"NEXT GEN," Acclaimed Guitarist John Stein's 19th Album, Inspired by His 5 Grandchildren

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Although guitarist JOHN STEIN has already released 18 highly regarded albums, his 19th and newest project, NEXT GEN, is particularly near and dear to his heart because he composed five of the tunes on the album for his five grandchildren. And like all recordings, Stein's mellifluous, soulful guitar playing is front and center.

Stein has had a storied career as a recording artist and an educator. He released his first album in 1995 and spent 36 years as a professor at Berklee College of Music. He has not slowed down much after retiring from Berklee in 2020. He released Serendipity in 2021, followed by 2022's Lifeline, a two-disc compilation that surveyed his nearly 30 years of recording. An album of new music, No Goodbyes, followed in 2023.

Looking at his entire body of work, it's clear that Stein is one of the most compelling guitarists on the jazz scene. The Boston Phoenix said, "John Stein is one of the finest jazz guitarists you'll ever hear, with beautiful touch, tone, swing, detail, and emotion. He is what you might call deep mainstream, surprising at every turn. Working with a clean, undistorted classic jazz-guitar sound, he renders maximum swing and expression."

Joining Stein on NEXT GEN are bass guitarist ED LUCIE and drummer MIKE CONNORS, two superb musicians and old friends who accompanied him on his previous release, No Goodbyes. Lucie, also a professor at Berklee, has performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists, including Buddy Rich, Stevie Wonder, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Peter Bernstein, and many others. Connors has toured internationally with many jazz, rock, and avant-pop groups as well as playing on national Broadway tours, performances for several television shows and film soundtracks. The group coalesced during Covid when they got together to play en plein air on people's porches.

Although Stein has been playing the guitar since he was seven years old, he first turned to music as a career at 30. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, he played in rock bands around the city as a teenager. But after a short stint in college, he moved to Vermont where he spent nearly 10 years, practicing carpentry, living in the backwoods with a wood stove and no electricity, but steadily building his guitar chops by playing rock and folk music with bar bands.

After a decade in Vermont playing rock, Stein felt the need for more musical challenge and decamped to Boston to study at Berklee where he worked on honing his craft. A talented student who became adept at the Berklee teaching method, the school offered him a position immediately after graduating, beginning a 36-year teaching stint. He was a professor in the Harmony Department when he retired.

The concept for NEXT GEN came about when he gave copies of No Goodbyes to his daughters and their families. After one of his daughters asked him when he would write music for his grandkids, Stein took on the challenge and composed five tunes that he named for each of them, inspired by their personalities.

Stein opens the album with "AJ, " which he wrote for one of his energetic granddaughters. The opening bassline sets the tone for this driving, minor blues. His composition, "Kai, " a brisk, straight 8th number, was written for his oldest grandson because he is a fast runner and on his school's track team.

He wrote "Ellie, " a bright, swinging tune, for his youngest granddaughter, a bubbly and spirited two-year-old. "Lidiana, " composed for another granddaughter, is an easy-going bossa that reflects her calm intelligence. Stein's second grandson, a cocky young man, is tributed with the swinging "Elyas."

Stein also presents several standards, including "Lover Man" in 12/8, "Star Eyes" in a straight 8th Latin groove, and Thelonious Monk's "Misterioso, " a slow blues. Lucie is a big fan of Steve Swallow so the group includes Swallow's jazz waltz, "Hullo Bolinas." The band digs into the groove on Wes Montgomery's "Road Song" and closes the album with Wayne Shorter's beautiful ballad "Infant Eyes."

John Stein reveals the heart of a song with sophisticated harmonic and rhythmic ideas supported by his flawless technique. Taste, restraint, and beautiful tone are key to his refined playing and composing. The trio of Stein, Lucie, and Connors, has been playing together for four years and it shows in their chemistry and like-mindedness. NEXT GEN is another stellar offering by one of the most masterful jazz guitarists on the scene today.

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NEXT GEN will be available digitally on selected platforms on January 31, 2025. Physical copies will be available at Johnstein.com.

Personnel:

John Stein, guitar

Ed Luce, bass

Mike Connors, drums

Track List:

1. AJ (5:09)

2. Lover Man (7:26)

3. Kai (5:35)

4. Star Eyes (6:32)

5. Ellie (4:13)

6. Misterioso (6:10)

7. Lidianna (5:58)

8. Elyas (4:19)

9. Hullo Bolinas (5:09)

10. Road Song (5:08)

11. Infant Eyes (5:18)

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