumpeter Randy Brecker, Bob Berg on tenor, and keyboardist Gil Goldstein. This little-known release is well-worth acquiring.

Italian drummer Marcelli is a natural swinger with a light touch-and an accomplished composer to boot. He's aided on Beyond the Blue by a stellar outfit that includes guitarist Mike Stern, bassist Eddie Gomez, pianist Mitchel Forman and tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer. The opening "Between Poles" is a perfect vehicle for Stern to wail in the kind of understated, swinging fashion that he revealed on his 1992 gem Standards (And Other Songs). Mintzer also adds a particularly muscular tenor solo here.

Billy Cobham has once again done music lovers the great honor of producing and writing this new volume in the incredible and prestigious Drum ‘n’ Voice series. Billy Cobham is a living legend of the drums, revered for his ultra-dramatic, muscular and bar-raising work with fusion pioneers the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Since the ’60s Cobham has appeared on over 300 recordings, including those by pop and rock icons such as Peter Gabriel, Jack Bruce, Bob Weir and James Brown, and has released more than thirty-five albums as a leader.

Bunny Brunel is best-known as a virtuosic electric bassist who is featured in high-quality fusion settings. This particular recording is quite a bit different for Brunel is heard exclusively on acoustic bass, performing advanced jazz standards including pieces by Wayne Shorter, Steve Swallow, and Herbie Hancock along with two of the bassist's originals, "Stella by Starlight," Charlie Parker's "Relaxin' at Camarillo," and "Someday My Prince Will Come." Guitarist Mike Stern has plenty of solos, pianist Billy Childs gets in his spots, and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta is fine in support, but Brunel clearly controls the music. On the concluding "Twelve Bars for Leberstraum," Chick Corea guests on piano.