Mike Stern is human

**cosmic gumbo** · 05-30-2013, 01:00 AM

Mike isn't my favorite player, but it's hard not to respect him for all the heavyweights he's played with in a very successful career. At 60 he keeps it real with some personal reflections that are just what some folks need to hear to keep chugging along with playing. Oh, and he offers some instruction also.

**Pukka-J** · 05-30-2013, 02:48 AM

Thanks for sharing! I do enjoy his music from time to time, but more than that I always find him very inspiring as a teacher and in general as a person! This clip was no exception!

**jster** · 05-30-2013, 03:01 AM

So funny. I've been trying to figure out what to do with that cell all all month!

**docbop** · 05-30-2013, 10:29 AM

Been a Stern fan since his Miles Davis days and he seems so down to earth. He does lot of clinic and his demo of soloing through Autumn Leaves with arpeggios is cool how musical he makes it.

Mike Stern Rah!

**AlsoRan** · 05-30-2013, 10:55 AM

Thanks, Cosmic.

I listened intently and was able to internalize the lick. I will be using it.

(BTW, he does sound like a pretty likeable fellow on top of being very experienced and well-learned)

**339 in june** · 05-30-2013, 03:42 PM

Thanks for sharing, Mr Gumbo !
I had the opportunity to meet him during a clinic / demo organised by our local music store and the help of the french importer of Mike's guitar brand.
He is such a nice person !
One hour with him listening to his self-bio (with a lot of fun !) and the demo through Autumn Leaves that Docbop mentionned. Wow !
Plus one and a half hour concert, just for us !
Will never forget that !

**ESCC** · 05-30-2013, 04:16 PM

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed it.

There are days when I enjoy listening to Mike Stern, and there are days when I don't enjoy it so much, but I've always respected his musicality and the niche he has carved out - you know when you're listening to a Mike Stern song.

**Dana** · 05-30-2013, 04:19 PM

I'm a huge Mike Stern fan. Thanks for posting this!

**M-ster** · 05-30-2013, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by ESCC

... I've always respected his musicality and the niche he has carved out - you know when you're listening to a Mike Stern song.

Ditto - Both his playing *and* his writing are quite identifiable. And, as others have noted, he seems so likeable and personable.

**fep** · 05-30-2013, 10:03 PM

Youtube can be awesome sometimes

**docbop** · 05-30-2013, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by Guitar

You know you're on a Jazz forum when someone posts a video of a great player holding a Yahama Pacifica and the conversation is all about music and the artist, rather than 4 pages of bad gear theories, which is what a thread like this would be on most any other guitar forum.

Hooray for Jazzers

To be exact its the Mike Stern model Yamaha Pacifica and before that he used a similar telecaster before the endorsement. In fact I like that Stern is one of those players that finds a guitar and sticks with it for years and makes it work for him.

**3625** · 05-31-2013, 12:09 AM

I had a Stern Pacifica for a couple of years - the previous owner got Mike to sign the back of the headstock at a clinic. If you want an absolutely awesome solidbody then get one - everything about them is great, the sound of the pickups on that axe in particular.

I once saw Mike Stern and his quartet here in Oz years back - one thing I noticed from that gig that I've also seen on youtube is his ability to channel all the energy of the band and audience into his solo, he can pace himself and gradually harness all the vibe while improvising until he blows the roof off the place. Like he brings everyone along for the ride while he solos - a real positive energy hit.

**Moonray** · 05-31-2013, 05:42 AM

I have a Stern Pacifica...had it for about 8 years from new.

This is a great instrument.

Light weight ash body, Duncan 59 at neck and hot rails tele at bridge.

I bought it "by accident" when I was visiting a store to get strings...they had a
Tele style Pacifica that goes for about 1/2 the price of the 1511MS [sexy name huh?]
Anyway the cheapy played really nice but had crappy p/u's etc and some detail work
not so thrilling...so I idly asked if they had the Stern model...no..but they could get it in a day or so.
I said...cool...ring me when...

So, a couple of days go by...would I like to see the Stern Pacifica...yeah OK.
I pick the thing up and it felt so good and alive...pickups just killing..even though I'd
played 59's & hot rails before...sounded fat and powerful and great clean jazz tones.

I have owned a number of nice Teles, including my most recent one at the time, a Fender
Custom Shop Nocaster Relic that I'd put a Duncan Seth Lover in.Great guitar, light resonant,
but the MS just killed it.
Bought it on the spot.
Still have it,love it...try to avoid putting any chorus or delay on.....but sometimes I can't help myself.
I'll probably never get anything like the $$ I put into it.....so it's a good way to self-determine it as a keeper.

Apologies for the rant....but I love this guitar.

And for Mike Stern....I'm also a huge fan...mainly of his "Standards and Other Songs" and "Give and Take" material.

Cat can play his ass off....and as has been said by previous posters, he strikes me as a real nice guy and with
a down to earthness about him.

And I took years to come around to "hearing" him....during the 80's and into the 90's there was a plague of "jazz"
guitarists who did the 2 amp/chorus/delay wide guitar thing and I struggled to tell one player from the next.
...Or care.....but I persevered with Stern and heard his lines....Wow!
Maybe it's OK to get out the chorus again....ha ha.

Thanks for the link Mr Gumbo.

I'm sure you'd sum it up with a great one-liner, forgive me....you struck a nerve here. [A good one!]

**M-ster** · 05-31-2013, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by 3625

... his ability to channel all the energy of the band and audience into his solo, he can pace himself and gradually harness all the vibe while improvising until he blows the roof off the place. Like he brings everyone along for the ride while he solos - a real positive energy hit.

I've seen Stern live, 3 or 4 times, and it's always a good show. Great playing by great players, great compositions, and a great "ride," as noted by 3625.

**rockedbottom** · 09-23-2013, 03:48 AM

Thanks for posting.

He's not my favourite player either, but i like his playing and have heard some of his records over and over, over the years.

I saw him live at the 55 Bar in Manhattan. Really small venue ( i don't think it can hold more than 55 people ), great vibe and Stern played his ass off. Not just that, he then came over and chatted with us and seemed genuinely interested in knowing where we were from and blew me away with how real and humble he is. He then proceeded to play another set which was even better.

Going to see him live again October 4.

**fireman12engine** · 09-24-2013, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by rockedbottom

Thanks for posting.

He's not my favourite player either, but i like his playing and have heard some of his records over and over, over the years.

I saw him live at the 55 Bar in Manhattan. Really small venue ( i don't think it can hold more than 55 people ), great vibe and Stern played his ass off. Not just that, he then came over and chatted with us and seemed genuinely interested in knowing where we were from and blew me away with how real and humble he is. He then proceeded to play another set which was even better.

Going to see him live again October 4.

I just saw him myself Sept 18 at the 55bar, all I can say is WOW and for only 12 bucks...
steve smith on drums is great too, as is Anthony Jackson on bass..

**JazzVocab** · 09-24-2013, 05:36 PM

Yes YT is great...!

In case anyone missed this, check out his younger self BURNING!

**Dana** · 09-24-2013, 10:08 PM

Great video. I transcribed that solo. Here it is if anyone's interested.
Flight Time

**Gertrude Moser** · 09-25-2013, 10:02 AM

He's not my favorite player either, largely because of the heavily chorused sound he used for so long. Anyway, while this is not my favorite genre of music, this video does contain one of the greatest guitar solos I've ever heard.