In a career that spans three decades and a discography that includes more than a dozen eclectic and innovative recordings, three time GRAMMY nominee Mike Stern has established himself as one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarists and composers of his generation.
    Born in Boston in January 1953, Stern grew up in Washington, DC, then returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. After college, he got his start as a guitar player with Blood, Sweat & Tears at age 22.
    Following a brief stint with Billy Cobham’s powerhouse fusion band from 1979 to 1980, he moved to New York City, where he was recruited by Miles Davis to play a key role in Miles’ celebrated comeback band of 1981 (which also included bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Al Foster, percussionist Mino Cinelu and saxophonist Bill Evans). During his three-year period with Miles, Stern appeared on three recordings with the jazz maestro – Man with the Horn, Star People and the live We Want Miles. He toured with Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth Band from 1983 through 1985 and returned to Miles’ lineup for a second tour of duty that lasted close to a year...  mikestern.org

    Guitarist Mike Stern  has to be one of the hardest working musicians in jazz. When he's not out on the road, which is often the case, he's working on new ideas at weekly gigs at the 55 Bar in New York City. And when he's doing neither of those things, the eternal student is transcribing solos by Michael Brecker  and studying theory with Charlie Banacos.
   While you can draw a line of logical development through Stern's discography as a leader, there's always something new on each new release...  By John Kelman