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Jan Bell and The Maybelles photo courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

Jan Bell and The Maybelles at Barbes: Americana That Rings True

March 16, 2019 by David K. Moseder

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Jan Bell, the driving force behind the annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, performed before an enthusiastic crowd at Barbès on February 28, accompanied by... read article

Bodega Band photo by Mert Gafuroglu / courtesy of Pitch Perfect PR

Bodega: Concrete, Caffeinated and Concise Music

January 28, 2019 by David K. Moseder

Bodega, a hit at 2018’s Northside festival, is often categorized as a “post-punk” band, but lead singer/guitarist Ben Hozie, aka Bodega Ben, sums up their... read article

Cheers! A Toast to a Vintage Brooklyn Music Year

December 6, 2018 by David K. Moseder

2018 has been a banner year for Brooklyn artists and local music venues, and the borough continues to be a magnet for top-name visiting singers... read article

Dana Fuchs’ Love….and Her Music… Lives On

November 5, 2018 by B.L. Howard

New York City’s Highline Ballroom played host to Dana Fuchs for a rousing two-hour set on November 2, 2018. This electrifying performance not only showcased her... read article

Women Rule the Archway Stage at the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival

October 1, 2018 by David K. Moseder

The fourth annual edition of the three-day/four-night (Sept. 20-23), multi-venue Brooklyn Americana Music Festival included a new feature — the Women’s Archway Stage. Brooklyn Roads was... read article

Lion Babe at Afropunk photo by Kyra Kverno

Afropunk Brooklyn -Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu Shine

September 10, 2018 by Kyra Kverno

Afropunk‘s 2018 Brooklyn edition was another milestone in what has become a global celebration of music, art and culture. Afropunk Festivals now take place not... read article

BIG SOUNDS AT LITTLEFIELD: DEGRAW FEST PRESENTS ECLECTIC BROOKLYN ARTISTS

August 8, 2018 by Ray Fontaine

Brooklyn-based recording studio Degraw Sound organized the Degraw Fest 2018 at Littlefield on Saturday August 4, 2018 in Gowanus. From 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.,... read article

Aimee Mann On Stage at Celebrate Brooklyn! photo by Ray Fontaine

A Summer Music Mix With Aimee Mann and Superchunk

July 2, 2018 by Ray Fontaine

Celebrate Brooklyn! welcomed an eclectic group of musicians to the Prospect Park Bandshell stage on Thursday, June 21st, opening the evening long before sunset with... read article

Eli Paperboy Reed 042618-Al Pereira (52)

Eli Paperboy Reed at Brooklyn Bazaar photo by Al Pereira

Eli Paperboy Reed Meets the High & Mighty Brass Band in Brooklyn

May 7, 2018 by B.L. Howard

The energy level began to rise at Brooklyn Bazaar as the crowd converged toward the front of the stage, eager for a night of Brooklyn-style... read article

Ashanti at the Kings Theatre photo by Mark Doyle

Ja Rule and Ashanti , Lil’ Mo and Lloyd Concert: A Success in Brooklyn

April 5, 2018 by Dominique M. Carson

Brooklyn natives started their 2018 Spring holiday weekend with a groundbreaking and innovative concert at the Kings Theatre. R&B songstress Ashanti and hip-hop rapper Ja... 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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