The Photo Pit : Celebrating “Made In Brooklyn” Music Through The Lens

May 5, 2021 by B.L. Howard

Publisher’s Note:

2012 was a hallmark of a year for live music events in Brooklyn , with an awe inspiring lineup of world class musicians at The Bandshell in Prospect Park at the Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, the short lived Great Googa Mooga Festival in Prospect Park and venues like The Bell House and Southpaw bringing iconic musical talents to our hometown. I thought I’d share some images of musical moments in time from the archives and hope they evoke positive emotions and bring back some good memories in a time when positivity is sometimes hard to find.

-B. L. Howard

: Angelique Kidjo At Celebrate Brooklyn ! on June 30, 2012

: Hall & Oates At the Great Googa Mooga Festival in Prospect Park on May 20, 2012

: Laurie Anderson At Celebrate Brooklyn!

: The Del McCoury Band At Celebrate Brooklyn! on August 4, 2012

: Norah Jones At The Bell House on May 11, 2012

: The Spirit Family Reunion At Celebrate Brooklyn! on August 4, 2012

: Trombone Shorty At Celebrate Brooklyn! on June 29, 2012

: Squeeze At the Seaside Summer Concert in Coney Island on July 20 , 2012

: Eula Cooper Digging Deeper at Southpaw on January 28, 2012

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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