Heads Dave Weckl

All Over the Place is Stern's new recording. Set for release on June 19, 2012, the 11-song set aligns the characteristically diverse and adventurous guitarist with a cadre of brilliant guests, including trumpeter Randy Brecker; saxophonist Kenny Garrett; and drummers Dave Weckl, Keith Carlock and Lionel Cordew. Also on hand is a delegation of high-caliber electric and acoustic bass players: Esperanza Spalding, Richard Bona, Victor Wooten, Anthony Jackson, Dave Holland, Tom Kennedy, Will Lee and Victor Bailey.

As with previous release 'Now is the Time' Jeff Lorber is joined by the Yellowjackets' Jimmy Haslip on bass, Eric Marienthal on saxophones and Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl sharing drumming duties.Jeff once again takes some of his more popular tunes from the past, like "Wizard Island", "City" and "The Underground" and updates them with the new band. "Essentially this album is a part two", Lorber says. "It features the same rhythm section, but it's even more into the jazz fusion direction. It's more energetic and the performances are tighter." In total, 'Galaxy' includes 11 Jeff Lorber original compositions.

Like all the legends he ever worked for or with, from Miles Davis to Jaco Pastorius, Billy Cobham to the Brecker Brothers, the five-time Grammy nominee has learned over the course of his 26-year recording career – 33 since he got his breakthrough gig with Blood, Sweat & Tears – something about the nuanced art of collaboration. Not only does it take a village to make a great, boundary-stretching jazz recording, the wild excursions on his second Heads Up date seem to be shouting, as it actually involves a whole Big Neighborhood. This CD was up for a Grammy as “Best Contemporary Jazz Instrumental Album” in 2010.

American electric bass guitarist Anthony Jackson has been playing with European musicians for quite some time – note his collaboration with the Turkish-born pianist Fahir Atakoglu in the 2000s. Here he teams with Greek musician and fellow bass guitarist/composer Yiorgos Fakanas for a set of retro-jazz fusion music that is far from typical. Armed with a large ensemble of contemporary all-stars and lesser known Europeans, Jackson and Fakanas create new music reflective of '70s New York supercharged funk à la the Brecker Brothers, and the mid-period John McLaughlin style of classically oriented jazz that incorporates horns, acoustic strings, and synthesizers. With keyboardist Mitch Forman, guitarist Frank Gambale, and drummer Dave Weckl, the band expands horizons past strictly European traditional or ethnic strains.