Leni Stern (born 28 April 1952) is a German jazz guitarist and singer.

Early life

Stern was born Magdalena Thora, in Germany on 28 April 1952. She was interested in music from an early age, beginning piano studies at the age of six and taking on the guitar a few years later. She was an actress in Germany, including appearing on television, then enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in 1977. She lived in Boston until 1980, then moved to New York.

Later life and career

In 1983, she formed a band of her own with Paul Motian on drums and Bill Frisell on guitar. Vocals became a more important part of her music from the 1997 release of Black Guitar. She is married to guitarist Mike Stern.

Discography