Jazz Articles about Leni Stern

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Leni Stern: Storyteller

by Ian Patterson
December 19, 2007

Songwriter and guitarist Leni Stern's Africa (LSR, 2007) marks a significant new chapter in a career marked by bold changes. Her fearlessness as an independent traveler, and her endless curiosity about the workings of the world which surrounds her, are reflected in her music. Her lyrics are tender, poetic and, above all, truthful. As a singer, she has variously been described as a combination of Marlene Dietrich with the phrasing of Billie Holiday, and as ...

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Leni Stern: Africa

by John Kelman
December 8, 2007

While her husband, guitarist Mike Stern, has been bringing a fascination with the music of Africa to his own projects since the early part of the decade, they've always remained undeniably jazz recordings, with conventional instrumentation. Guitarist/vocalist Leni, on the other hand, has made a more definitive dive into the continent's musical pool with Africa.

Leni Stern's early records were, like Mike's, more definitively jazz-centric, but in recent years she's evolved into a singer/songwriter, albeit one ...

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Leni Stern: Alu May

by John Barron
August 31, 2007

Guitarist Leni Stern has always been an artist willing to push the boundaries of her creativity. Upon visiting the African nation of Mali in 2006, the multi-faceted guitarist/vocalist engaged in an experimental blending of her unique musicianship with a group of authentic African vocalists and instrumentalists. The resulting five song EP, Alu Mayé (Have You Heard), is a profound undertaking of personalized musical statements that seamlessly intertwine the diversity of distant cultures.

Along with four percussionists and three singers, the ...

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Leni Stern: When Evening Falls

by Terrell Kent Holmes
February 25, 2005

Guitarist and singer Leni Stern, an observant and sensitive world citizen, has drawn on her fascinating experiences for When Evening Falls , a musical journey that traverses the globe to examine an eclectic range of emotions and themes. The soul and heart of the Munich-born artist wends through Kenya, India, Louisiana, Palestine, and the East Village, infusing her poignant songs with world music influences and textures. The delightful “Ice Cold Water $1" is a humorous peek into a ...