An electrifying soloist whose blistering chops combine rock-fusion firepower with sophisticated jazz harmonies and his inherently bluesy string bending prowess, Stern has the ability to instantly elevate the proceedings on any gig or session he plays by channeling the spirits of his own personal guitar heroes Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall and Albert King.

Born in Boston on January 10, 1953, Stern grew up in Washington, DC, then returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music.

He got his first big break with Blood, Sweat Tears in 1976 at age 23.

After touring and recording for two years with the popular rock band he was recruited by drummer Billy Cobham for a stint in his powerhouse fusion band Glass Menagerie from 1979 to early 1981.

Stern was subsequently recruited by Miles Davis and was part of the jazz legends celebrated comeback band (with bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Al Foster, percussionist Mino Cinelu and saxophonist Bill Evans), making his public debut with Miles on June 27, 1981 at the KIX nightclub in Boston, a performance documented on the 1982 live album We Want Miles.

During his three-year period with Miles, Stern appeared on two other recordings with the jazz maestro 1981s Man with the Horn and 1983s Star People.

In 1985, Stern made his recording debut as a leader with Neesh on the Japanese Trio label.

A year later, he made his Stateside debut as a leader on Atlantic Records withUpside Downside, which featured such celebrated colleagues as alto saxophonist David Sanborn, tenor saxophonist Bob Berg, bassists Mark Egan, Jeff Andrews and Jaco Pastorius, keyboardist Mitch Forman and drummers Dave Weckl and Steve Jordan.

Over the next two years, Stern was a member of Michael Breckers potent quintet, appearing on the tenor titans Dont Try This At Home.

That powerhouse fusion outfit was documented on Live in Tokyo 1986.

Sterns second Atlantic album, 1988s Time In Place, featured drummer Peter Erskine, keyboardists Jim Beard and Don Grolnick, bassist Jeff Andrews and percussionist Don Alias.

He followed in 1989 with Jigsaw, which included Mikes menacing ode to Miles, Chief, and in 1991 with Odds Or Evens, the latter featuring the working group that Stern co-led with saxophonist Bob Berg and which also featured drummer Dennis Chambers and bassist Lincoln Goines.

In 1992, Stern joined Michael and Randy Brecker in a reunited Brecker Brothers Band, appearing on that years acclaimed release, Return of the Brecker Brothers.

Sterns own 1993 release on Atlantic,Standards (And Other Songs), earned him the pick of Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year by the readers and critics of Guitar Player magazine.

He followed that up with two hard hitting releases, 1994s Is What It Is and 1996s Between The Lines, both of which scored GRAMMY nominations.

In 1997, Stern recorded Give And Take with bassist John Patitucci, drummer Jack DeJohnette, percussionist Don Alias and special guests Michael Brecker and David Sanborn.

Their freewheeling covers of Sonny Rollins Oleo, John Coltranes Giant Steps, Cole Porters I Love You and Jimi Hendrixs Who Knows helped Stern earn the Orville W.

His ninth release for Atlantic, 1999s Play, was a six-string summit featuring his friends and colleagues Bill Frisell and John Scofield.

Then in 2001, Stern made his first foray into vocal music on the GRAMMY-nominated Voices, which featured key contributions from singers Richard Bona, Arto Tuncboyaciyan and Elisabeth Kontomanou.

After 15 years with Atlantic, Stern shifted to ESC for the 2004 release of These Times, an eclectic set that included guest appearances by some high-profile session players, including bassist Richard Bona, saxophonist Kenny Garrett and banjoist Bela Fleck.

Stern joined Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, with the August 2006 release of Who Let the Cats Out Included on the guest roster of this GRAMMY-nominated recording are bassist-singer Richard Bona, bassists Anthony Jackson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chris Minh Doky and Victor Wooten, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, saxophonists Bob Franceschini and Bob Malach, drummers Dave Weckl and Kim Thompson, harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret and keyboardistproducer Jim Beard.

Previous recipients include Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker and Charlie Haden.

Stern was also the artist in residence at the festival that summer of 2007, joining the renowned Yellowjackets for some electrifying live performances.

After You Mike Stern Midi