Mike Stern is a true master of combining blues phrases with dizzying bebop runs. Here is a lick I transcribed from his funky tune, "Ha Ha Hotel", which starts at 1:57. Note how Stern starts off with the E mixolydian mode, then plays the altered fifths, and finally descends on an E harmonic minor scale. His brilliant combination of these three ideas, especially the use of the b5, #5, and major 7th intervals, creates a distinct tension over the underlying E13 chord. The tempo is fast, so make sure to practice this slowly at first and choose your picking strokes wisely. Tune in to my next blog where I'll share another Stern lick and Follow me on Twitter @halwit and on youtube.com/halromusic for more lessons and transcriptions!
Related links: Scofield Lick 1, Scofield Lick 2, Scofield Lick 3
