Thu May 14
In celebration of the Miles Davis Centennial 6 time Grammy nominated guitarist, Mike Stern returns to Blues Alley with an all -star band featuring, Dennis Chambers, (drums), Gary Grainger (bass), Bob Franceschini, (sax), and Leni Stern (guitar/ngoni). Mike’s latest album Echoes And Other Songs delivers all the elements that longtime Stern fans want, and then some: the hook-filled rapid-fire bebop writing; the gorgeous melodic sensibility culled from African music, gospel and other influences; the breakneck improvisations that pepper hornlike bop virtuosity with rock fire. Stern has been celebrated for his versatile playing style since he first hit the scene in the 1970s, transcending genres by performing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, The Brecker Brothers, David Sanborn, Béla Fleck, Yellowjackets and more.
To a generation of contemporary jazz guitar aficionados, Mike Stern is regarded as one of the true guitar greats of his generation. A player of remarkable facility whose searing lines are informed mainly by bebop and the blues while also carrying a rock-tinged intensity, Stern made his mark with Miles Davis in the early ‘80s before launching his solo career in 1985. Since then he has released 17 recordings as a leader, six of which were nominated for GRAMMY Awards. His latest recording, Echoes and Other Songs (Mack Avenue/Artistry), features an All-star cast including, Dennis Chambers, Antonio Sanchez, Christian McBride, Richard Bona, Chris Potter, Bob Franceschini, and Leni Stern.
Born in Boston on January 10, 1953, Stern grew up in Washington, DC, then returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music where he met and befriended fellow Berklee students like guitarists John Scofield and Bill Frisell, bassist Jeff Berlin, drummers Steve Smith and Vinnie Colaiuta. He got his first big break in 1976 going out on tour with Blood, Sweat & Tears, appearing on the group’s studio More Than Ever and live album In Concert that year and also on 1977’s Brand New Day.