The seed for this project was planted when
Eric Johnson played on a few tracks for
Mike Stern's 2009 album
Big Neighborhood. The two guitarists discovered a shared affinity for jazz and blues, along with those two genres' rambunctious stepchildren, R&B and funk, and both players had always embraced a stylish fusion approach to their respective work. It seems only obvious and natural that they do a full album together.
Eclectic was recorded in mostly live takes at
Johnson's studio in Austin, Texas, and included a rhythm section of drummer
Anton Fig and
Johnson's longtime bassist
Chris Maresh, along with guest spots from singers
Malford Milligan,
Leni Stern (
Mike Stern's wife), and
Christopher Cross, blues harpist
Guy Forsyth, and a horn section of
John Mills (saxophone), Mike Mordecai (trombone), and Andrew Johnson (trumpet). The versatility on display here from track to track is impressive, ranging from blues to
Wes Montgomery-inspired guitar jazz, new age fusion shuffles, and huge-sounding, jazz-inspired big-band imaginary soundtrack themes, and there's no lack of amazing guitar playing, both guitarists blending and flowing together like the two edges of a single river. Highlights include the opener,
Stern's driving, jazzy, and funky "Roll with It" (it turns out
Stern has a pretty good singing voice, by the way), the lovely, haunting, and chiming "Wishing Well,"
Johnson's "Hullabaloo" (which sounds like the opening theme to some long-lost Hollywood-based 1960s detective show),
Stern's modal "Remember" (modeled on
John Coltrane's "Impressions"), and the set's closer, a reverent and vibrant take on
Jimi Hendrix's "Red House," which brings everything back to the late-night jazzy approach to the blues that
Johnson and
Stern both hold so dear. ~ Steve Leggett