Mike Stern
b. 1954, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Whilst always a rock-orientated electric guitarist, Stern's forays into contemporary jazz have never lacked edge or excitement. A student of Pat Metheny whilst at Berklee College Of Music, his first break came in 1976, when he joined Blood, Sweat And Tears. He worked with seminal fusion drummer Billy Cobham towards the end of the '70s, before being hired by legendary trumpeter Miles Davis. Following Davis' band, Stern worked with bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius' Word Of Mouth, and began touring and recording as a leader in the early '80s. Some of his most exciting recent work has been with extraordinary tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, in Brecker's own band or with the fast-fingered fusion group Steps Ahead. Recommended recordings include TIME IN PLACE, which features some of the New York fusion/studio virtuosi with whom Stern has become associated, including Michael Brecker and Bob Berg on tenor saxophones, keyboardist Don Grolnick, fusion drummer Peter Erskine and sought after percussionist Don Alias. He plays some subtle guitar on Michael Brecker's DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, amongst a line-up that includes pianist Herbie Hancock, drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Charlie Haden.