
BOBBY STERN
Bobby Stern(www.bobbysternjazz.com)
"It's a long story, so I'll just give you some of the highlights (low-lights, or no-lights omitted) in rough chronological order...
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Born in Rochester, New York, USA into a family of musicians and raised in New York City.
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Parents were professional opera singers (father, Maurice Stern; stepmother, Rita Loving)
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Brother Stevie - guitarist/ singer/ blues harp master
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Sister Heidi is the pop singer better known as Jennifer Rush
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As teenager, learned to play the blues harp by copying Little Walter solos
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attended the High School of Music & Art in NYC
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Took beginning saxophone lessons with famed woodwind guru Joe Allard
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Moved with family to Germany after junior year
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Played first professional gigs in US military clubs in Frankfurt area
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Made first recording as member of "Jazz Fusion" group "Virgo"
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Made first solo recording "Bobby Stern and Head, Heart & Hands - Libra"
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toured Europe with Brazilian show "Brazil Tropical"
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Re-formed Head, Heart & Hands(w/ Roy Louis - g, Geoff Stradling - kybds, Wolfgang Schmid - b, Guillermo Marchena - dr, voc, Elmer Louis - perc), recorded 2 more albums, played many festivals
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became a member of long standing Salsa group "Conexion Latina"
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Toured Spain with Thad Jones Septet
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performed several concerts with Spanish piano legend Tete Montoliou
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appeared as soloist on many pop & disco albums of the period recorded in Munich
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recorded as soloist on Marvin Gaye's "Midnight Love" album, co-produced by Harvey Fuqua
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attended Berklee College of Music for one semester on a tuition scholarship
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several gigs with guitarist Joe Perry (Aerosmith) in the Boston area & NYC
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relocated back to NYC; worked with several Salsa bands; played many weddings
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studio sessions as soloist with popular music producers such as Mike Powell, Phil Ramone, Desmond Child, Harald Faltermeyer, et al.
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completed course at the Institute of Audio Research, NYC for recording engineers
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awarded National Endowment for the Arts study grant to study saxophone and jazz improvisation with David Liebman
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toured Europe with Jennifer Rush
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began playing the Eletronic Woodwind Instrument (EWI)
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toured Europe with rock ' n' roll show including Clarence Clemons, Alvin Lee & John Mayall
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released self produced and recorded CD, "Ten to 2" featuring the EWI exclusively
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featured on recording with Conexion Latina - "Mambo 2000", which included Benny Bailey - tp & Nicky Marerro - timbales.
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produced "hip hop", "house", "smooth jazz" etc. for small labels inGermany
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was guest teacher for two semesters at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, teaching saxophone, improvisation & ensemble
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authored "The Melodic Minor Handbook: A Jaxx Players Perspective, published by Jamey Aebersold.
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took part in alto saxophone legend Charlie Mariano's 85th Birthday Concert in Stuttgart, Germany
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recorded with, among others, Charlie Mariano - as, Billy Cobham - dr & Chaouki Smahi - oud, leader, "La Rose du Sable/Thinking of You". This was Charlie's final recording session.
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took part in a seminar on Karnatic (South Indian) Music hosted by the German Youth Jazz Orchestra (BuJazO) and featuring distinguished vocalist R.A. Ramamani and her husband, master percussionist T.A.S. Mani; eminent members of the Karnataka College of Percussion.
in Bangalore. This was a profound musical experience.
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took part in several concerts, including the North Sea Jazz Festival with a group including Jasper van't Hof - Phillip Catherine-g, Dieter Ilg-b & John Marshall- dr, performing "The Music of Charlie Mariano" in memory of one year of his passing.
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recording and concerts as a member of Wolfgang Dauner's United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, 2nd Generation." ~Bobby Stern