Old and new fans will appreciate this compositionally powerful record, sung through the voices of bassist/vocalist Richard Bona (the swiss army knife of the contemporary jazz scene and newest member of the new Pat Metheny Group), Elizabeth Kontomanou and Philip Hamilton, plus a host of long-time Stern players and special guests Michael Brecker and Arto Tuncboyacian.

Stern's strength (aside from being a killer guitar player) has been his ability to craft a recording around a theme, and he tastefully and beautifully shifts the spotlight here; keeping his rock-fueled bebop fretwork in plain view for all to hear while focusing on some of his best penned work to date. The result is a truly enjoyable record that may very well earn Stern fans further outside the scope of the musician/guitar player realm.

Rich and beautiful vocal harmonies weave together tracks such as One World, Wishing Well and Spirit , giving the record an almost world-beat feel, but Stern's thumbprint never gets lost; the guitar work is still fiery but tasteful and considerate of the song. Some new soundscapes and moods are introduced in songs like Leni's Smile , and the world-beat theme is further reinforced by the concluding track, Way Out East , (featuring Michael Brecker) which possesses a clearly Middle Eastern feel.

Overall, this CD is a testament to the fact that Mike Stern's guitar work can only be superseded by his evolution as a composer. Many kudos and recommended very highly.