Leni Stern: Finally The Fame Has Come
Leni Stern has long been a triumphant voice of inspiration. The truth and steadfast beauty of her lyrics and music has touched many hearts around the world.
Recognition is a slippery slope, especially when one is not seeking or prioritizing it. Stern has stayed true to her roots and focused her impressive compositions, vocals, and guitar skills in a manner befitting of a woman steeped in authenticity and artistic vision. Still, it is also befitting that her critically acclaimed work is now being appreciated and imbued more than ever.
All About Jazz recently had the pleasure of having a most fascinating, joyous, and educational conversation with Stern.
All About Jazz: I have been looking forward to this opportunity to talk with you, Leni. It is much appreciated that you shared the "secret link" to your upcoming new release. Now, will this be an EP, a CD, an IOU, an IRA or in just what form?
Leni Stern: It's an LP. This is a vinyl project. It's thirty two minutes long and that's about all the music you can put on vinyl. With CD's we all started making them longer and longer, because you could. But on vinyl you can't do more than seventeen minutes a side.
AAJ: Strictly vinyl. That's some great sound quality.
LS: Yes, vinyl has such a wonderful sound and I really wanted to have that.
AAJ: In December I had the opportunity to talk to your husband [guitarist Mike Stern] at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix AZ. He described your new record, "3," as "so fucking good." After listening to it a few times I believe if anything he might have undersold it. It's a truly brilliant and powerful effort. Please tell us all about it.
LS: You know the last record [Dakar Suite 2016] I did a lot of arranging and orchestrating with violins and horns. It was a very large project. It's something you don't get to do often because it is very expensive to go on the road with a ten piece band. Usually I play in a trio or quartet format. So I wrote these pieces for a three piece, rather than adapting a ten piece composition. That's why the record is called 3. Although I do have some guests such as Gil Goldstein, and my husband on a couple of songs. It's always a celebration to make a record! I once again paid homage to our biblical ancestors in Africa. I chose from the type of music I got to play in Africa. The song "Barambai" is based on the chanting and the rhythms. The beginning is the call of the baby naming ceremony. I was in Africa studying rhythms and I got to accompany my teacher's day-to-day routine. One of these was the baby naming ceremony. It's one of my favorites because it is such a happy occasion. Everybody shouts and gets excited and says come, come, come, we are going to name the baby now! I wrote a composition that is very closely inspired by one of these rhythm variations.
AAJ: Tell us about your collaborators, bassist Mamadou Ba and percussionist Alioune Faye. They are most talented.
LS: Aren't they now? They were both seventeen and had a very famous and popular band in Africa. But by the time they were nineteen they went to America. Faye went on to perform with the Senegal National Ballet and at the Lincoln Center in New York City with the The Harper Brothers and Youssou N'Dour. He shared, and taught, the African tradition of percussion. Ba went on to become Harry Belafonte's musical director. They still have that feel of having played together for a long time.
AAJ: The first time through on your new music I didn't pay attention to the song titles. I was focused on listening. One song in particular transported me to another place. I laughed later when I saw that it is called "Spell." How did this bewitching piece come together?
LS: Well, you have to be initiated in Africa. So, before you can play, they ask the spirits if you are worthy. So, I was initiated. Now, like my African percussion colleagues, I can cast a spell if I choose to do so. It's fascinating how our jazz and history came from Africa. Of course there is the famous blues song, "Crossroads." The crossroads are the place you meet at night. You ask the tough questions at the crossroads. If there is something you want to ask about, you make those requests at the crossroads. So, I chose that parable to express my feelings and make my wishes known to the spirit world. Then they can decide what they want to do.
..... more at the link!