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John Stein

Internationally renowned jazz guitarist John Stein was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri USA where he took up his instrument at an early age. His talent for and love of music ultimately earned him a faculty position at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he was a Professor in the Harmony Department. John Stein is an experienced teacher, clinician, recording artist, and author. John has performed as a leader or a sideman with some of the world's finest jazz acts, and his compositions and performances cover the spectrum of jazz styles. John is a prolific recording artist as a leader, in addition to the contributions he has made to other artists' projects. His newest recording, No Goodbyes [WSC 139], was released in June, 2022. John published educational columns in Just Jazz Guitar Magazine for many years that focus on composition and arranging for jazz guitar. Berklee Press published John's arranging materials in a book entitled: "Berklee Jazz Standards For Solo Guitar." He has compiled the compositional materials into two books that are now available: "Composing Blues For Jazz Performance," and "Composing Tunes For Jazz Performance." "My music is the result of a lifetime's involvement with my instrument, the guitar, and many hours studying theory, composition, arranging, and musical history," says John. His warm and deeply expressive creative jazz performances move and excite audiences wherever he appears.


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19
Album Review

John Stein: Serendipity

Read "Serendipity" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Guitarist John Stein's Massachusetts-based trio strides in with charm and confidence on Serendipity, a frame of mind that prevails throughout an album whose name was inspired by a concert-that-wasn't but eventually was, thanks to live-streaming, during a massive and deadly global pandemic. That concert, planned for an outdoor venue in New Bedford, was derailed by Covid-19 but later moved indoors to the city's Art Museum, where the trio performed for an audience of one, sound engineer John Farrell, who taped ...

9
Album Review

John Stein: Watershed

Read "Watershed" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


As his eleventh release on the label, Watershed continues the elegant and blissful creative marriage between guitarist John Stein and Whaling City Sound. A good marriage is based in compromise, in accommodating give-and-take, and Stein's give-and-take with this rhythm section of bassist Frank Herzberg, drummer Zé Eduardo Nazario and pianist Daniel Grajew creates beautiful, delightful music. Stein pours out Bobby Scott's “A Taste of Honey" with all the natural sweetness of its title for six luscious minutes. His ...

17
Album Review

John Stein: Watershed

Read "Watershed" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Jazz guitarist John Stein has produced many recordings throughout his career. Watershed is his fifteenth album and a special one at that, marking his retirement from academics and the beginning of a new chapter in his life. A former professor at Berklee College of Music (his alma mater), Stein is now fully engaged in producing the deep grooves and rhythm-based and breezy-styled melodies that make this album such a wonder to listen to, repeatedly. Recorded while on tour ...

6
Album Review

John Stein: Color Tones

Read "Color Tones" reviewed by Jack Bowers


On Color Tones, his ninth album for Boston's Whaling City Sound label, Kanas City-bred guitarist John Stein has chosen a quintet whose front line includes trumpeter Phil Grenadier and flute specialist Fernando Brandao. All tones considered, it's a splendid idea, as Grenadier and Brandao blend well with Stein's lucent, well-groomed guitar, while bassist John Lockwood and drummer Ze Eduardo Nazario comprise a snug and unflappable rhythm section. Even though everyone in the ensemble is a talented soloist, ...

191
Album Review

John Stein: Hi Fly

Read "Hi Fly" reviewed by Edward Blanco


With HI Fly, renowned jazz guitarist John Stein takes flight, leading his high-flying quartet on another top-flight set. The album is a follow-up to his recent Raising The Roof (Whaling City Sound, 2010), and features new band mate, pianist Jake Sherman, replacing keyboardist Koichi Sato, who appeared on the Stein's last two recordings. Sherman is a student at the Berklee College of Music, where the Stein is an Associate Professor.On this album, Stein navigates the band through five ...

391
Album Review

John Stein: Raising the Roof

Read "Raising the Roof" reviewed by Matthew Warnock


Raising the Roof is a hard-swinging and thoroughly enjoyable album by Boston-based guitarist John Stein. Featuring an all-star quartet, with keyboardist Koichi Sato, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Zé Eduardo Nazario, the group plays together with a sense of cohesion that borders on the realm of ESP. While this level of communication and familiarity is to be expected by world-class jazz musicians such as these, what is surprising is that they were able to play in this fashion with such ...

215
Album Review

John Stein: Encounterpoint

Read "Encounterpoint" reviewed by Matthew Warnock


Guitarist John Stein has brought together an all-star ensemble for the album Encounterpoint and these world-class musicians deliver on every tune. The ensemble cast of Koichi Sate, keyboards, John Lockwood, bass, and Ze Eduardo Nazario on drums and percussion are always on top of their game. Whether it be a funk groove, hard swinger or relaxing bossa-nova tune, the energy and interaction are always solid throughout. With a band of this caliber it would hard for anyone to sound less ...

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2

Recording

John Stein: 'Lifeline'

John Stein: 'Lifeline'

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

It's rare when a two-album set is released celebrating the career of a living jazz artist. It's even more rare that the double album should now be No. 4 on JazzWeek's jazz album chart. That's exactly what has happened with John Stein's Lifeline (Whaling City Sound). Both accomplishments are a testament to John's straight-up swing and eclecticism over the years and his passion for for tasty jazz chords. Released in June, Lifeline features 26 tracks spanning 15 albums recorded over ...

1

Recording

One Of Those Nights: 'Serendipity' Is The Sound Of John Stein And His Trio Finding A Way To Get Beautiful Music Into The Hearts And Hands Of Jazz Fans, Despite The Odds

One Of Those Nights: 'Serendipity' Is The Sound Of John Stein And His Trio Finding A Way To Get Beautiful Music Into The Hearts And Hands Of Jazz Fans, Despite The Odds

Source: Mixed Media Promotion

Like many serious musicians, John Stein was trying to find a way to reach his audience following the Covid-19 breakout. He had just released Watershed, a career- defining recording to mark his planned retirement from Berklee College of Music, where he was an acclaimed educator. Of course, as with live music in general, the tour in support of Watershed was scrapped. Prior to the pandemic, Whaling City Sound’s Neal Weiss had asked Stein to bring a trio for an outdoor ...

134

Performance / Tour

Guitarist John Stein Turns It up on "Raising the Roof"

Guitarist John Stein Turns It up on "Raising the Roof"

Source: Michael Ricci

One of the hallmarks of a great jazz artist is versatility. Guitarist and bandleader John Stein is as agile and colorful as it gets, and he simply outdoes himself with each passing effort. Raising The Roof, his latest, is without a doubt, Stein's most vibrant effort yet, boasting passion, intensity, and a lot of exhilarating musicianship. It features the same band members that worked with Stein on Encounterpoint, his successful and acclaimed 2008 release, including Koichi Sato on keyboards from ...

139

Recording

A Serendipitous International Summit Creates Inspired Results on John Stein’S Encounterpoint

A Serendipitous International Summit Creates Inspired Results on John Stein’S Encounterpoint

Source: Mixed Media Promotion

For two inspired days in the fall of 2007, guitarist John Stein brought together a virtuosic quartet from the far corners of the globe to tackle a repertoire he’d been saving for just the right players. The result is the aptly titled Encounterpoint, Stein’s seventh recording and a dazzling exchange of musical thoughts and melodic ideas. “When I listen to this record,” says Stein, “I hear the virtuosity of the musicians.”

Convened in Boston, Encounterpoint is truly an international summit. ...

246

Recording

Guitarist John Stein's New CD "Encounterpoint"

Guitarist John Stein's New CD "Encounterpoint"

Source: All About Jazz

For two inspired days in the fall of 2007, guitarist John Stein brought together a virtuosic quartet from the far corners of the globe to tackle a repertoire he'd been saving for just the right players. The result is the aptly titled Encounterpoint, Stein's seventh recording and a dazzling exchange of musical thoughts and melodic ideas. “When I listen to this record, “ says Stein, “I hear the virtuosity of the musicians." Convened in Boston, Encounterpoint is truly an international ...

- You won't hear a fresher, more poignant, jazz energy anywhere else on the planet today. This one gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best guitar jazz" album. Dick Metcalf aka Rotcod Zzaj - John Stein . . . the poet of the classical jazz guitar. Dick Crockett "The Voice" - 88.7fm - John Stein is one of the great guitarists, in the tradition of Joe Pass and Tal Farlow. Raising The Roof proves my point! Ron Della Chiesa - WPLM, 99.1 fm - What a gift this man has. He's in an elite class: a mere handful of jazz guitarists who consistently put taste above chops and flash

Read more

Kenny Burrell
guitar, electric
Grant Green
guitar
Jim Hall
guitar
Jimmy Raney
guitar, electric

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

No Goodbyes

Whaling City Sound
2023

buy

Lifeline

Whaling City Sound
2022

buy

Serendipity

Whaling City Sound
2021

buy

Watershed

Whaling City Sound
2020

buy

Color Tones

Whaling City Sound
2017

buy

Wood and Strings

Whaling City Sound
2017

buy

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