# Live review: An absolutely delightful – Mike Stern and his friends big concert at our Europe Jazz Blues Festival 2025: Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2025/08/09/live-review-an-absolutely-delightful-mike-stern-and-his-friends-big-concert-at-our-europe-jazz-blues-festival-2025-photos/
- Published: 2025-08-09T18:54:37+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**EU welcomed an virtuoso guitarist, Jazz icon Mike Stern and his friends at our
Europe Jazz Blues Festival 2025 in Big Concert Hall, Prague, Czechia.**

This year’s festival feature internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist Mike Stern.
Stern, a six-time GRAMMY® nominee, is known for his work with Miles Davis and his
prolific solo career.

He be join by a talented ensemble, including saxophonist Bob Franceschini, bassist
Edmond Gilmore, drummer Juan Chiavassa, and guitarist, vocalist Leni Stern.

Whether you’re a lifelong jazz fan or a newcomer to the genre, EU Jazz Blues Festival
at The Wharf offers a rare opportunity to hear world-class live music – in an intimate
outdoor environment.

![Mike Stern's Top Five Tips for Guitarists | GuitarPlayer](https://i0.wp.com/cdn.
mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VfUaXFoKvA5BDb4NEgTNsB-1200-80.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

From Jazz guitar virtuoso Mike Stern’s audiences were most definitely in for a treat.
Leaning on the bar at the back of the room, Stern was signing a few CDs for the 
loyal listenership still hanging around from the previous set earlier in the evening.

Observing how accommodating he is with his admirers; it was refreshing to see the
internationally famous artist having no airs about himself, his energy directed 
more towards making his followers feel important.

After an introduction, Mike Stern and band hit the ground running with “Half Crazy,”
a tune from his latest album Trip. After an ostensibly random intro of guitar and
piano noodling seemingly keyless lines with the occasional high pitched sax bursts,
this was all juxtaposed against a very hip high hat/snare and bass swing rhythm.

![Leni Stern Interview with Jazz Guitar Life – Jazz Guitar Life](https://i0.wp.com/
www.thejazzguitarlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ls-678x381.jpg?resize=640%2C360&
ssl=1)

Magically, the individual lines all converged into a glorious head of melody resulting
in the tunes’ central groove. So Infectious.

As the night progressed, we heard other tunes from including “Blueprint” and the
album’s title song among others, all with deep grooves firmly in place along with
outstanding soloing from all on stage.

In traditional jazz fashion, the recognizable format the band employs is well known
to the jazz aficionados in attendance: Introductions lead into the “head” or A section
where the main melody is offered, usually twice, followed by a B section, then back
to the A section, where the tune then repeats the formula for the benefit of improvisation.

Improv of course, is the main philosophy behind jazz – where each musician can explore
new ideas and effectively tell a story while never playing the same solo twice.

The solos in evidence this evening proved to be absolutely delightful; further proof
that Stern’s three “accompanists” were tremendous virtuosic soloists in their own
right.

![Edmond Gilmore - YouTube](https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/ytc/AIdro_nTEimGeDIY069464-
c_S6fgUSu7ZSg3hY3qSjKAZvYDsC8=s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)

Edmond Gilmore was the consummate bassist who brought to mind Victor Wooten and 
Hadrien Feraud; Gilmore’s technique was astounding. Richie Morales’ drumming exhibited
an enhanced sense of time; his soloing was dynamic and inventive.

Dale Walsh’s saxophone was a highlight, interweaving with Stern in such elaborate
yet eloquent ways, one assumes they have played together for years.

The timbre of Walsh’s instrument was equal to his chops – just superb. Stern’s wife,
the excellent guitarist and vocalist Leni Stern, was also on this tour with the 
band but was not featured in this particular set.

![Victor Wooten, Dennis Chambers & Bob Franceschini Budapest Getcloser Jazz Feszt.
MOM 2018. 11. 07.](https://i0.wp.com/i.ytimg.com/vi/PzRVWpMdUI0/hq720.jpg?w=640&
ssl=1)

Throughout the night, when you think Stern’s chops can’t get any better, they do.
He was in top form and repeatedly captivated the audience, as evidenced by the audience’s
instant and consistent applause.

Stern’s dialogue with the audience was most entertaining as he occasionally explained
the motivating ideas behind selected tunes. On several occasions, he took the time
to praise his bandmates and recognize them for the stellar musicians that they are.

When the band reassembled for the encore, he asked for any requests, when a voice
from the audience shouted “Hendrix!” With a nod and a wink from Stern, the band 
proceeded with quite the hip version of “Purple Haze.” A tremendously fun ending
to a most memorable set.

There is quite a story behind Stern’s latest album, Trip. On July 3, 2016, he was
crossing a street in Manhattan when he tripped over some camouflaged construction
debris that was not supposed to be there. Using both his hands to break the fall,
Stern broke both of his arms and has nerve damage in his right hand. Not unlike 
drummers Ray Levier and Phil Collins, who both had to glue their drum sticks to 
their hands after similar debacles, Stern glues the pick to his thumb and forefinger
to help his grip.

![Juan Chiavassa | Really fun times playing with one of my heroes ...](https://encrypted-
tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTKlH8Q4yfs0J6UMh3GdD-WfHUHQovi-Rz5AaKN4FCG_ZUul_fxRUNz24u7IZh97kqFHlc&
usqp=CAU)

Amazingly, after multiple surgeries, he was back playing gigs only three months 
after the accident. “There’s no way I was going to give up, I love playing too much,”
Stern told me after the show. As he tells the story to his audiences, it becomes
evident that he has embraced the accident in the aim of turning it into a positive.

It makes one think of the great Django Reinhardt who, after having his left hand
burned in a fire, continued to play amazingly with only two viable fingers on his
left hand.

To say that Mike Stern is an inspiration is an understatement. Such evidence of 
sheer determination is more than a profile in courage; it’s a testimonial to his
unwavering perseverance. It is no coincidence he titled his latest album Trip.

As Stern and I were wrapping up our conversation at the end of the evening, he turned
to me and said, “Hey, I like your last name. It rhymes with my motto — keep going.”

**By Olivia Peevas**

![Mike Stern Returned to the Stage in Istanbul! - Jazz Dergisi](https://i0.wp.com/
www.jazzdergisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/mike1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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