Articles

Q-104’s Ken Dashow: Keeping It Real After All These Years

December 5, 2014 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Growing up in a music-loving household in Sheepshead Bay helped set the stage for Ken Dashow’s future as one of New York radio’s most enduring... read article

Gosh Pith and Fascinator at Baby’s All Right

December 5, 2014 by Jacob Tupper

I knew the bands I was going to see were all sort of “experimental.” I knew that. But I still wasn’t quite prepared for what... read article

Are You Listening? Brooklyn Is a Winter Wonderland!

December 5, 2014 by B.L. Howard

The temperatures have plummeted, the carolers are practicing their tunes, and the scarves on every Brooklyn hipster actually serve a purpose. While the cry of... read article

Brooklyn Voices – September 2014

September 5, 2014 by David K. Moseder

Congrats to local indie pop-swing band Lake Street Dive. Their Bad Self Portraits album reached number two among Billboard’s Independent Albums and number five on... read article

Brooklyn Music Milestones – September 2014

September 5, 2014 by David K. Moseder

Oct. 3, 1967: Woody Guthrie, who lived for much of his later life on Coney Island’s Mermaid Avenue, dies after suffering from Huntington’s chorea disease... read article

Jazzman José James: A Dreamer Grows in Brooklyn

September 5, 2014 by Howard B. Leibowitz

José James’ distinctive style of jazz is built on a lifelong appreciation of diverse musical genres. “When I was growing up my mom played a... read article

Vince Giordano: Brooklyn, Victrolas, Scorcese and All That Jazz

September 5, 2014 by David K. Moseder

When he’s not pursuing his mission to help restore the smokestack at the site of former Vitagraph Film Studios in Midwood, Brooklyn-bred musician and arranger Vince... read article

Afropunk: A Celebration of Diversity, People, Culture and Place

September 5, 2014 by Jacob Tupper

The 10th Annual Afropunk Festival was held on August 23-24 at Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, hosting a celebration of diversity, people, culture,... read article

BK Summer Music Wrap Up

September 5, 2014 by B.L. Howard

Another summer has come and gone, leaving Brooklyn residents and fans pining for one more concert and extravaganza. Unfortunately, while the heat plays one last... read article

Brooklyn Voices – July 2014

July 6, 2014 by David K. Moseder

“These songs are especially deep for me,” says Joan Osborne about her new CD, Love and Hate She wrote or co-wrote all 12 tracks, making... 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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