Articles

Christine Vaindirlis: Right at Home a Long Way from Home

June 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Christine Vaindirlis is living proof of our contention that, musically speaking, all roads lead to Brooklyn. Having called London, Milan (where she trained under La... read article

Annika Vitolo Takes It to the Streets

June 6, 2011 by David K. Moseder

From BAM to Broadway, Annika Vitolo’s parents exposed her to a variety of cultural venues, but her favorite musical moments while growing up in Brooklyn... 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

Brooklyn Voices – January 2011

January 6, 2011 by David K. Moseder

Several Brooklyn artists released new albums in the closing months of 2010. Here’s a sampling of some of the best to get your New Year... read article

Brooklyn Music Milestones – January 2011

January 6, 2011 by David K. Moseder

Dec. 7, 2008: In an article titled “Soul Reviver,” The New York Times Magazine chronicles the rise of Bushwick-based Daptone Records. Dec. 21, 1974: Brooklyn... read article

Full of Soul and Inspiration, The Sweet Divines Live Up to Their Name

January 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

The Sweet Divines, four young ladies who sing old school soul, live up to the expectations raised by their evocative, self-descriptive name. This is no... 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

Brooklyn Voices – September 2010

September 6, 2010 by David K. Moseder

There will be entertainment, prizes and more at Brooklyn Community Services’ FunWalk 2010, Sept. 26, 1 p.m., in Prospect Park. The event will raise money... read article

Brooklyn Music Milestones – September 2010

September 6, 2010 by David K. Moseder

Aug. 15, 1969: The honor of opening the Woodstock Festival goes to Bedford-Stuyvesant’s own Richie Havens. After his four-song set, the promoters ask him to... 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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