Features

Woody at 100 Concert at Brooklyn College/ © 2012/ photo by Howard B. Leibowitz

The Unbounded Glory of Woody Guthrie

October 6, 2012 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Brooklyn Roads was honored to have been at Brooklyn College‘s Walt Whitman Theater for the Woody Guthrie Centennial Concert in September. This incredible evening was... read article

Joan Osborne’s Brooklyn Muse: A Challenge Well Met

November 6, 2011 by David K. Moseder

2011 was a busy year for Joan Osborne, beginning with Love and Hate, the multimedia music/dance/film production she created and performed as part of Lincoln Center’s... read article

Celebrating Brooklyn in Music

November 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

As we approach the winter and move indoors, warm thoughts come to mind about this past summer’s outdoor music scene here in Brooklyn–now known in... read article

Musical Fireworks and Hot August Nights

June 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Brooklyn Roads is looking forward to another lively summer of music, despite a few setbacks on the Coney Island front. After 10 rockin’ years, The... read article

The Heart of Brooklyn:

January 6, 2011 by David K. Moseder

A Generous Helping of Benefit Shows Benefit concerts featuring Brooklyn artists were among 2010’s many musical highlights in our borough. Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) kicked... read article

Digging Into A Tuneful New Year

January 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Although this past year ended with everyone digging out of the snow, we prefer to remember the great variety of home-grown music Brooklynites were digging all... read article

Yesterday, Today and Bruce Morrow:

September 6, 2010 by David K. Moseder

Brooklyn Roads was honored to have a conversation with Radio Hall of Fame inductee and DJ legend, “Cousin” Bruce Morrow. A New York radio icon... read article

Celebrity Interviews! New Artist Profiles! Contests! Brooklyn Music Venue Picks! September 2010

September 6, 2010 by Howard B. Leibowitz

The sounds of summer cascaded throughout the borough as Brooklynites enjoyed musical treat after musical treat outdoors at little or no cost, thanks to a... read article

Celebrating “Celebrate Brooklyn!” Behind the Scenes with Producer Jack Walsh

June 6, 2010 by Howard B. Leibowitz

The 2010 “Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival” is off to a rousing start, thanks to opening night gala headliner and Brooklyn resident Norah Jones. With... read article

Celebrity Interviews! New Artist Profiles! Contests! Brooklyn Music Venue Picks! June 2010

June 6, 2010 by Howard B. Leibowitz

What is it about Brooklyn that intrigues the rest of the planet? Is it something in the water? The view from its namesake bridge? The... read article

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Artists on our Radar

Eric Stern: Brooklyn Born, Jazz Driven

Eric Stern/photo by Hoyeon Choi/ courtesy of the artist

Brooklyn has long been home to innovative artists, and pianist-composer Eric Stern is no exception. Born and raised in the borough, Stern’s sound is a fusion of jazz, Latin, and classical influences shaped by his upbringing and New York City’s diverse musical landscape. Stern’s love for music began at home, where classical compositions played daily on WQXR alongside Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. His exploration led him to jazz and salsa, drawn to artists like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Miles Davis. His participation in Belongo’s Fat Cats program, a youth music initiative, deepened his passion for Afro-Latin music, exposing him to icons like Chico O’Farrill and Tito Puente. Though he played in school jazz bands and youth programs, it was at Fat Cats—rehearsing every Sunday at the former Fat Cat jazz club (now Cellar Dog)—that his passion crystallized. “It was sheer joy,” Stern recalls. The experience drove him to practice for hours daily, solidifying his decision to pursue music professionally. Stern studied at the University of Miami, where he formed a quartet with trumpet, piano, bass, and drums, performing across Miami until 2022. Adding saxophonist Dylan McHann that fall elevated the group into its current quintet form. Since returning to Brooklyn, the lineup has shifted, now featuring Chris Ferrari (tenor sax/flute), Joey Curreri (trumpet), Cookie Stephenson (bass), and Peru Eizagirre (drums), with Stern leading on piano and compositions. Brooklyn’s underground jazz scene remains central to Stern’s creative evolution. While Manhattan is home to institutions like the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note, he finds Brooklyn’s avant-garde spaces—Ornithology Jazz Club, Bar Bayeux, and ShapeShifter Lab more experimental and inspiring. At the heart of Stern’s music is a simple mission: joy. “That’s the only thing I really care about. If selling a million records and being super famous is able to do that, great. If not, I don’t really mind. I just want to give other people who listen and hear the music the same joy I have in playing and creating it.” Eric Stern is one to watch for those seeking a fresh, dynamic voice in Brooklyn’s jazz scene. “Why not perform in Brooklyn?” he says. “There are so many great spaces to play—why not make it happen?”

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