{"id":29645,"date":"2018-09-13T09:32:18","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T13:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=29645"},"modified":"2018-09-13T09:32:20","modified_gmt":"2018-09-13T13:32:20","slug":"on-stage-jazz-legend-mike-stern-makes-the-best-of-his-breaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=29645","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: jazz legend Mike Stern makes the best of his ‘breaks’"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mike Stern<\/p><\/div>\n

Back in 2016, legendary jazz guitarist Mike Stern experienced a bad trip. But, it had nothing to do with a scary travel experience or a hallucinogenic mis-step.<\/p>\n

Stern, who will headline a show on September 13 at the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>), physically tripped and suffered several broken bones.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was July 3, 2016,\u201d said\u00a0Stern, during a phone interview. \u201cI was coming out of my place in Manhattan and I tripped over some construction debris that was left in the street and camouflaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cI broke both humerus bones near the shoulder. I went to the hospital and my hands were hurt too. I needed time to heal the broken bones. Then, my right hand got nerve damage. Thankfully, it was my right hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stern wasn\u2019t going to abandon his music career just because he had seriously injured his hand and broken the long bones that run from the shoulder to the elbow \u2013 in both arms.<\/p>\n

The nerve damage in his right hand prevented him from doing the simplest tasks — including holding a pick.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m O.K.,\u201d said Stern. \u201cI\u2019m hanging in there. It\u2019s been a challenge but I\u2019m getting used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following his initial surgery,\u00a0Stern\u00a0was back on scene in late October — guesting with Chick Corea in a celebration of Miles Davis\u2019 music during Corea\u2019s two-month residency at the Blue Note in Manhattan.<\/p>\n

For that gig, he had to play seated while wearing a black glove outfitted with Velcro to help him hold onto his Velcro-fitted pick<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to figure out a way to play with glue secured to the pick,\u201d said\u00a0Stern. \u201cI got the glue from a drummer who was burned as a kid. It\u2019s actually wig glue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following a second surgery,\u00a0Stern\u00a0gained more control of his nerve-damaged picking hand and subsequently devised a scheme where he literally glues his right-hand fingers to the pick, which strengthened his grip, allowing him to more fully realize his signature speed, precision and fluidity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do it \u2013 but I have to fight for it,\u201d said\u00a0Stern. \u201cThe amount of support I\u2019ve gotten from people has been amazing. You don\u2019t really do it alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cInitially, it was just holding the pick. Dealing with glove is a regular procedure for me. You can get used to anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stern\u00a0went into Spin Studio in Long Island City between January and March of 2017 to record his 17th album as a leader.<\/p>\n

The guitarist\u2019s sly, self-deprecating sense of humor comes across in the title of the album,\u00a0\u201cTrip,\u201d as well as on individual tracks like \u201cScrews\u201d (he initially had 11 screws put into his arm following his first surgery) and \u201cScotch Tape and Glue\u201d (his current method for holding onto the pick.)<\/p>\n

\u201cTrip,\u201d which was released in September 2017 via Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group, features trumpeters Randy Brecker and Wallace Roney, saxophonists Bob Franceschini and Bill Evans, bassists Victor Wooten and Tom Kennedy and drummers Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers and Lenny White.<\/p>\n

Produced by pianist-keyboardist Jim Beard, \u201cTrip\u201d\u00a0is a showcase of what the acclaimed guitarist does best — riffing on post-Miles funk-fusion, urgent swingers and lyrical ballads.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Stern, \u201cSometimes you have some bad stuff that\u2019ll happen to you, but you kind of get through it and you realize that everybody has this stuff — good trips and bad trips. But you just got to keep trying, you got to get up and keep going as soon as you can, which I was able to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to figure out a way to play. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do if I couldn\u2019t play music. If you really want something bad enough, sometimes you have to fight for it — you find a way to make it happen.<\/p>\n

Stern\u00a0is definitely back on top of his game after months of struggle and uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m never going to just give up,\u201d said\u00a0Stern, who played with Blood, Sweat & Tears, drummer Billy Cobham and legendary trumpeter Miles Davis prior to his solo career that has delivered close to 20 albums.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s getting a little better as time goes on. It\u2019s a challenge. It\u2019s more about what it feels like than what it sounds like. I\u2019m always supercritical. I always think I can do better. But, people are digging it. They don\u2019t notice a difference from before.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hurts to play \u2013 but I\u2019m dealing with it. The amazing thing about music is that it has such healing effects. When I\u2019m playing, I don\u2019t notice the pain as much. Playing music is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

And,\u00a0Stern\u2019s new album is incredible.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Stern, \u201cEverybody in the band played their asses off on this record. I was really happy with how it came out because everybody just put so much love and energy into it. When I get to play with the caliber of musicians on this recording, I’m just glad to be part of the band.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stern\u2019s band for his show in Ardmore features Dennis Chambers on drums, Bob Franeschini on sax, and Tom Kennedy\u00a0on bass.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to play some stuff from \u2018Trip\u2019 and some older stuff,\u201d said Stern. \u201cThese guys can play anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been on the road non-stop for the last year, so I haven\u2019t had that much time to rehearse with these cats. But, they\u2019re so good they can kick my ass around the block.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for The\u00a0Mike\u00a0Stern\u00a0Band \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/KG7fIFuQTMw<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Ardmore, which had Crosstown Traffic (Greg Davis, Wally Smith, Chico Huff and Tom Walling) as the opening act,\u00a0will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $42.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the Ardmore Music Hall are Holly Bowling on September 14, Ted Leo on September 15, and The Stanley Clarke Band on September 16.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

In Real Life<\/p><\/div>\n

In Real Life is a hot new pop band whose name is somewhat ironic.<\/p>\n

When a band forms \u201cin real life,\u201d it often happens when a bunch of musician friends get together to jam, begin writing songs with each other and eventually become a cohesive music group.<\/p>\n

That is the complete opposite of the way In Real Life came to be.<\/p>\n

In Real Life, which is bringing its \u201cTonight Belongs To You Tour\u201d to the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com<\/a>) on September 13, owes its existence to a reality television show.<\/p>\n

The pop quintet features Sergio Calderon, Michael Conor, Chance Perez, Andrew Ramos and Brady Tutton. They came together with the help of America\u2019s votes during their time on ABC\u2019s 2017 summer reality competition, \u201cBoy Band.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show premiered June 22, 2017, on\u00a0ABC<\/a>\u00a0with hostess\u00a0Rita Ora, and \u201carchitects\u201d\u00a0Backstreet Boys\u2019\u00a0Nick Carter, the\u00a0Spice Girls\u2019\u00a0Emma Bunton, and\u00a0Timbaland. The 10-episode season began with 30 young male vocalists competing to become a member of the new five-piece boy band.<\/p>\n

Each week, the boys rotated into different groups and performed. Then, the \u201carchitects\u201d put either two or three boys up for elimination and through live voting, one boy would be saved by America. At the end of the season, the final five remaining boys formed the boy band and received a recording contract with\u00a0Hollywood Records.<\/p>\n

After a 24-hour voting period the week before, it was announced at the final live show on August 24, 2017 that Tutton, Perez, Ramos, Calderon, and Conor were the winning members and formed In Real Life. There, the quintet premiered its debut single — \u201cEyes Closed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI first heard about the show last April,\u201d said Conor, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in Boston. \u201cI was reached out to through a casting promoter. I was working at a pizza place and thought \u2013 this is a lot cooler.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perez said, \u201cI was working as a backup singer. My agent said I should audition for \u2018Boy Band.\u2019 At first, I said \u2013 No, I have a daughter and I have to provide for her. Then, I changed my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conor also had doubts at the start.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I didn\u2019t think about \u2018Boy Band\u2019 because I was trying to be a solo artist,\u201d said Conor. \u201cI was a rapper. I was hesitant in that I didn\u2019t know if I\u2019d fit because I was never a singer before. But, I was stoked for the opportunity to be a rapper in a boy band.\u201d<\/p>\n

Versatility is one of the group\u2019s strengths. In Real Life is a\u00a0pop\u00a0boy band\u00a0that experiments with other sounds such as\u00a0pop-rap,\u00a0dance-pop,\u00a0teen pop\u00a0and\u00a0Latin pop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not trying to be like anybody else,\u201d said Perez. \u201cWe\u2019re original people.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Real Life\u2019s line-up has a lot of diversity in band members\u2019 ages and hometowns.<\/p>\n

Tutton, who was born on\u00a0December 7, 2001, is from\u00a0Shorewood, Wisconsin. Ramos, who is from the Bronx, was born\u00a0October 23, 1997.<\/p>\n

Perez, who was born on\u00a0November 10, 1997, is from Seal Beach,\u00a0California. Calderon, a native of Redwood City, California, was born on\u00a0October 6, 2000. Conor, who was born on\u00a0June 7, 1999, is from\u00a0Shaker Heights, Ohio.<\/p>\n

The band released its song \u201cTonight Belongs to You\u201d\u00a0in\u00a0July and followed with \u201cGot Me Good,\u201d which just dropped on September 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the songs we released represent the different vibes of the band,\u201d said Conor. \u201cThe song \u2018Got Me Good\u2019 is the direction we want to go. We want to make mature pop rock.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our first headlining tour. And, we had our first anniversary as a band last month.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for In Real Life \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/TqDg-PLCJiE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Theatre of the Living Arts on September 13, which has JAGMAC as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $27.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the TLA are Wintersun on September 14, Life of Agony on September 15, Alina Baraz on September 16, and Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes, on September 17.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Parrot Dream<\/p><\/div>\n

Parrot Dream has its roots in a South American capital and its home in Brooklyn, New York.<\/p>\n

The band, which revolves around the nucleus of Gonzalo Guerrero\u00a0and Christina Hansen Appel, is currently touring in support of its debut album \u201cLight Goes,\u201d which was just released on August 24 on Good Eye Records. The tour touches down locally on September 15 with a show at The Music Ward (5101 Grays Avenue, Philadelphia, https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PhillyMusicWard<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Formed by Appel (vocals, keyboards) and Guerrero (guitar) in Santiago, Chile in 2013, the duo relocated to Brooklyn. The band quickly began making strides musically — including amassing more than half a million streams on Spotify.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just started this tour,\u201d said Appel, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon as the band travelled to a gig in Providence, Rhode Island. \u201cIt\u2019s a short tour of the Northeast.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the duo relocated from Chile to Brooklyn, Appel came back to her old stomping ground having grown up in New Rochelle, New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cI studied Spanish on college and then wanted to travel,\u201d said Appel. \u201cI had studied sociology in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and I wanted to go back to that part of the world. My plan was to go to Chile for a year and I ended up staying for five years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Music was a part of Appel\u2019s life long before she went to college.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started piano when I was a teenager,\u201d said Appel. \u201cWhen I was 14, I asked for piano lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Music and cigarettes started her on the path that led to the formation of Parrot Dream.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met Gonzalo when I lived in Santiago,\u201d said Appel. \u201cI met him at a party. I asked to bum a cigarette and ten we hung out. We began a relationship together and then started making music together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2014, we formed a band in Santiago with two friends. We named the band Pile of Birds an dtne found out another band in Chile had the name. So, we became Parrot Dream.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe released a six-song EP in Chile called \u2018Set sail Someday.\u2019 Then, we decided to move to New York. It was just Gonzalo and I, so we formed a new band in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2015, Parrot Dream issued its first stateside recording \u2013 \u201cJungle,\u201d a two-song single featuring the line-up of Francisco \u201cPancho\u201d V\u00e9liz\u00a0(bass), Diego Aravena\u00a0(drums), Guerrero (guitar) and \u201cKiki\u201d Appel (vocals).<\/p>\n

\u201cIt took a while to form a band when we got to New York,\u201d said Appel. \u201cWe found a lot of good musicians here in Bushwick. We recorded the album at the end of 2017 at a studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album was written over a span of two years and touches on themes of connection, love, memories and clarity. It features Appel\u2019s hypnotic synths and wistful vocals along with Guerrero\u2019s incendiary guitars. The musicians on the LP were Matt Sklar on bass\u00a0and Agustin Faundez Rojas on drums and percussion\u00a0along with Appel and Guerreo.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur sound became a little more layered \u2013 especially in comparison to the EP,\u201d said Appel. \u201cThe structure is pop \u2013 but less standard than ordinary pop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were in the studio for four months altogether. The record was a history of the move from Santiago to Brooklyn. There was quite a bot of time between the first song that was written and the last one that was written when we were actually making the record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Parrot Dream \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/v_xGalkFV-o<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at The Music Ward, which has Overwinter, Foxanne and Dweller as opening acts, will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will present \u201cRonstadt Revue – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt\u201d on September 14, Discipline with special guests Valdez on September 15 and \u201cOpen Mic with guest host Andrew Reynolds\u201d on September 16.<\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) will host The McCruddens with Shadow Merchant and David Karaban on September 15.<\/p>\n

The Colonial Theatre (Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610- 917-1228, www.thecolonialtheatre.com<\/a>) will host Theatre Organ Concert with David Peckham on September 16.<\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will have Flute Haven on September 13, Moral Support and Nothing Vital on September 14, The Output and CJ Dunleavy on September 15 and \u201cOpen Mic Night\u201d on September 16.<\/p>\n

Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0www.burlapandbean.com<\/a>) will present<\/p>\n

Edie Carey with Aiden James on September 14, and All Good People on September 15.<\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) hosts Sal Valentinetti on September 15.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) presents Ana Popovic<\/a> and James Pace Band<\/a> on September 13, \u201c7 Bridges: The Ultimate EAGLES Experience<\/a>\u201d on September 14, Doug Church (The True Voice Of Elvis)<\/a> on September 15, and Amy Helm<\/a> and Ken Yates<\/a> on September 16.<\/p>\n

The Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 202-730-3331, www.thequeenwilmington.com<\/a>) will host \u201cRusty Blue Album Release Show\u201d with RFA, Eyebawl, and Ooze on September 15 and \u201cDrag Diva Brunch\u201d on September 16.<\/p>\n

Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>) will present the Rockin Johnny Burgin Band on September 14.<\/p>\n

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is presenting \u201cBrigadoon\u201d now through October 28. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings (doors 6 p.m.\/show, 8 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons (doors, 1 p.m.\/show, 3 p.m.). Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $63 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Back in 2016, legendary jazz guitarist Mike Stern experienced a bad trip. But, it had nothing to do with a scary travel experience or a hallucinogenic mis-step. Stern, who will headline a show on September 13 at the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com), physically […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[6518,10604,10603,10605],"class_list":["post-29645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-in-real-life","tag-mike-stern","tag-parrot-dream"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29645"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29646,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29645\/revisions\/29646"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}