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JazzTimes - May 2000 

Guitarist Mike Stern lends his scorching licks on this fine self produced outing by the Italian born,
Berklee trained Rhythm tandem of drummer Sergio Bellotti and bassist Tino D'Agostino.
Bellotti is a hard hitter in the tradition of Dennis Chambers,as he so forcefully demonstrates on
the opening track,D'Agostino's "Son Finite Le Vergini.'
Full of challenging unison lines and demanding stop-time statements,this one harkens back to
early Brecker Brothers and is fueled by D'Agostino's slippery,Jaco-like funk groove.
After a lengthy Michael Brecker-influenced tenor solo by Bill Vint,Stern wails heroically
like a bop inspired by Carlos Santana.He also rips it up in characteristic fashion on
Vint's"Better Left Unsaid" and on guitarist Jim Kelly's funk vehicle"Mr. Stern."
Kelly,a guitar professor at Berklee,lays out some slick,clean toned fingerstyle work on his
earthy "Blue Caboose",then applies a warm over-driven tone for a flowing effect on his "Six for Costas.'
D'Agostino's playing throughout is brilliant.Like Gary Willis,Jeff Andrews and John Patitucci,
he has adopted some of Pastorius patented tricks while taking it a step further.
On a lovely trio redention with pianist Greg Burk of "Someday my Prince Will Come"and
on the soothing samba"Estate,"D'Agostino makes his most personal musical statements.
Highly recommended to fans of Stern,Vital Information,Steps Ahead,Brecker Brothers and Yellowjackets.

Bill Milkowsky