Articles

Brooklyn Americana Music Festival Goes Virtual

September 3, 2020 by David K. Moseder

The Brooklyn Americana Music Festival (BKAMF) is alive and well! This year’s edition, however, takes to the digital stage with performances by 60 artists in... read article

Sari Schorr: “Live in Europe” and Loving in Brooklyn

August 18, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Growing up in Queens, Sari Schorr was “exposed to jazz and soul from the time I was born,” she tells Brooklyn Roads. Her parents’ love... read article

“The New Electronic Guitarist” Explores Modern Guitar Methods

July 21, 2020 by Howard B. Leibowitz

The New Electronic Guitarist is a journey through the world of modern guitar technology that promises to be of interest not only to professional musicians,... read article

Charming Disaster photo by Shervin Lainez / courtesy of Charming Disaster

LIVE! … From Their Living Rooms

July 10, 2020 by David K. Moseder

While waiting for our opportunity to see live performances once again at our borough’s myriad music venues, Brooklyn Roads has been checking out local artists’... read article

Jalopy Theatre's Front Window photo courtesy of B. L., Howard Productions

Community of Artists Drives Jalopy Theatre’s Success

June 9, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Established in 2006, The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music is the brainchild of Geoff Wiley. His wife and business partner, Lynette Wiley, tells Brooklyn... read article

Aubrey Haddard photo by Andrea Zalkin

Aubrey Haddard: Bending Boundaries, Crossing a ‘Thin Line’

May 31, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Aubrey Haddard is an electric singer/songwriter whose music is “indie rock at its core, bending the boundaries of new wave/indie pop,” she tells Brooklyn Roads.... read article

Celebrate Brooklyn-061411-The Decemberists-Al Pereira (34)

The Decemberists Dive In To Celebrate Brooklyn! photo by Al Pereira

The Photo Pit Finds a Familiar Home at Celebrate Brooklyn!

May 21, 2020 by Al Pereira

Brooklyn Roads’ Contributing Photographer Al Pereira shares some thoughts and masterful images from Celebrate Brooklyn! With summer fast approaching and the stay-indoors order continuing to... read article

JB_SafiSounds_PressShot- photo by Derrick Davis

Johnny Burgos Photo by Derrick Davis / courtesy of the artist

Johnny Burgos’ ‘Future Soul’ Draws on His Past

May 9, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Johnny Burgos, perhaps best known as the lead vocalist and percussionist with Bridge City Hustle, calls his music “future soul.” He explains the genre to... read article

john_prinephoto by Danny Clinch- low res

Remembering John Prine: A Brooklyn Perspective

April 19, 2020 by David K. Moseder

The late, great John Prine, who played two memorable concerts at the Kings Theatre in 2016 and 2019, is fondly remembered as an inspiration by... read article

Mariela Flor Olivo photo by Mia Isabella Photography /courtesy of the Artist

Brooklyn Is Deep in the Heart of Mariela Flor Olivo

April 17, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Texas native Mariela Flor Olivo tells Brooklyn Roads that the music of singer-songwriters such as James Taylor and Brooklyn’s own Carole King were staples in... 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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