by Alex HendersonOne of the Bobs who has been greatly influenced by Michael Brecker -- the others include Bob Shepherd, Bob Mintzer and Bob Malach -- Bob Berg has one of his strongest and most inspired efforts in Back Roads. Although Jim Beard is heard on synthesizers in addition to acoustic piano and electric guitarist Mike Stern doesn't shy away from rock elements, the album isn't really fusion per se so much as "straight-ahead" post-bop with electric references. Varied and unpredictable, this CD ranges from the intense ("Silverado") to the haunting ("Travelin' Man") to the congenial ("American Gothic"). Whatever the mood, Berg's inspired tenor has sympathetic and flexible support in the ubiquitous drummer Dennis Chambers.