Review: Jazz great underscores why this Berkeley venue is among Bay Area’s best

The California Jazz Conservatory offers one of the most incredible concert experiences in the Bay Area.

And the No. 1 reason why is the intimate setting.

That point was driven home once again during the Mike Stern concert at the CJC’s Rendon Hall in Berkeley on Friday night (May 5).

There he was — one of the world’s greatest guitarists, a jazz giant who has plaued alongside such icons as Miles Davis, Billy Cobham and Jaco Pastorius — performing in front of a crowd of a little more than 30 people.

Yes, 30 people.

Granted, it wasn’t a sold-out show. But at full capacity, we are only talking about 100 people. So, that should definitely motivate jazz fans to get acquainted with this amazingly intimate venue, which further distinguishes itself with its crystal-clear acoustics.

The setting — which brings to mind the kind of small underground jazz room in New York City that only “those in the know” can locate — regularly hosts concerts with local artists as well as the conservatory’s own wonderfully talented students and faculty. Yet, it also occasionally hosts major jazz touring acts as part of its JAMBAR Presents series.

Stern landed in Berkeley to perform two JAMBAR shows — Friday and Saturday — as well as teach a guitar masterclass. (Saturday’s concert is at 8 p.m. and tickets are $40, https://cjc.edu/.)

The Boston native — who has released 18 recordings as a bandleader, six of which have been nominated for Grammys — was accompanied onstage by his wife, Leni Stern, an accomplished German-born guitarist and singer. The latter Stern was nicely showcased during the opening number, “Like a Thief,” which was the sole vocal number of the evening as well.

Leni Stern showed her versatility as she performed that opener on ngoni, a traditional West African guitar that produces some lovely, yet raw sounds and seems to share a bit of common musical ground with the banjo.

Filling out the quintet, with much style and talent, were three CJC faculty members — Dann Zinn on saxophone, Jeff Denson on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums — who had only recently met the bandleader.

“We just rehearsed today,” Stern remarked of his new bandmates for the CJC stand. “I can’t remember everybody’s name — anybody’s name — but they all sound great.”

The group then ventured into the most powerful number of the night — a roaring take on John Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C.” from 1960’s “Giant Steps” album — highlighted by a dizzying run on the axe from Stern himself, as well as satisfying leads from every other musician on the stage.

The quintet remained in high gear for “You Never Know” — one of Stern’s best originals — which was released on 1996’s “Between the Lines.”

The number also offered up a moment that greatly underscored the intimacy of the performance, as Stern walked within a few feet of a few people in the front row as he continued to strum his way through the thick, bluesy rocker. He then further leaned over to the fans, so that he was within touching distance, and quietly asked “Is the sound alright?” without ever missing a beat in the song.

That moment also highlighted the fact that Stern has long come across as one of the nicest guys in all of music. He greets fans like old friends and acts like a fan himself when it comes to supporting the other players onstage.

At one point in Berkeley, he actually yelled out — “Yeah, baby!” — after Zinn finished up one of his many impressive runs on the tenor sax.

The group concluded the six-song, approximately 80-minute set in exhilarating fashion with Miles Davis’ “Jean-Pierre,” a tune that Stern recorded –= not once, but twice — as part of the great trumpeter’s band on the 1982 double-live album “We Want Miles.” (The solo that Stern does in the first version, which kicks off the set, stands tall among the guitarist’s many career highlights.)

He then flashed that big smile of his — which is every bit as electric as his guitar playing — and bid the small crowd goodnight with the kind of enthusiasm that some artists might reserve for a Madison Square Garden send-off.

“You guys are beautiful,” he exclaimed. “Thank you for the vibes.”