Born: June 19, 1949 Primary Instrument: Guitar
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 brought him to a position on the faculty at Berklee College of Music. There he continues to inspire new musicians and to perfect his own style.
John has performed as a leader or a sideman with some of America's finest jazz acts, including David “Fathead” Newman, Larry Goldings, Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Idris Muhammid. John's compositions and performances cover the spectrum of jazz, from blues to bebop to bossas to swing. John has toured in the United States as well as in Brazil, Germany, France and Switzerland.
John's newest recording, Concierto Internacional de Jazz, has just been released on the Whaling City Sound Label (WCS 031). Recorded in Brazil during a recent concert tour, Concierto Internacional de Jazz is a collaboration between John and some of Brazil's most prominent jazz musicians. Stein's collaborators are superb instrumentalists, and perform with the highest level of musicianship. Flavored by the combined sensibilities of two distinct musical cultures, Concerto Internacional de Jazz features a wonderful variety of musical textures and moods, excellent originals, and an interesting selection of standards.
John's debut CD, Hustle Up! [KFW 172], released in 1995 on Tightly Knit Records a subsidiary of Knitting Factory Works, displays his many talents: as a leader, composer, arranger, producer, soloist, and ensemble performer. John is also featured on the wonderful recording, Ron Gill Sings the Songs of Billy Strayhorn, [WGBH 1001] released in December 1997, by WGBH Radio in Boston. The Ron Gill band, with John on guitar, was videotaped by WGBH television for presentation on its program, Basic Black in 1998, and is regularly re-aired. John's recording, Green Street [A-Records, AL 73158] featuring reed-playing legend, David “Fathead” Newman, was released in 1999 to critical acclaim. Green Street received much radio exposure in the United States, soaring very high in the Jazz Charts, and introduced John to a nation-wide audience. John's third release, in 2000, Portraits and Landscapes [Jardis Records, JRCD 20029] features Larry Goldings on piano and organ. Conversation Pieces [Jardis Records, JRCD 20140] released in January 2002, is John's second collaboration with David “Fathead” Newman. Interplay, on Azica Records (AJD72226), was released in 2004 and features John with Yoron Israel on drums, and John Lockwood on bass. The trio's telepathic interaction and superb musicianship generates many spontaneous and exceptional moments.
“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.
“Concierto Internacional de Jazz demonstrates Stein's tremendous flexibility and musicality on electric guitar, playing with the tasteful edge of Jim Hall, and the strength of his Brazilian rhythm section.” --Chris M. Slawecki, All About Jazz
“Stein has a quiet and appealing sound and, as with Lockwood and Israel, he is expert at leaving space and making every note count.” --Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
