Artist:Don Stiernberg
Song:Topsy
Album:Swing 220
Don Stiernberg is a leading proponent of jazz mandolin. Most music fans should be familiar with the mandolin in country, folk and bluegrass. From what I can tell, Stiernberg is about the only one playing jazz on the mandolin. He was born Feb. 11, 1956 in Chicago. He was taught to play mandolin by Jethro Burns of the popular comedy act Homer and Jethro. Apparently Burns was running radio commercials in Chicago for mandolin lessons and Stiernberg's parents made him go. It turned out to be the best decision Stiernberg ever made as it has turned into a fifty year music career. At first Stiernberg was in the bluegrass band The Morgan Brothers with his brother John Stiernberg on banjo. Then he toured with Jethro Burns in the 80s. Stiernberg first recorded as a leader in 1992 mostly on his own label with CD Baby distribution. This version of the Benny Goodman standard Topsy is from Stiernberg's 2010 album Swing 220 with former Woody Herman bassist Rusty Holloway and veteran sideman Jeff Jenkins on keyboards. Stiernberg last recorded in 2013 but he still tours and like his mentor Jethro Burns he teaches mandolin to future generations. Here's Don Stiernberg with Trio Vibracao with Oliver Waitze on guitar, Jesper Rubner-Petersen on mandolin and Max Schaaf on bass performing Topsy at New Acoustic Gallery in Germany Nov. 13, 2011.
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