Articles

pauline_Baruch_425_Photo by Joey Rosado-resized # 2

Back on Our Radar: New Music From Old Favorites

January 13, 2021 by David K. Moseder

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot?” Not at Brooklyn Roads. We’re starting 2021 by checking in with some local artists we have featured over the years... read article

Athena Matsil Photo by Arthur Hunking

Awksymoron: Punny Music and Individuality

December 24, 2020 by Rachel Armstrong

Awksymoron, a band founded by born-and-raised Brooklynite musician Athena Matsil, is what you might call an indie rock group with a twist. Although the band... read article

Artists Who Lit Up Our Radar In 2020

December 11, 2020 by David K. Moseder

This past year, Brooklyn Roads Magazine interviewed several local artists whose genres and personalities reflect the great diversity that Brooklyn is known for. Here’s a... read article

Adrian Daniel photo by Sean Williams /courtesy of the artist

Adrian Daniel Shares His Inner “Night Wolf”

December 5, 2020 by Michela Arlia

Singer, songwriter and producer Adrian Daniel, who grew up in East Flatbush and Brownsville, continues to make a name for himself with his new album,... read article

Fisty Gathering photo by Blair Hopkins

Fisty Adds Bluesy Punch to Brooklyn’s Rock Scene

November 17, 2020 by Michela Arlia

Chantal, Rebecca, Heidi, and Lola are the front women for the band Fisty, formed in Brooklyn in 2008. Guitarist Heidi calls their sound “alternative, feminist,... read article

Bette Smith photo by Shervin Lainez / courtesy of Devious Planet Media

Bette Smith: Joy, Anguish, Outrage — and a Lot of Soul

October 20, 2020 by Rachel Armstrong

Bette Smith is a rock-and-soul singer/songwriter whose latest album, The Good, The Bad and The Bette, was released in September to rave reviews. She tells... read article

JLH press pic- photo by Rob Carter-courtesy of Devious Planet

Jane Lee Hooker -Garage Rockers Or....? photo by Rob Carter / courtesy of Devious Planet Media

Jane Lee Hooker: Bluesy, Rocking, Soulful Storytelling

October 5, 2020 by Michela Arlia

Established in 2013, Jane Lee Hooker is a rock and roll band fused with blues and what they describe as “vintage swagger.” The group’s front... read article

Joan Osborne’s “Trouble and Strife” Reflects 2020 Life

September 23, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Trouble and Strife is Joan Osborne’s 11th studio album and her first release of original material in six years. Always a skillful songwriter, her deep... read article

The Photo Pit -“Behind The Scenes”!

September 12, 2020 by Jeff Fasano

Photographer Jeff Fasano Shares Insights and Rare Images from his Behind The Scenes portfolio. Viewable on his website at http://www.jefffasano.com/behind-the-scenes. I learned the craft of photography... read article

Akie Bermiss Hitting The Notes photo by Grayson Dantzic / courtesy of the artist

A Dive Into the Soul of Akie Bermiss

September 8, 2020 by David K. Moseder

“While my parents had a pretty diverse record collection, which included classical music, ’60s rock and musicals … they were primarily about jazz and soul,”... read article

« Previous 1 … 13 14 15 16 17 … 45 Next »

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?”

... read article