Warren Bernhardt
Encyclopedia
Warren Bernhardt is a noted pianist in jazz, pop and classical music.
His father was a pianist, leading him to have early childhood exposure to piano, and he learned some rudiments of keyboarding from his friends. At five his parents moved to New York City
where he began studying seriously under varied instructors. After the death of his father in 1957 he quit music for a time to study chemistry and physics at the University of Chicago
. In that city he would be exposed to the blues and jazz, which would influence the rest of his career.
From 1961 to 1964 he worked in Paul Winter
's sextet, which led to his return to New York. Once in New York, he worked with George Benson
, Gerry Mulligan
, Jeremy Steig
and others. He also developed a close relationship with the legendary pianist Bill Evans
, who served as a mentor to Bernhardt. Bernhardt released several solo LPs in the 1970s, and eventually became a member of the jazz fusion
group Steps Ahead
while continuing to work on solo projects.
In 1971, he provided the piano accompaniment to Don McLean
's vocals in American Pie
's Crossroads.
The Warren Bernhardt Trio's Trio '83 CD (DMP CD-441) is believed to be the first fully digital jazz release when it appeared on Compact Disc and Digital Audio Tape
(DAT) in 1983 from DMP Digital Music Products
. Bernhardt has gone on to release additional jazz and classical recordings over the past twenty years, and is also featured in a series of highly-regarded jazz piano teaching sessions in both audio and video formats from Homespun Tapes.
Bernhardt toured as the musical director with Steely Dan
in the United States
from 1993–1994, and can be heard on Steely Dan's Alive in America
CD. He has more recently performed with Simon and Garfunkel
's Old Friends
tour, on Art Garfunkel's solo tours, and can be seen on the Art Garfunkel
DVD and HDTV presentation Across America.
In 2009, Bernhardt reunited with his band from 1973, "L'Image", featuring Mike Mainieri
, David Spinozza
, Tony Levin
and Steve Gadd
. The group performed at the Iridium Jazz Club
in New York City, toured Japan, and released the album "L'Image 2.0".
His father was a pianist, leading him to have early childhood exposure to piano, and he learned some rudiments of keyboarding from his friends. At five his parents moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he began studying seriously under varied instructors. After the death of his father in 1957 he quit music for a time to study chemistry and physics at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. In that city he would be exposed to the blues and jazz, which would influence the rest of his career.
From 1961 to 1964 he worked in Paul Winter
Paul Winter
Paul Winter is an American saxophonist , and is a six-time Grammy Award nominee.- Biography :Paul Winter attended Altoona Area High School and graduated in 1957...
's sextet, which led to his return to New York. Once in New York, he worked with George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, Gerry Mulligan
Gerry Mulligan
Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also...
, Jeremy Steig
Jeremy Steig
-Biography:Steig is the son of New Yorker cartoonist William Steig,At age 19 Steig was involved in a motorcycle accident which left him paralyzed on one side...
and others. He also developed a close relationship with the legendary pianist Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, who served as a mentor to Bernhardt. Bernhardt released several solo LPs in the 1970s, and eventually became a member of the jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
group Steps Ahead
Steps Ahead
Steps Ahead is a jazz fusion group and the brainchild of vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. According to the liner notes of the group's 1983 debut album , entitled Steps Ahead, "Steps began as a part-time venture in 1979 at Seventh Avenue South, a New York City nightclub." The group began releasing...
while continuing to work on solo projects.
In 1971, he provided the piano accompaniment to Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
's vocals in American Pie
American Pie (album)
American Pie is the title of a 1971 music album by Don McLean, best known for its title track about The Day the Music Died. The third track, "Vincent," is a tribute to the famed artist Vincent Van Gogh....
's Crossroads.
The Warren Bernhardt Trio's Trio '83 CD (DMP CD-441) is believed to be the first fully digital jazz release when it appeared on Compact Disc and Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
(DAT) in 1983 from DMP Digital Music Products
DMP Digital Music Products
DMP Digital Music Products was one of the first fully digital recording labels, generally specializing in jazz artists. Founded by engineer and digital recording pioneer Tom Jung after leaving Sound 80 recording studios in Minneapolis, its first releases in 1983 featured pianist Warren Bernhardt,...
. Bernhardt has gone on to release additional jazz and classical recordings over the past twenty years, and is also featured in a series of highly-regarded jazz piano teaching sessions in both audio and video formats from Homespun Tapes.
Bernhardt toured as the musical director with Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1993–1994, and can be heard on Steely Dan's Alive in America
Alive in America
Alive in America is a live album by the American jazz rock group Steely Dan, released in 1995. It is Steely Dan's first live album since their 1972 formation...
CD. He has more recently performed with Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
's Old Friends
Old Friends: Live on Stage
Simon & Garfunkel's Old Friends Live On Stage is a live documentary from their highly successful "Old Friends" reunion concert tour of 2003, with The Everly Brothers as special guests...
tour, on Art Garfunkel's solo tours, and can be seen on the Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel
Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...
DVD and HDTV presentation Across America.
In 2009, Bernhardt reunited with his band from 1973, "L'Image", featuring Mike Mainieri
Mike Mainieri
Michael T. Mainieri, Jr. is a vibraphonist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead....
, David Spinozza
David Spinozza
David Spinozza is an American musician , who worked with former Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon during the 1970s, and had a long collaboration with singer-songwriter James Taylor, producing Taylor's album Walking Man....
, Tony Levin
Tony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
and Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd is an American session and studio drummer, notable for his work with popular musicians from a wide range of genres.-Biography:...
. The group performed at the Iridium Jazz Club
Iridium Jazz Club
The Iridium Jazz Club is a jazz club located on Broadway in New York City. The club hosts weekly performances by John Colianni, and also featured weekly performances by Les Paul for nearly fifteen years.- History :...
in New York City, toured Japan, and released the album "L'Image 2.0".
External links
- Official site
- [ Allmusic]
- Homespun Tapes