Bobby Stern

Born in Rochester, New York, USA into a family of musicians and raised in New York City.

Parents were professional opera singers (father, Maurice Stern; stepmother, Rita Loving).

Brother Stevie - guitarist/ singer/ blues harp master.

Sister Heidi is the pop singer better known as Jennifer Rush.

As a teenager, learned to play the blues harp by copying Little Walter solos.

Attended the High School of Music & Art in NYC.

Took beginning saxophone lessons with famed woodwind guru Joe Allard.

Relocated with family to Germany after junior year of high school.

Played first professional gigs in US military clubs in the Frankfurt area.

Made first recording as a member of "Jazz Fusion" group "Virgo".

Made first solo recording "Bobby Stern and Head, Heart & Hands - Libra".

Toured Europe with Brazilian show "Brazil Tropical"

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.

Became a member of long standing Salsa group "Conexion Latina".

Toured Spain with Thad Jones Septet.

Performed several concerts with Spanish piano legend Tete Montoliou.

Appeared as soloist on many pop & disco albums of the period recorded in Munich.

Recorded as soloist on Marvin Gaye's "Midnight Love" album, co-produced by Harvey Fuqua.

Attended Berklee College of Music for one semester on a tuition scholarship.

Several gigs with guitarist Joe Perry (Aerosmith) in the Boston area & NYC.

Relocated back to NYC; worked with several Salsa bands; played many weddings.

Studio sessions as soloist with popular music producers such as Mike Powell, Phil Ramone, Desmond Child, Harald Faltermeyer, et al.

Completed course at the Institute of Audio Research, in NYC, for recording engineers.

Awarded National Endowment for the Arts study grant to study saxophone and jazz improvisation with David Liebman.

Toured Europe with Jennifer Rush.

Began playing the AKAI Electronic Woodwind Instrument (EWI).

Toured Europe with rock ' n' roll show including Clarence Clemons, Alvin Lee & John Mayall, et al.

Released self produced and recorded CD, "Ten to 2", featuring the EWI exclusively.

Featured on recording with Conexion Latina - "Mambo 2000" which included Benny Bailey - tp & Nicky Marerro - timbales.

Produced "hip hop", "house", "smooth jazz" etc. for small labels in Germany.

Was guest instructor for two semesters at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, teaching saxophone, improvisation & ensemble.

Authored "The Melodic Minor Handbook: A Jazz Player's Perspective" published by Jamey Aebersold.

Took part in alto saxophone legend Charlie Mariano's 85th Birthday Concert in Stuttgart, Germany.

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.

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 founders of the Karnataka College of Percussion in Bangalore. This was a profound musical experience.

Took part in several concerts, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, with a quintet that included Jasper van't Hof - p, Phillip Catherine-g, Dieter Ilg-b & John Marshall-dr - performing "The Music of Charlie Mariano", in memory of one year of his passing.

Recordings and concerts as a member of Wolfgang Dauner's United Jazz & Rock Ensemble, 2nd Generation.

Authored "Slick Licks That Stick!", "The Ultimate! Diminished Scale Coloring Book" as well as an expanding library of Shortbooks™, all available from www.bobbysternjazz.com. Show less