Chuck Stern Explained

Chuck Stern
Birth Name:Charles Baker Stern
Birth Date:22 June 1979
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Current Member Of:Time of Orchids, Sculptress, Stern

Charles Baker Stern (June 22, 1979 – December 10, 2023) was an American composer, musician, writer, and visual artist known for his work in experimental music.[1] [2] [3] He was frontman and composer of Time of Orchids,[4] played in Sculptress,[5] and released solo and band works under the name Stern. He was born and lived in New York City. He died on December 10, 2023, at the age of 44.[6] [7]

Career

Stern was a programmer for public-access television station Manhattan Neighborhood Network.[8] He co-created Roboshithead, which The Village Voice called "the best public access show in New York,"[9] and It Changed :(, which won the 2011 Hometown Video Original Teleplay Award.

From 1999 to 2007, Stern was the frontman and composer for experimental band Time of Orchids.[10] Over the band's tenure, its lineup included Eric Fitzgerald, Jesse Krakow, David Bodie, Kim Abrams, Will Redmond, and Charlie Looker, with guest performances from Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell, Kate Pierson of The B-52's, and Julee Cruise of Twin Peaks.[11] [12] [13] Time of Orchids released six albums; two were self-released, with others appearing on Relapse, Epicene, Tzadik, and Cuneiform.

In 2008, Stern and Charlie Looker formed a duo project, Sculptress.

Also in 2008, after announcing the end of Time of Orchids, Stern began a new solo project releasing music under his last name. "Stern" eventually grew into a quartet including former Kayo Dot members Abrams, Byrnes, and Toby Driver, with releases by the band formation including Bone Turquoise (New Atlantis, 2015) and Missive: Sister Ships (Sleeping Giant Glossolalia, 2018).[14]

Stern later returned to solo project status with Sunder Hawk (2020).[15] [16] The album features guest performances from Abrams, Erin Mount, and Stern's mother, Ellen Stern, who died in 2023.[1] [17] Stern's final release was Black Votive (2022).[18]

Discography

As leader

Year Artist Title Label Personnel
2001Time of OrchidsMelonwhisperRelapse / AquariusStern, Charlie Looker, Will Redmond, Jesse Krakow, Kim Abrams ft. guest Marilyn Crispell
2003Time of OrchidsMuch Too Much FunStern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald, ft. guest Kate Pierson
2004Time of OrchidsEarly As Seen in PaceEpiceneStern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald
2005Time of OrchidsSarcast WhileTzadikStern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, David Bodie ft. guests Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, Julee Cruise
2007Time of OrchidsNamesake CautionCuneiformStern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, Bodie[19]
2010Time of OrchidsIn Due TimeStern, Krakow, Abrams, Fitzgerald, Bodie, Looker[20]
2010SternDredge Up Eventide Stern ft. guests Byrnes, Victoria Kereszi[21]
2010SternThe Largo SanctumStern ft. guests Laura Vickers, Ian Garrick-Bethell, Katie Stern, Wendell Edwards[22]
2011SternPath XStern ft. guest Looker[23]
2012SternEntitlementStern, Abrams, Byrnes, Toby Driver[24]
2015SternBone TurquoiseNew AtlantisStern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver[25]
2018SternMissive: Sister ShipsSleeping Giant GlossolaliaStern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver
2020SternSunder HawkStern ft. guests Abrams, Erin Mount, Ellen Stern
2022SternBlack VotiveStern

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Manning . Todd . Stern . Burning Ambulance . 19 December 2023 . 7 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Currin . Grayson Haver . Stern: Bone Turquoise Album Review . Pitchfork . 19 December 2023 . 14 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Murphy . Scott . Stern – Missive: Sister Ships . Heavy Blog is Heavy . 19 December 2023 . 10 August 2018.
  4. Web site: Mason . Stewart . Time of Orchids . AllMusic . 19 December 2023.
  5. Web site: Weingarten . Christopher . Download: Tracks By Charlie Looker's Extra Life And Sculptress . The Village Voice . 19 December 2023 . 21 June 2011.
  6. Web site: Anderl . Timothy . Stomping Grounds: Chuck Stern (Stern) on New York, New York . Ghetto Blaster Magazine . 19 December 2023 . 12 August 2015.
  7. Web site: Charles Stern . Legacy.com . 19 December 2023.
  8. Web site: It Changed :(wins Hometown Video Award . Manhattan Neighborhood Network . 19 December 2023 . 3 August 2011.
  9. Web site: Torgovnick . Kate . Even Among a Sea of Cable Channels and the Explosion of YouTube, Public Access Remains Vital . Huffington Post . 19 December 2023 . 13 September 2007.
  10. Web site: The Porcelain Throne: Time of Orchids . The Toilet Ov Hell . 19 December 2023 . 3 June 2015.
  11. Web site: Time of Orchids: Sarcast While . Tzadik . 19 December 2023.
  12. Web site: Review: Time of Orchids "Sarcast While" . Aversion Online . 19 December 2023 . 19 May 2005.
  13. Web site: Time of Orchids . Metal Music Archives . 19 December 2023.
  14. Web site: Bellino . Emily . Video Premiere: Stern – ‘Missive: Sister Ships’ . Decibel . 19 December 2023 . 10 July 2018.
  15. Web site: Grella . George . Cohan . Brad . March Listings . Brooklyn Rail . 19 December 2023.
  16. Web site: Sunder Hawk . Bandcamp . 19 December 2023.
  17. Web site: Ellen Stern . Legacy.com . 19 December 2023.
  18. Web site: Black Votive . Bandcamp . 19 December 2023.
  19. Web site: Time of Orchids: Namesake Caution . Sea of Tranquility . 19 December 2023 . 15 October 2007.
  20. Web site: In Due Time . Bandcamp . 19 December 2023.
  21. Web site: Dredge Up Eventide . Bandcamp . 19 December 2023.
  22. Web site: The Largo Sanctum . Bandcamp . 19 December 2023.
  23. Web site: Path X . Bandcamp . 19 December 2023.
  24. Web site: Entitlement . Bandcamp . 19 December 2023.
  25. Web site: Phipps . Grant . Stern: Bone Turquoise - Music Review . No Ripcord . 19 December 2023 . 12 August 2015.