New Single: Amadeus /  by Leni Stern

The third single from a new batch of songs that Leni has recorded — look for a new one every two weeks!

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New Single: Princess Miu /  by Leni Stern

The second single from a new batch of songs that Leni has recorded — look for a new one every two weeks!

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

New Single: Serrer /  by Leni Stern

The first single from a new batch of songs that Leni has recorded — look for a new one every two weeks!

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.




Jazz da Gama review of 3 /  by Leni Stern

By Raul da Gama
https://jazzdagama.com/

Logic ought to tell us that if all life and all civilisations came from Mother Africa, then so also does the impulse to “sing” and “dance” the rhythm that we hear in all music that pays her homage. When it comes to the music of this disc, 3, by Leni Stern, we don’t need logic or any other intellectually-driven impulse. We are driven to “sing” and “dance” to every breathtaking possibility simply because of what is innate in this musical homage; indeed in every sonic image that is presented here by Miss Stern, Mamadou Ba and Alioune Faye. The vitality that comes from it – this music – is awakening, like being impacted by a series of solar flares from the nuclear corona of the sun. And this musical light is so special, so enormous and so dense that it might even enable to walk through a block of concrete should such an impediment arise en route to our celebrating this music.

 

Just by listening to the music of 3 one experiences Miss Stern, who is completely transformed by the touch of Africa. From “Khavare” to “Calabas” and “Crocodile” the guitarist becomes an artist who even in the ordinary act of fingers on strings is able to impregnate each twang with an extraordinary note. Strung together with others in a chord, a phrase or a line, Miss Stern’s music grows in intensity to become that unstoppable force that she has become. The simple phrase in “Wakama”, for instance, continents collide and a melody expands in beauty, becoming a gushing ecstasy.

Similarly, when her fingers bite into the strings again in “Calabas” shadows and shining surfaces reveal themselves. The song contains darkness but in its revelation of anti-light the flicker of synapse between us and the African sun comes into being. And we are awake and alive again in a way that is somehow different to the way we have been a moment ago. It is as if her, as everywhere else Miss Stern – through her music and in her sublime artistry – has poured energy into the air around us. We, for our part, become changed forever because of her and the message she brings from Mother Africa.

Track list – 1: Khavare; 2: Barambai; 3: Wakhma; 4: Calabas; 5: Spell; 6: Colombiano; 7: Assiko; 8: Crocodile

Personnel – Leni Stern: electric guitar, n’goni and voice; Mamadou Ba: bass; Alioune Faye: sabar, djembe, calabas and voice; with Mike Stern: electric guitar (4, 5); Leo Genovese: Sequential Circuits Six-Trak synthesizer (4, 6); Gil Goldstein: accordion (2, 8); Muhammed and Princess Louise Faye: backing vocals (2, 8)

Released – 2018
Label – Leni Stern Recordings
Runtime – 32:38

Shane Theriot's Podcast with Leni /  by Leni Stern

 

from shanetheriot.com:

"My guest today is guitarist, vocalist and composer Leni Stern. Leni is someone I consider to be a good friend, as we’ve known each other for 16 years.  She’s one of the most inspiring musicians I happen to know and- her contagious laugh and positive energy is something I never get tired of being around. Although she is married to guitarist Mike Stern (check out my 4th podcast)- Leni has her own distinctive voice on the guitar and an unmistakable touch and tone. She has won the Gibson Guitar  Best Female jazz guitarist award 5 years straight and has continued to push forward with each of her records and bands. 

In the interview you’ll hear how she left a successful career in her native city of Munich, Germany to come to the US and slowly build her reputation as one of New York City's finest. Now, some 20 plus records later, she talks about her new record, (Darkar Suite) what it was like studying and being in a band with Bill Frisell, the difficulties and advantages of being a female guitarist in a male dominated world, what it’s like being married to one of the most famous jazz guitarists in the world- Mike Stern, how she composes melodies etc…. and we play some ngoni and guitar duos too… Click here for Leni's Website"

http://shanetheriot.com/shane-s-podcast-the-riff-raff/blog/episode-6-with-leni-stern

Jazzmandu! /  by Leni Stern

I just returned from an incredible week in Kathmandu, Nepal playing at the 2015 Jazzmandu Festival. I met many wonderful musicians and bands from around the world! The resolve and spirit of the Nepalese people following such a great tragedy was inspiring to say the least.

Back from (Victor) Wooten Woods /  by Leni Stern

I spent last week at the Wooten Woods camp in Tennessee, an hour outside of Nashville. It is the creation of #VictorWooten, the amazing #bassist.

Mike and I had a fantastic time!! We were way off the beaten path in the woods, by a large stream, teaching 28 young musicians from all over the world.

We had wing shun kung fu classes by a student of It man !!!! and nature classes where the students learned to identify tracks and bugs ( like the one that crawled up my pants when i was teaching!!!!!!!!!!!!) and snakes ( water mocassins and rattlesnakes - ayayayayayay)

There was a huge organic vegetable garden out back and meals were cooked by an awesome chef with fresh produce from there.

The best thing was, that by the time we got to the camp, all the students had been infected with the irresistable Wooten groove…and young boys from Pakistan to Sweden were grooving like hell!!

Senegal, rehearsal, performance and recording /  by Leni Stern

I’m finally in St Louis, Senegal, the site of the jazz festival where we are playing.  A prehistoric bus met us in Dakar to take all of our equipment to St Louis.  Actually, it was supposed to take us as well, but I hired cars....it was too adventurous even for my taste!

The rehearsals have been amazing!  My jaw keeps dropping whenever the Faye brothers play.  In all my time in africa I have never heard anything like it.  Alioune has composed a series of drum calls to go with the new songs. The Faye brothers are so soft-spoken and sweet... until they get behind the drums, then all hell breaks loose.

The audience yesterday loved our rendition of traditional Senegalese songs, and they all sang along. We played on a boat that was anchored in front of the large venue. The river Senegal has some waves, and I was scared to slip into the water with my amp and pedals. Today, thank god, they moved the stage to land and set VIP sofas up on the boat.

The whole band only speaks Wollof now and I hobble along. It’s actually helpful with the Wollof lyrics I am singing.  My accent gets better and better, and everybody is terribly amused by it!