Don Stiernberg

Don Stiernberg learned to play the mandolin from jazz mandolin pioneer Jethro Burns. More than three decades later he is still playing, teaching, and writing about the mandolin. In addition to numerous guest appearances, he has seven projects of his own available.The first of those (About Time, Blue Night Records, 1999) was featured on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. The latest, (Swing 220, Blue Night Records, 2010) appeared on Acoustic Guitar magazine's Best of 2010 list. He is also a respected teacher at mando-centric events from coast to coast (Mandolin Symposium, Kaufman Kamp) and abroad (International Mandoline Akademy, Germany, Carlo Aonzo Accademia di Mandolino, Italy). Don has written the jazz column for Mandolin Magazine since its inception, and has a tutorial for Mel Bay Inc. in the can. Recently the acoustic trio with Don and his mandolin along with Jim Cox on bass and Andy Brown on guitar has been a favorite performance vehicle. For years now Jim has been introduced as "Everyone's Favorite Bass Player", a testimony to his steady work in the jazz and cabaret field with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Liza Minelli, and Marian McPartland. Jim also plays bluegrass, klezmer, pop and folk, appearing on countless recordings and freelancing around Chicago when not playing tour dates. Similarly, Andy Brown is the go-to guy around Chicago for jazz guitar. In spite of his young age, he is comfortable playing everything: solo, traditional, bebop and modern. Recordings of his own and with his vocalist wife Petra Van Nuis are critically acclaimed in Downbeat and Just Jazz Guitar. The trio specializes in hard-swinging improvised arrangements of standards and originals, with the occasional vocal added here and there. 2011 promises to be an exciting year for the three Chicagoans as they head to Seattle, Denver, Germany, Brazil, and who knows where else....