Articles

Afropunk Brooklyn-Same Vibe New Location!

September 7, 2023 by Kyra Kverno

The Afropunk Brooklyn Festival was held on August 26 and 27, 2023 with a new name and location. Originally held at Commodore Barry Park in... read article

As the Weather Cools, Brooklyn’s Music Scene Stays Hot

September 6, 2023 by David K. Moseder

The days may be getting shorter in the months ahead, but there’s no shortage of great music to be found in Brooklyn. From top visiting... read article

Lesley Mok at M3 Festival 2022 Courtesy of mutualmentorshipformusicians.org

Making Music Memorable: M³ Festival Hits Brooklyn

August 31, 2023 by Michela Arlia

As the dog days of summer come to an end, the 2nd annual Mutual Mentorship for Musicians Festival returns to Brooklyn at the Roulette Intermedium... read article

Kaitlyn Shuko-photo by Paolo Salud - courtesy of the artist

Kaitlyn Shuko Tosses A Musical Stone

August 16, 2023 by Giulia Arlia

Next up on your playlist: Brooklyn-based Kaitlyn Shuko’s mini EP, Stone Tossing. Consisting of two songs, “stone tossing” and “b.b.”, Kaitlyn Shuko shows she is... read article

Rickie Lee Jones , Thornetta Davis and Chris Pierce Captivate Celebrate Brooklyn!

August 13, 2023 by Kyra Kverno

Grammy winning musician ,singer,songwriter, and author Rickie Lee Jones performed a captivating set at Celebrate Brooklyn ! on July 29, 2023 . The threat of... read article

Cindy Alexander’s “Messy” Gets Rugged and Real About Life

August 1, 2023 by Michela Arlia

Singer, songwriter and storyteller Cindy Alexander has a magical way with words and phrases in her latest album Messy. In the 10-track album, this indie... read article

Lakse Street Dive -Fun Machine The Sequel album art

Lake Street Dive’s Fun Machine: The Sequel EP

July 18, 2023 by Giulia Arlia

If you’re looking for music that feels both nostalgic and new at the same time, take a listen to Lake Street Dive’s Fun Machine: The... read article

Bodega Brad Spins at the beach / photo by Nicole Merino

Bodega Brad’s Brooklyn Adventures

July 17, 2023 by Michela Arlia

Everyone’s heard of Bodega Brad – even if you think you haven’t. If you’ve ever found yourself perusing through local FM radio stations in the... read article

Bandits On The Run at the Dumbo Archway/ photo by Noemie Trusty

Bandits on the Run Steal Hearts at Dumbo Archway

July 13, 2023 by David K. Moseder

As part of the Dumbo Improvement District’s current Wednesday evening “Live at the Archway” summer music series, Brooklyn Roads caught an extensive, spirited set from... read article

The Photo Pit -Brooklyn Artists and Events in 2018 !

July 12, 2023 by B.L. Howard

As the 2023 summer reaches the halfway mark, Brooklyn Roads‘ publisher shares some of his music event images from 2018, including Duckwrth at AfroPunk, Gary... 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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