Ok… HERE WE GO! Introducing CRYSTAL LIZARD!! Gavin McCarthy, John Sheeran and Andrew Stern have combined forces in this new heavy power trio. We’ve been busy working up original tunes/sounds and our first gig is Tuesday June 21st at the Midway Cafe. Click HERE for our first track, “Tensor”. BOOM!!!!
This Wednesday night, the Naftule’s Dream 25th(!!) anniversary concert! I was fortunate to join forces with these guys in the early 00’s, following a lineage of badass punky/arty/noisy guitarists, Pete Fitzpatrick and Brandon Seabrook. How to describe? As one reviewer put it, “Imagine Albert Mangelsdorf, Ivo Papasov, Jimi Hendrix, and Ran Blake jamming with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band at a Hassidic wedding and you’ll get a piece of the idiosyncratic picture here”. This band is killer and this will be quite a night– cant wait! https://jartsboston.org/…/the-boston-festival-of…/…
A complete success! What a treat to travel and play around Ireland. Beautiful country and warm, welcoming people. Dare I say we will return in 2023??
AS3 hits again, this time tackling Sonny Sharrock and Sgt. Pepper’s era George Harrison (sans sitar). Our good buddies Clear Audience bring it at 10pm.
We’ve been working our butts off behind the scenes– c’mon out this Saturday night for the GRAND DEBUT of the TrueVines! Dennis Brennan/Andrew Stern/Jim Haggerty/Chris Anzalone
I’m playing in both bands! First time playing with Jimmy! Info/tickets HERE
Hey! Did you hear? Toad is reopening after being closed for the past 2 years!
And Telescope will play Thursday February 11th, 9-11:30pm!
AS3 has been whipping up new originals, plus we’ll play music by John Barry, Chopin, Neil Young and Rashaan Roland Kirk. Then, Steve Fell, Jesse Gallagher and Luther Gray team up for improvisatory explorations. A sweet night of adventurous guitar trio’ing– expect the unexpected– you only get this here, folks!
AS3 hits again, this time with our good buddies Clear Audience (Andy Voelker/Steve Fell/Jef Charland/Luther Gray.
We’ll play our originals plus music by Albert King, Neil Young and Frederic Chopin.
Tuesday October 5th, 8pm at the Lily Pad
In the waning days of 2020, my trio AS3 released a record about the year we all lived through. Next Tuesday night, we finally get the chance to play it live. Playing with Brad and Dave is a thrill and with these guys, the music always far surpasses what I thought possible when writing the music. Special bonus is Steve Fell/Jesse Gallagher/Luther Gray finish the night out afterwards. We look forward to sharing this music with you….
AS3 update: we are now in the mastering phase for our new record, “Twenty | Twenty”. Its sounding super dynamic and we’re very excited to have this musical reflection of this past year in the home stretch. It’ll arrive before year’s end. Photo by Michael Michael D Spencer
Holy cow what a day! En route to making a record about this year, news broke of the blue victory and Biden gave his speech as we tracked our last tune. Triumph all around! New AS3 comin at you– a musical reflection of this year…. stay tuned for late December release.
Here’s a beautiful new Bob Bradshaw video brought to life by Frank Coakley and Sally O’Briens. Thank you to Bob, the band and the entire crew for doing such a wonderful job. Live music is the best. Looking forward to when we can all be there together again. Watch the video HERE
Y’all know its been a crazy year. There’s been a lot of forced downtime, but there’s also been a lot cooking behind the scenes. Stay tuned for: new Gill Aharon Trio recording, new Bob Bradshaw recording, new AS3 record, a duo with bassist Greg Loughman and a new song-writing collaboration with Dennis Brennan. Other projects on the horizon include Half Holy Hearts, rock and roll with Lenny Lashley and a few other as-of-yet-to-be-named projects with various and wide-ranging collaborators. Forward!
As in June, the DBB hit it hard here in the yard. T’was a glorious October afternoon and we really appreciate all who came in person and tuned in online. Check the video HERE. (video by John Fremer III)
A completely excellent afternoon with the Dennis Brennan Quartet on my lawn last Saturday. Was phenomenal to play live with humans again, especially these guys. Check out video from the show HERE.
Today marks the release of our record, Ugly Beauty. The record is available for digital download via Bandcamp HERE. Feel free to listen; better yet, purchase the 14 track record and help support the music. We put a lotta love into this thing…
Releasing a record is supposed to be a time to celebrate the completion of a creative product, a time to share. We looked forward to playing this music live in front of people. Who knew when we recorded this last November, that so much in America and the world would unravel in the meantime. Now, by simply arriving at this time, this record takes on different and additional meaning.
This record is comprised entirely of the music of our hero, Thelonious Monk. An African American pianist and composer, he is considered by many to be one of the most important and prolific contributors in jazz. His unique gift of non-traditional and sometimes “off-kilter” pianistic and composition styles was truly singular and set jazz in a startling direction, making different musical trajectories possible. There would be no jazz without the African American experience, and Monk blasted it into his own idiosyncratic atmosphere.
This record represents our take on Monk’s music. By design, is not “straight-ahead”; most of what is here is no longer “jazz”. We’ve put his music through our own filters, just as he took traditional styles and crafted them into his own music. We have punk, disco, noise, rock, ambient and yes, ok, maybe a little jazz. So goes the tradition of absorbing the past and pressing it forward, sometimes changed into completely different and unrecognizable forms.
We’ve talked about it for years and it comes next week– the UGLY BEAUTY record! 14 tracks of Thelonious Monk’s music completely reimagined for guitar/bass/drums. Punk Monk, slide Monk… disco Monk! NEXT FRIDAY!!
I figure with everything going remote these days, now is the time to get my home studio going. I am thrilled with the results and am having a blast doing studio work from home– hit me up if you need guitar tracks! I’m also steadily chipping away at my second solo guitar record… stay tuned….
NEW BAND ALERT: Half Holy Hearts will debut on Thursday January 16th at Once Lounge with FauxMenco and Famous Grouse. The idea for this group– reimagined country noir deep cuts plus original instrumentals– was born years ago by Gavin McCarthy, Brian Carpenter and me after a Beat Circus rehearsal. 2020 will finally bring it to fruition with Scot Fitzsimmons on bass and Rafi Sofer on guitars. Can’t wait ~
Man oh man! Our Monk trio, UGLY BEAUTY (Jef Charland/bass; Jared Seabrook, drums) finally made it to the studio. This is gonna be a doozy of a record. Extreme liberties were taken with these tunes– wow. Huge thanks to Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound Studio for kicking serious butt. Stay tuned as this develops….
Was a delightful night at the MAGNET-O! record release show on 10/16.
Photo by Rafi Sofer
Wow– just back from the western plains playing guitar alongside Mark Erelli. Mark’s songs are powerful and from the heart. What a treat it was to play duo, adding textures to his stories. Can’t wait to do it again…
PLEASE check him out: www.markerelli.com
Bob Bradshaw’s new record, “Queen of the West”, is now available! There was a lot of terrific collaboration (Bob and I co-wrote many of these tunes) and we’re all very proud of of this ambitious and gorgeous sounding album — check it out!
Wednesday October 16th, 8pm
Packed house at Toad last night for Telescope ~~ so good!
Photo by Susanne Boudreau
Lookout for a September release by my new heavy power-trio, MAGNET-O!
Record release show is October 16th at the Midway Cafe…..
So stoked for Ugly Beauty to play at the Lily Pad this Saturday! This group (me, guitar/ Jef Charland, bass / Jared Seabrook, drums) played years ago and I’ve always wanted to get it going again. Well, here we are. This is a NO JAZZ ZONE. We take our favorite Monk tunes and put em thru the wringer: punk Monk, noir Monk, slide guitar Monk, noise Monk. MONK!
Saturday April 27, 3:30-5:00pm at the Lily Pad, Inmman Square Cambridge.
** poster by Bradley Clifford Peterson
Was a packed house on Saturday night at ONCE– thank to all who came!
We hit the road on Friday…..
New Beat Circus record, “These Wicked Things”, drops on Friday… hometown release show this Saturday… we hit the road next week… see you out there…. beatcircus.net
Very excited for the release of the new Beat Circus record, “These Wicked Things” (out March 22nd). It is a tremendously ambitious recording that covers a LOT of musical territory. Catch us on tour in March/April…
Been digging this combo for singer-songwriter stuff and also for jazz, too.
Trio tonite with Landoni and Sofferman at Les Zygomates.
Last month, Steve Fell and I played some guitar duets and were interviewed on live TV. We hit upon John Lennon, Monk and a few of our originals. Our portion of the show starts around the 14 minute mark. Watch it HERE
A terrific day at Woolly Mammoth studio yesterday recording the new Bob Bradshaw EP.
It will include a co-write of ours, “High Horse” (me, chords; Bob, words).
Deep session Wednesday night with Gill and Jef. Just keeps getting better and better…..
Just back from Sam Kassirer’s Great North Sound Society, tracking Shawnee Kilgore’s new record. What a wonderful team— Zack Hickman, Sam Kissirer, Shane Leonard and Brian Joseph— location and way to spend the week.
Really looking forward to spending this coming week making Shawnee Kilgore’s new record with Zachariah Hickman, Sam Kassirer and Shane Leonard at the Great North Sound Society in Parsonsfield, ME.
What a great evening playing the Burren Backroom Series, live on WUMB!
Kicking off a new loud/heavy power trio: MAGNET-O!
Andrew Stern (guitar), Jim Haggerty (bass), Jared Seabrook (drums)
Inaugural gig is on August 15th at the Midway Cafe. Info HERE
With the Dennis Brennan Band
Thank you Red Line Roots for featuring my tune “Inauguration Day”!
Read/listen HERE
Tune in tonight at 5pm EST, when I chat with Steve Provizer on “The Duplex Mystery Jazz Hour,” on WZBC 90.3 FM, streaming at WZBC.ORG. We’ll discuss my recent solo and trio records, I’ll play a little bit of guitar, and rumor has it that there might even be a live duo improvisation….. Tune into WZBC HERE
We are in the late mix stages for my new trio record, “Bright Angel” with Brad Barret (bass) and Dave Fox (drums). Engineer Dan Cardinal (Dimension Sound in JP) is doing a great job making it all sound great. Our record release show is on 3/10/18 as part of the Mandorla Music Series at Third Life Studio in Somerville, MA. Stay tuned!
In advance of tomorrow’s record release show, I will sit down with Brian Carpenter on air tonight to discuss my solo record, “Slow & Alone”. Free Association 7-10pm on WZBC, 90.3 on your FM dial.
Photo by Rafi Sofer
Working on the forthcoming Confessions record again. I’m a kid in a candy store on these guitar overdub days. LOTS of tones and approaches…..
I am very pleased to release my new solo guitar record, “Slow & Alone”.
Please take a listen HERE. CD copies are available on my store page.
Very excited to announce the formation of a new trio, AS3, with bassist Brad Barrett and drummer Dave Fox. We just recorded 9 tracks at Dimension Sound in Jamaica Plain with owner/engineer Dan Cardinal. We can’t wait to share the music with you! More news as it unfolds….
Was a perfect day out there– great being back with James Rohr, Ed Lucie and Mike Connors.
Always great playing with Bob– check out the new record HERE!!
The Confessions just wrapped up 3 days of recording basic tracks for our sophomore record. What a pleasure to record at Q with these guys and Rafi Sofer at the helm!
I’m a very lucky guy to have had a weekly residency with this group for the past 9 years.
This was a BLAZING set last Sunday afternoon at the Inman Eats Festival. >WOW<
Wednesday nights at the Lily Pad, Inman Square, Cambridge
Onward>>>>>>
At Futura Studio, with Jef Charland and Mike Connors
Watch HERE
Chipping away at the solo record…. filled this room with feedback yesterday
Tracking began yesterday at Soul Shop Studio with Elio DeLuco at the helm.
Very excited to have this in the works. More soon…..
I want to give a shout out to two pickup builders who have helped me immensely. Pickup builders David Budzinski (Budz) and Curtis Novak have built numerous pickups for me in the past few months. Listening to my ideas/needs, they’ve wound both standard and unique/special order builds that have greatly enhanced my instruments. They are attentive listeners, skilled craftsmen and generous supporters at the top of their game. Check them out:
BUDZ
NOVAK
I am very excited to announce that I will record a solo guitar record in February.
This is a project I’ve wanted to do for years. It will be recorded by Elio DeLuca at the Soul Shop in Medford, MA.
More to come!!
Always a treat to wail on tenor banjo with the fine Ghost Train Orchestra. We played at Lincoln Center’s Coca-Cola Club on October 30th. Photo by Nina Galicheva.
Spent Sunday at Woolly Mammoth studio working on the new Bob Bradshaw record. It was smooth sailing with Bob, Ed Lucie (bass), Mike Connors (drums) and Dave Westner at the controls. This record will be outstanding!
Neil Young feedback largess…. to cool Ry Cooder slide… to acoustic Mexican ballads… to Ribot-style “prosthetic” Latin…. to high-lonesome whistling. We covered it all.
What a tremendous and inspiring night of new/improvised music at the Midway Cafe last night! Eric Hofbauer’s Radio Waves, Andrew Stern Trio, and the Dan Rosenthal quintet. A great hang with some of my favorite friends and musicians. This is the scene!
With the 
. What a complete blast!
Tracked the basics for new Beat Circus record at Q Division. Definitely the most ambitious, wide-ranging recording project to date. Kudos to Brian Carpenter for bringing it together and extra special thanks to Rafi Sofer for making it easy and sound incredible. It sure was a pleasure making music with Paul Dilley and Gavin McCarthy again. There’s more to do but this record is off to a hell of a start. Stay tuned…
Brian Carpenter, with whom I’ve worked for the better part of the last decade in Beat Circus and the Confessions, had me in for an interview on his show Free Association a few weeks back. We talked influences and played some of my last three recordings. Listen HERE
The gang was back at Rotary Records in Srpingfield, MA yesterday working with engineer Warren Amerman. We shot live-in-studio videos of 5 tunes– stay tuned!
What a treat to have good friend and neighbor Steve Fell in Telescope last night!
Riding the Blue Ribbons rollercoaster at the Lizard Lounge Saturday night…
Thank you Boston Globe for including Brian Carpenter and the Confessions on your best local albums of 2015 list! Read the article HERE.
WOW! Thanks to the Blue Ribbons for letting me fill in last weekend. The gas pedal was to the floor right out of the gate…
TELESCOPE is very excited to play the next installment of Mark Redmond’s excellent Mandorla Music series next Saturday December 5th, 8pm at Third Life Studio in Union Square Somerville. The usual suspects (James Rohr, Greg Loughman, Mike Connors and me) will be tackling my originals as well as music by Machito, Gill Aharon, Charles Mingus and Bill Frisell. This is a great listening room– we hope you can make it!
Read the article HERE
Here are some pics from the Confessions release party. “The Far End of the World” now available– get it HERE!
Sat Dec 5, 8pm: Telescope. One minute guitarist Andrew Stern is a roots-rock frontman, and the next he’s a jazz guy, or an avant-garde explorer, or a pastoral stylist. With Telescope, he brings all of these together in a stew of instrumental country jazz with an edge. In addition to Andrew on Telecaster, Telescope features James Rohr on keys, Greg Loughman on bass, and Mike Connors on drums. $12 in advance here, $15 day of show. FB event page – yup.
The records are in….. Confessions record release on 9/25/15 at Cuisine en Locale in Somerville!
Always great to play Fenway Park, especially with Jared and Jef….
Check out the premiere of our single “Beautiful Jane” in STEREOGUM HERE!
TELESCOPE plays just down the street from my home at the Roslindale Farmer’s Market this Saturday September 5th, from 11am to 1pm. We’ll be in the tent in the middle of the green in Roslindale center. Bring the family and buy some veggies!
I LOVE my Danocaster guitars and use them all week, every week. For new F-style guitars, you simply cannot beat their feel, sound and playability. Check them out! http://danocaster.com/
The Confessions were onsite this past weekend shooting video in NYC and Boston for our new song “This Lonely Road” off of our forthcoming record “Far End of the World”. That’s director/cinematographer Joshua Black Wilkins behind the camera. He’s making this thing….
Stay tuned for the record release on 9/25/15 at Cuisine en Locale in Somerville, MA!
https://www.facebook.com/bcandtheconfessions
www.joshuablackwilkins.com/
Have been having a great time teaming up with singer/songwriter/guitarist and friend Bob Bradshaw.
Look for his new record and live dates soon!
http://www.bobbradshaw.net/
I was graciously asked to add guitar to the new recording by The Rosenthals.
They are a fantastic family band led by my friend Dan Rosenthal (trumpet) and his father, Phil Rosenthal (Seldom Scene).
Some fine bluegrass/folk/jazz– check them out!
http://www.therosenthals.org/TheRosenthals/The_Rosenthals.html
Happy to announce the release of the new album. You can buy it here!
Very much looking forward to January 30th to celebrate the release of my trio’s new record, “Small Victory”. I am in fine company with Jef Charland and Eric Rosenthal. Joining us will be one of my heroes, David Tronzo. Hope you can make it!
Friday, January 30 at 7:00pm
lilypad in Cambridge, Massachusetts
7:30PM – The Regattabar – Cambridge, MA
New Tunes! New Line-up!
Klezperanto kicks off the 2nd Annual Regattabar Klezfest
with Klezwoods
I am proud to announce the release of my latest record, “Air Traffic Controller”. This is a group called Telescope, as the band is designed around the Telecaster guitar. We recorded the band live at Q Division Studio A. There are no overdubs, except for a theremin bit. The tunes are mostly my originals.
Andrew Stern– telecaster, tunes
James Rohr– piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond organ
Greg Loughman– bass
Mike Connors– drums
The album is available here:
Upcoming Telescope gigs:
Oct 20th: Midway Cafe
Oct 21st: Beat Hotel
Nov 12th: The Beehive
Download the Album / Buy the CD
click here for audio samples
New records for Telescope and Andrew Stern Trio are presently being mixed and mastered, as is the new Naftule’s Dream album.
Every Wednesday night at at 10:10 pm at the Lily Pad in Inman Square.
