As a musician, he has played and recorded with artists such as Dave Matthews and Carlos Santana ("Supernatural"), Celine Dion ("Falling Into You" and "These are Special Times"), Michael and Randy Brecker (4 years on the road, 7 CDs), Chaka Khan ("The Woman I Am"), Richard Bona (phenom from Cameroon), Chris Minh Doky, Sadao Watanabe, Grover Washington, Jr., Till Brönner ("Midnight") and other well-known artists.
After 15 years with Atlantic, Stern shifted to ESC for the 2004 release of These Times, an eclectic set that included guest appearances by some high-profile session players –- bassist Richard Bona, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, and banjoist Bela Fleck.
His former students lead their own groups and have played with bands led by a wide range of jazz legends, such as Roy Haynes, Kenny Garrett, Elvin Jones, Pat Metheny, Cecil Taylor, Wynton Marsalis, Richard Bona, Joshua Redman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Charlie Haden, Terence Blanchard, Charlie Hunter, Anthony Braxton, Jimmy Smith, Eliane Elias, and Lonnie Plaxico.
Richard Nixon | Richard Wagner | Richard Strauss | Richard Branson | Cliff Richard | Richard Gere | Richard Burton | Richard Hammond | Richard | Richard Dawkins | Little Richard | Richard Feynman | Richard Attenborough | Richard M. Daley | Richard I of England | Richard Thompson | Richard Francis Burton | Richard Thompson (musician) | Richard Pryor | Richard Linklater | Richard III of England | Richard Petty | Richard II | Richard II of England | Richard E. Byrd | Maurice Richard Arena | Muhal Richard Abrams | Richard Herring | Richard Wright | Richard Stallman |
In 2007, she recorded album ID with such artist as Mino Cinelu, Christian McBride, Richard Bona, Branford Marsalis, Dhafer Youssef, Tord Gustavsen and Oscar Castro-Neves