"Mike Stern is a beautiful guitarist in the true jazz tradition, combining natural lyricism, fluency in diverse musical languages and a seamless burning technique. He is one of the true guitar greats of his generation." - Andy Aledort, Guitar World One of the top guitarists in jazz over the past two decades, Mike Stern has earned the respect of colleagues and critics alike while also exerting a towering influence on a generation of aspiring players. A guitarist of formidable technique, Stern continues to awe and inspire six-string aficionados with his seamless blend of bebop facility, scorching rock intensity and uncommon lyricism. As Jon Chappell of Guitar magazine put it, "Stern is not only a magician of the fretboard but a heartfelt and mature composer of great depth". A major player on the scene since his breakthrough days with Miles Davis' celebrated comeback band, circa 1981, Stern's sideman credits include work with such other jazz icons as saxophonist Joe Henderson and bassist Jaco Pastorius, guitarists Jim Hall and Pat Martino, trumpeters Tom Harrell, Arturo Sandoval and Tiger Okoshi and saxophonists Michael Brecker, Bob Berg and David Sanborn as well as Steps Ahead and the Brecker Brothers Band. But it has been in the role of bandleader-composer and Atlantic recording artist that Mike has made his most significant and lasting contribution as an artist. From his Atlantic debut in 1986, Upside Downside, to his most recent release, 1999's Play, Stern has built an impressive body of work that is underscored by his extraordinary technical skills, his penchant for heartfelt melodies and the undeniable chemistry he achieves with his bandmates. A heroic soloist who has the ability to push the envelope to Hendrixian heights, he also has the capacity to play with Jim Hall-like sensitivity. It is the relative ease with which he shifts from aggressive bop 'n' roll to an elegant 'walking on eggshells' gentility that makes Stern such a remarkably flexible and distinctive player. By combining the legato approach of jazz sax greats John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins with a few touches from the rock camp (i.e., distortion and delay pedals along with some urgent string bending, courtesy of his boyhood blues heroes B.B. King and Buddy Guy) Stern has fashioned a singular voice that comfortably occupies both rock and jazz worlds. "Most of the guys that I am fortunate enough to work with have those qualities too", says Mike. "They are all very much into the tradition of straight ahead jazz but they also definitely grew up with blues and rock and funk, as I did. And there aren't that many guys who can play this music with conviction in all those areas". Born on January 10, 1953, Stern began playing guitar at age 12, emulating the likes of B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. I liked the feel of the guitar and I got hooked on it", he recalls. "But I didn't really get serious about it until I went to Berklee in 1971". At the Berklee College of Music in Boston his focus shifted to jazz as he began an intensive period of woodshedding, immersing himself in records by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans while studying with guitarists Mick Goodrick and Pat Metheny. During his stay at Berklee, Mike developed a keen appreciation for jazz guitar greats Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall, who would both exert a huge influence on his own playing. Click here to return to the top of the page.

Coming soon   In January, 2006, Dave joined Mike Stern, Bob Franceschini, Anthony Jackson, Richard Bona, and producer Jim Beard in the studio. Click here to view photos and read about the sessions in "Behind the Kit," the official Dave Weckl e-Magazine. Dave with Mike Stern