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Mike Stern

One of the premier guitarists of his generation, the three-time Grammy nominee was born on January 10, 1953 in Boston. After growing up in Washington D.C., he returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music and got his start as a guitar player with Blood, Sweat & Tears at the age of 22. Following a stint with Billy Cobham's powerhouse fusion band from 1979-1980, Mike moved to New York City and was recruited by Miles Davis and played a key role in his celebrated comeback band of 1981 (which also included bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Al Foster, percussionist Mino Cinelu and saxophonist Bill Evans). During his three-year period with Miles, Mike appeared on three recordings with the jazz maestro - Man With The Horn, Star People and the live We Want Miles. From 1983 to 1984, he toured with Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth band and in 1985 returned to Miles' lineup for a second tour of duty that lasted close to a year.

In the summer of 1986, Stern went out on the road with David Sanborn and later joined an electrified edition of Steps Ahead which featured Mike Mainieri on midi vibes, Michael Brecker on the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), Darryl Jones on electric bass and Steve Smith on drums. Stern made his first recording as a leader for the Japanese Trio label (1985's Neesh) before making his debut on Atlantic Records in 1986 with Upside Downside, featuring such celebrated colleagues as Sanborn, Pastorius, saxophonist Bob Berg, bassists Mark Egan and Jeff Andrews, keyboardist Mitch Forman and drummers Dave Weckl and Steve Jordan. From 1986 through 1988, Mike was a member of Michael Brecker's potent quintet, appearing on Don't Try This At Home. Stern's second Atlantic album, 1988's Time In Place, continued the promise of his debut. He followed that in succession with 1989's Jigsaw and 1991's Odds Or Evens, both of which ably showcased his legendary guitar prowess and musicality. During this period he also formed a touring group with saxophonist Berg that included drummer Dennis Chambers and bassist Lincoln Goines. They remained a working unit from 1989 to 1992, at which point Stern joined a reunited Brecker Brothers Band, appearing on 1992's Return of the Brecker Brothers. (Other notable sideman credits include work with the late, great tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and the recent live recording 4 Generations of Miles, in which the guitarist joins with other Miles Davis alumni George Coleman on tenor sax, Jimmy Cobb on drums and Ron Carter on bass).

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Radio & Podcasts

New Albums From Stern, Shepik, Brady, Eldritch Priest, Bernstein And More

Read "New Albums From Stern, Shepik, Brady, Eldritch Priest, Bernstein And More" reviewed by Bob Osborne


This week's batch of new releases includes a more than usual amount of guitar lead music. With new albums from Mike Stern, Brad Shepik, Tim Brady, Eldritch Priest, and Peter Bernstein, plus two new singles from Ari Joshua, there are more than enough examples of guitar music to keep six-string fans engaged. In addition there is an excellent range of new releases featuring a variety of musical combinations and a previously unheard recording of the legendary Charlie Parker.Playlist ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Mike Stern, Tony Grey, Janek Gwizdala Vlad Glavchovski and Aaron Parks

Read "Mike Stern, Tony Grey, Janek Gwizdala Vlad Glavchovski and Aaron Parks" reviewed by Len Davis


Mike Stern withEchoes And Other Voices, bassist's Tony Grey, and Janek Gwizdala, guitarist Vlad Glavchovski, and Mark Hartsuch with Mohini Dey.. Indian violinist Abhijith P.S.Nair, Swiss band Oz Urugulu and Swedish trumpeter Goran Kajfes. Pianist Aaron Parks, German keyboardist Simon Oslander with Steve Gadd and Danish drummer Henrik Engquist with Jimmy Haslip.Playlist Mike Stern “Where's Leo" from Echoes and Other Songs (Mack Avenue) 00:00 Tony Grey “Elastic Man" from Infinity Glitch (Hughes Productions) 07:33 Janek Gwizdala “Gimmee That Stern ...

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Album Review

Mike Stern: Echoes and Other Songs

Read "Echoes and Other Songs" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Echoes and Other Songs is guitarist Mike Stern's first release since the loss of pianist, friend and confidante, Jim Beard in March, 2024. Beard, perhaps best known for his association with Steely Dan, appears here as pianist, keyboardist and producer. Stern is still on the long road to recovery following a fall in 2016 that broke both his arms and left him with nerve damage. He has adapted his technique and now uses a homegrown solution to hold his pick ...

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Album Review

Mike Stern: Echoes and Other Songs

Read "Echoes and Other Songs" reviewed by Doug Collette


With a running time of seventy-seven minutes plus, guitarist Mike Stern's Echoes and Other Songs is effectively a double album. And like most such expansive works--including classics like Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde (Columbia, 1966) and The Beatles (aka 'The White Album')(Apple, 1968)--it would benefit from consolidation of its best elements (as would a replacement of the amateurish cover design). Even so, this is still a deceptively ambitious piece of work. Of course, advanced thinking has virtually always ...

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Album Review

Tom Kennedy: New Start

Read "New Start" reviewed by Jim Worsley


When thinking of bassist Tom Kennedy, it can be instinctive to think of drummer Dave Weckl. Or vice versa. The two became friends and musical colleagues in their early teens. That is roughly a half century of playing, recording, touring, and much more together. Kennedy is known around the world as a premier, elite jazz and fusion electric bassist. Weckl has the same notoriety and brilliant skill set behind his drum kit. One could go on at length about their ...

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Album Review

Dial and DeRosa: Keep Swingin'

Read "Keep Swingin'" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Keep Swingin', a splendid new album from pianist Garry Dial and drummer Rich DeRosa, features “the music of Charlie Banacos." Charlie who? you may ask. And the answer is, there are jazz educators, and then there was Charlie Banacos, whose talent and ingenuity in the classroom influenced and inspired countless jazz musicians for more than fifty years. During that time, he designed more than a hundred courses of study and wrote half a dozen books on composition and improvisation.

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Radio & Podcasts

Eleven is the Loneliest Number

Read "Eleven is the Loneliest Number" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


Many years ago, bastard Mike suggested that our anniversary shows feature groups comprised of as many members as the anniversary was of years. How's that for a mouthful (mindful?) Anyway, good idea until right about now. Eleven is an awkward number unless you're fielding a footie team, and the boys have some issues finding albums that fit the bill or even glance in the direction of this anniversary. Next year, all bets are off.Playlist Discussion of Gil Evans' ...

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Award / Grant

For Your Grammy Consideration: Guitar-virtuoso Roman Miroshnichenko Presents New Album, Featuring Mike Stern, London Symphony, and Jennifer Batten

For Your Grammy Consideration: Guitar-virtuoso Roman Miroshnichenko Presents New Album, Featuring Mike Stern, London Symphony, and Jennifer Batten

Source: All About Jazz

Prominent guitar virtuoso and producer Roman Miroshnichenko presents his new material Roman Miroshnichenko plays Stas Namin, which includes Miroshnichenko's original arrangements of six selected pieces and melodies originally composed by renown producer Stas Namin, who's mostly known as Gorky Park rock-band founder. “When one listens to the powerful guitar playing of Roman Miroschnichenko, it is easy to be reminded of Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin during his Mahavishnu period, but it soon becomes apparent that Miroschnichenko has his own ...

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Recording

Contempo-Jazz Guitarist B.D. Lenz 'It's Just A Dream' Releases On November 1st With Mike Stern & Randy Brecker!

Contempo-Jazz Guitarist B.D. Lenz 'It's Just A Dream' Releases On November 1st With Mike Stern & Randy Brecker!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Contempo jazz guitarist B.D. Lenz returns with It's Just A Dream, his 13th recording as a leader and features one of his long-time heroes, Mike Stern, on guitar along with the legendary Randy Brecker on trumpet. It’s Just a Dream began as a small writing project during COVID and blossomed into a full release with ten original compositions of Lenz’s signature blend of jazz, funk, and rock. The New Jersey native says, “I never intended to write a whole record ...

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Video / DVD

Mike Stern: 10 Favorite Videos

Mike Stern: 10 Favorite Videos

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Yesterday I posted my interview with Mike Stern, a superb jazz-rock guitarist who came up at the end of the 1970s. In my post, I also mentioned that Mike has a residency at New York's 55 bar and that he will be performing at 92NY on July 28 to close out the cultural institution’s Jazz in July series that begins July 19. As noted, Mike will be joined by Chris Potter and Nicole Glover on saxophones, Bill Charlap on piano ...

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Interview

Interview: Mike Stern

Interview: Mike Stern

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

The arrival of rock guitarists on TV shows, at concerts and on the radio in the mid-1960s and the emergence of the artist-controlled rock album in the late ‘60s led to a seismic change in jazz. Many young budding jazz musicians found themselves admirers of pop-rock and rock—or at least the larger incomes those forms generated and the increased attention by young audiences and the media. The result of these dual allegiances—to jazz and rock—produced a hybrid that became known ...

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Career

Jazz Fusion Drummer Bob Holz To Be Featured On Jazziz Magazine's Summer CD And Recording With Guitar Legend Mike Stern

Jazz Fusion Drummer Bob Holz To Be Featured On Jazziz Magazine's Summer CD And Recording With Guitar Legend Mike Stern

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Roy Holland Productions announced today that renowned jazz fusion drummer and composer, Bob Holz has a busy Summer 2018 schedule with a featured song on Jazziz Magazine's Summer CD, a concert in jny: Detroit, a recording session in jny: New York City with jazz great Mike Stern and a series of record dates in jny: Los Angeles. On June 12th Jazziz Magazine will feature Holz's tune, “Jammim Man" on their Summer CD. The tune is off Bob's most recent album ...

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Recording

Guitarist Ramin Partovi To Release His Breakout Album Featuring Scott Henderson, Simon Phillips, Carl Verheyen, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Stern

Guitarist Ramin Partovi To Release His Breakout Album Featuring Scott Henderson, Simon Phillips, Carl Verheyen, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Stern

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Aviator and Hollywood guitarist Ramin Partovi is about to release his breakout album 27 Faces Of A Broken Heart with a completely new concept. The album features an all-star line-up with Scott Henderson, Simon Phillips, Carl Verheyen, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Stern and several others. The double CD is a unique idea where several well known musicians demonstate peak performances on the same song structure and all align to portrait a united message. Ramin Partovi early on in his life gravitated ...

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Recording

Award Winning Guitarist Brian Tarquin To Release "Orlando In Heaven" In Support Of Orlando's Pulse Nightclub Tragedy Feat. Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, Chris Poland And Others

Award Winning Guitarist Brian Tarquin To Release "Orlando In Heaven" In Support Of Orlando's Pulse Nightclub Tragedy Feat. Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, Chris Poland And Others

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Multi-Emmy award winning guitarist/producer/composer Brian Tarquin presents Orlando In Heaven; a very special project featuring an incredible cast of musical virtuosos playing their hearts out for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida! Tarquin composed and produced each of these tracks and displays his own guitar prowess alongside such world-class players as guitar icon Larry Coryell (his final recordings before his passing earlier this year), vocalist Phil Naro (Talas, Julian Lennon), Grammy jazz guitarist Mike Stern, fretless ...

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Education

Mike Stern to Present Free Master Class This Friday, November 19 at Graham Chapel

Mike Stern to Present Free Master Class This Friday, November 19 at Graham Chapel

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This just in from the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University: Guitarist Mike Stern (pictured) will give a free master class at 4:00 p.m. this Friday, November 19 at Graham Chapel on the Wash U. campus. The event is sponsored by Jazz at Holmes and the Wash U. Department of Music, and it is free and open to the general public, with no ticket or advance registration needed. Stern will perform Wednesday through Saturday of this week at Jazz ...

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Performance / Tour

Mike Stern at Chris' Jazz Cafe on November 20 & 21, 2009

Mike Stern at Chris' Jazz Cafe on November 20 & 21, 2009

Source: All About Jazz


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Radio

The Jazz Session #91: Mike Stern

The Jazz Session #91: Mike Stern

Source: Michael Ricci

Guitarist Mike Stern has played with everyone. And yes, that includes Miles Davis. After decades in the business, he could easily be resting on his laurels. Instead, hes pushing himself into new territory, as displayed on his CD Big Neighborhood (Heads Up, 2009), which finds him in the company of everyone from Esperanza Spaulding to Randy Brecker to Eric Johnson to Steve Vai. In this interview, Stern talks about why he likes surrounding himself with fresh ideas; his rockin side ...

B.D. Lenz
guitar
Yves Nadeau
guitar
Peter Knoll
guitar
Pete Sklaroff
guitar, electric
Shambhu
guitar, acoustic
J.Cordes
guitar, acoustic
Ye Huang
clarinet
Brain Salad
band / ensemble / orchestra
Jack Taylor
guitar
Brian Grace
saxophone
Ron Bosse
guitar
Modern Times Ensemble
band / ensemble / orchestra
Cobbs
band / ensemble / orchestra
Luis Rojas
guitar, electric

Photos

Concerts

Dec 13 Fri
Feb 4 Tue

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Keep Swingin'

Outside in Music
2024

buy

New Start

Autumn Hill
2024

buy

Echoes and Other Songs

Mack Avenue Records
2024

buy

Tomorrowsville

Blue Canoe Records
2024

buy

Beams

Self Produced
2023

buy

Wig Glue (Single)

Self Produced
2023

buy

The Dragonfly (feat. Mike Stern)

From: Tomorrowsville
By Mike Stern

Encaminho

From: Beams
By Mike Stern

Africa

From: Roman Miroshnichenko plays Stas...
By Mike Stern

Spaghetti Western

From: Chicken Or Pasta
By Mike Stern

Our Darker Angels (feat. Mike Stern)

From: It's Just a Dream
By Mike Stern

Watch Your Step

From: Fifth And Adams
By Mike Stern

Videos

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