>music-10 originals plus unique versions of 4 cover tunes: (1) LIGHT MY FIRE (the Doors/J.Feliciano); (2) THE WAY YOU MOVE (Earth, Wind & Fire w. Kenny G); (3)JUST MY IMAGINATION (the Temptations); and (4)DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS? (Chicago).
Bernard has worked as a leader/co-leader of guitar-organ trios and quartets in Chicago in the past while also spending several years working as a social worker and vocational rehabilitation counselor ("sort of like Al Jarreau's dual-career experience as a counselor and musician before deciding on music fulltime," Bernard says). Bernard played weekly at Andy's Jazz Club, one of Chicago's premier jazz clubs, for over 10 years and has extensive club/restaurant, special events and festival/fair experience. For over 15 years, most of his work has been as a solo performer, using his knowledge of MIDI technology to program music sequencers to get an exciting sound enjoyed by audiences that see his performances. In addition to the contemporary jazz heard on his cds, Bernard also plays standards and classic jazz songs (check out music page for samples).
'A New Day' has received very favorable reviews and featured airplay on several internet radio programs worldwide. In the U.K., his music has been featured on 4 programs: Rod Lucas' very popular 'Best Smooth Jazz' & 'Best Smooth Grooves'; SmoothGroovers.com ("Dr Groove" & "Professor Smooth"); Colin Hughes' "Strawberry Jazz"; and Denis Pooles's "Smooth Jazz Therapy" (see PRESS page for his review). Elsewhere in Europe, in August, 2011 Bernard's music was added to Wes George's very popular JazzNet247.com 'StreetJazz' program in Austria.
In the U.S., 'A New Day' has been played on several stations, including: Sal Calfa's "Smooth Jazz Affair"; Jazzy Lounge.com; Chris Acton's "The Wav" (see LINKS page); Art Shorter's WITD podcast (NJ); WRTC-Trinity College; KPOO (San Francisco); and WGVE (Gary). In Australia, Bernard's music from 'A New Day' and his previous cd, 'Late Arrival' received airplay on Carol Hayes' "All The Best" program in Shoalhaven (now being heard on the Ohzone in Taiwan). In June, 2011, Bernard's music was added to Graham Johnson's popular 'Early A.M. Attitude' smooth jazz show playlist on 90.5 (Australia). Four additional Australian stations have also featured tracks from the cd,'A New Day' which has been ranked #1 on RadioDirectx's smooth jazz/NAC chart for over 7 months.
Bernard's first cd, 'Late Arrival', received airplay on terrestrial and internet stations in Chicago (V-103; WBEE); Minneapolis; Milwaukee; San Francisco: New Orleans; and Portland (OR). His original tune, 'High Steppin' was a feature-of the-month song on the Swiss radio program "Swiss Grooves".
The influences of Wes Montgomery and George Benson can be heard in Bernard's playing style.However, he strives to acheive his own interpretations of their styles and, on his latest cd, several additional sources of inspiration can also be heard (eg. guitarists Lee Ritenour,Larry Carlton, Kenny Burrell, Grant Green, Earl Klugh, Carlos Santana, Ronny Jordan; plus the Crusaders, Azymuth(Brazilian jazz-funk), Hugh Masekela (Afropop), Incognito, Grover Washington jr., David Sanborn, Fourplay, and DTTB). Early in his career, Bernard was inspired by both R&B (Motown, Memphis/Stax sound, James Brown, Kool & The Gang, Rufus/Chaka Khan, The Philly sound, Maze, Earth,Wind & Fire, Bobby Womack, War, Curtis Mayfield), jazz (MilesDavis,Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Art Blakey,Eddie Harris,Cannonball Adderley, Jimmy Smith, Barney Kessel, Pat Martino), and Blues.
"On 'A NEW DAY' I decided not to take the safe route; I didn't want to produce a one-dimensional boring project," says Bernard.On this cd, the listener is introduced to some of the styles I like and use when playing live," he adds. "LIGHT MY FIRE represents the guitar/organ funk jazz sound that I grew up playing (after R&B) and was very popular in Chicago; A NEW DAY, DOWN TO THE WIRE, JUST MY IMAGINATION, and NICE N'EASY represent what's been labeled smooth jazz; CHI-TOWN STRUT, THE WAY YOU MOVE, and KEEP ON STEPPIN' are uptempo grooves inspired by the urban "steppers" popularity; S.O.S. is a funky tune with an Afrobeat rhythm inspired by my interest in Afropop music; BOSSAMBA combines elements of the contemporary Brazilian sound; WHERE IS LOVE? has a smooth Latin-influenced vibe; DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS? is done in a more traditional jazz style; NEW BEGINNING and FUTURE STEPS were the result of my interest in the "chill music" genre."
Website :- www.bernardalcornmusic.com
