Mike Stern remembers the 55 Grand Street jazz scene in 1980s NYC 

We are So happy that You survived it all, Mike!

I don’t remember a bar called 55 Grand, but I did see Mike Stern more times than I can begin to remember at 55 Bar on Christopher St. I still remember sitting there nursing one of my two drink minimum beers and seeing Mike and his trio play Autumn Leaves. At the time I was semi capable garage punk/blues guitar player, and I’d never seen guitar played in that context. It was magic. By sheer coincidence, while looking for a guitar teacher to show me some jazz stuff, I saw an ad in the Village Voice that said ‘Emily Remler now accepting students’. I had no idea who she was! Best 3 month stretch of lessons of my life. NYC in the 80’s was fabulous.

this bit of film beautifully captures the ambivalence of people who got crazy with drugs and alcohol. They know for sure their playing is way better now that they are sober, but the memories of how much dangerous fun they had when they were totally wasted still brings a smile.

Beautiful memory of being invited to 55 Grand in 1982 by John Scofield, after a lesson I'd taken with him. Watched him play with Joe Lovano that night. Magic.

55 Grand Street was the 1st time I saw Mike Stern in person … playing with JACO (Using the yellow MXR Chorus pedal … is all so remembered about his rig gear ..🤗) His style playing …. Unmistakably recognizable 💥🙏🏽💥

Wow, just the last minute with the bootleg clip, I'd love to hear that in it's entirety!

Saw Mike there jamming with Sco. 55 Grand Street was a very cool hang with great musicians free to explore their creativity. 55 Christopher was great too!!! Mike is a groundbreaking musician who has inspired so many.

I saw Mike in late 80s at club 55....hes great! Inspired me tremendously...ps hope his wrist are 100% healed from fall he had...

Saw Mike and Jaco there a bunch. Hiram Bullock too. Amazing memories

Beautiful memory of being invited down to 55 Grand by John Scofield in 1982, after taking a lesson with him. Watched him play with Joe Lovano that night. A few months later I watched Mike Stern play with Billy Cobham at the Bottom Line. Those were Magical Days in NYC!

Its fun till its not. Rip JP. Mike- tremendous talent. Generous human being. 🙏

Hung there many times..in 80s

1982-83: I was 18-19, playing with a samba band Jaco loved. He invited us (Grupo Batucada) to join Word of Mouth band onstage at 55 Grand. One night after the set I sat at the bar BETWEEN my two heroes Jaco and Sterno. I simply couldn’t believe my luck. I was a bright eyed young drummer/percussionist living the dream… till I realized…these cats were all stringy haired hanging over their faces and pretty much incoherent … I was pretty naive and just thought…”Wow…these guys seem pretty wiped out …”… the conversation was severely limited and the music DID suffer … right then I figured… maybe that type of hang ain’t for me, even if these guys are really geniuses, I mean REALLY geniuses !!! ❤️🥁🎶😎

I have seen Mike Stern several times live and it's playing is always brilliantly inspired. On one of his gigs with Richard bona I heard him sing and let me tell you he has an absolutely fantastic voice and they were both pitch perfect. While both are great on their respective instruments, they can also headline a singers.

Mike Stern for President! Rock on!

I head that the bar and Mike and Leni's place above it were called "55 Grams" by those who could play and hang.

Mike just looks so much like Malcon Young.

I guess the 55 Grand and the 55 Bar (closed now) are two different places ?

55 Grand Street was the first place I saw Mike Stern …. The same time I first saw JACO …,. The WORD OF MOUTH tour Kenwood (or Kenward ? Spell check ) Denard on drums …. MUSTAFA on trumpet …. Alex Foster in Sax …. And as guest ..some Drum Core Team from a University in Florida …

am i wrong or was this entire film uploaded at one point? i specitically remember this interview and an interview with jaco's son where "a midwestern nights dream" was playing

Does anyone know where the full recording of that piece at the end of this clip can be found? Sounds great!

I wish there were smart phones with vid cameras back then …

Only in New York ;-)

Straight from the horses mouth

I saw the cover photo and thought it was a woman... lol

I saw and heard Mike with Jaco's band , I love them both, but that was one of the most disappointing nights of my life. They were both totally wasted and stunk the joint up big time. Luckily Mike straightened himself out and is doing well. In hindsight it all seems clear, but at the time, we didn't know about Jaco's slow motion suicide. What a tragedy . . . . . . .