Bernie Kenerson
Innovator and multi-instrumentalist, Bernie Kenerson says it’s time to bring the Akai EWI 4000s out to the forefront and give it some r-e-s-p-e-c-t! With his talent and ability, he will do just that. He’s a producer, composer and arranger who plays many different electric wind instruments, saxophones, flutes, clarinets and keyboards. He was born to musical parents and began playing clarinet at age 7, sax at age 10 and flute at age 13. He started his professional career at age 16 in his hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He joined the U. S. Army at age 17 and has fourteen years experience as an instrumentalist and arranger in Army Bands. His musical studies include a Two Year Professional Diploma from Berklee College of Music and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Appalachian State University where he formed the Neo-jazz band, ‘Slipstream’, and the group’s self produced album ‘Afterglow’ received Downbeat magazine’s 1982 DeeBee award for best college group and Bernie received an Outstanding Soloist award on Lyricon. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Bernie lived in Brussels, Belgium where he performed in a variety of groups at concerts and festivals throughout Western Europe, Scandinavia and Morocco. Bernie moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in May 1995 and has been busy performing and recording; highlighted by three years in the house band at the Jasmine Supper Club (a 7 night-a-week jazz venue) where he performed nightly and shared the stage with jazz artists’ Gato Barbieri, Kim Waters, The Yellowjackets, Joe Beck, Bob James, and the legendary Jimmy Smith. Bernie can be heard on many Beach Music CDs, including 11 that made the Beach Music top 100 and has received three Cammy Awards. He’s currently performing with Dedicated Magic, Make My Jingle Electric, his own band the Bernie Kenerson Group and working on solo CD projects. Bernie began performing on electric wind instruments in April 1978 with the Lyricon. He now plays the new Akai EWI 4000s as his main instrument and displays a wealth of expression and artistry on this unique electric horn. His new CD release “Just You & Me” (The Art of the EWI) is getting national/international airplay and rave reviews, currently on the playlists of over 100 stations in 36 States and 11 Countries. It merges a traditional jazz approach with Bernie’s original contemporary jazz compositions which feature the EWI as the lead instrument with a wonderful live rhythm section. His current rhythm section is Sam Favata-guitar, Gary Craddock-bass and Art Weiss-drums/percussion. Reviewer Chris Spector Says, “A first class set throughout, this jazzbo knows how to deliver, the kind of cat well primed to take this electronic instrument to the next level of the game.” Scott O’Brian of SmoothJazz.com says, “His playing is brilliant, and with a live rhythm section he completely immerses himself in the improvisation and energy of his instrument and, more importantly, conveys it convincingly to his listeners.” For the newest smooth and sophisticated sounds in jazz, Bernie and his group are a pleasure to hear and his EWI playing is exciting and refreshing.
My earliest influences were Big Band swing and small group jazz. My first influence was Benny Goodman on Clarinet and then Paul Desmond on Alto Sax. I was turned onto playing the flute by Herbie Mann and Ian Anderson. Grew up listening to a lot of Rock and am influenced by varoius lead guitarists and early synth players (Jimmy Hendrix, Rick Wakeman & Kieth Emerson). I'm a child of funk and fusion. Weather Report, Return To Forever, Herbie Hancock-Headhunters , Mahavisnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, Brecker Brothers, Steps Ahead, Funkadellics, Tower Of Power, James Brown, Con Funk Shun, Brothers Johnson, to name a few. I'm very influeced by the last fifty years of jazz. Bird, Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Miles, Cannonball Adderley, Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter, and most of the Blue Note stuff. Also influenced by the last 35 years of commercial jazz and smooth jazz. David Sanborn, Joe Farrell, Grover Washington, Tom Scott, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Najee, Kenny G, Boney James, George Howard, George Benson, Gato Barbieri, John Klemmer and The Yellowjackets. My EWI playing is mainly influenced by Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Joe Zawinul, Tom Schuman, Jan Hammer Bob Mintzer and Michael Brecker. My favorite band is The Yellowjackets. My favorite musician is the late great MICHAEL BRECKER.