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Warren Bernhardt Trio
Posted on 2024-06-29
Something Blue - Modern - Featuring Warren Bernhardt
I played the show on anonradio while chatting with the other DJs in com. This is my running commentary while we listened.
Here's a link to the show where you can listen and read the script. I go into a lot more detail in the commentary.
https://sbblues.com/2023/08/05/modern/
I just want to add this. I listened to New Jazz On Campus a lot when I was in High School. It was my brother's record. He was in a fraternity with Warren Bernhardt and he was listed on the album so I must have known his name.
But it was the sixties and I forgot. I remember watching the Steely Dan tour on Youtube and wondering who was playing jazz piano. In 2013 I was playing with a drummer who liked Steps Ahead so I started listening. Still nothing clicked. It wasn't until a few years ago, after Warren Bernhardt had passed, that I started putting the pieces together.
I listened to him in High School and often since then without making the Oh! that's Warren Bernhardt, connection. Listening to him now I realize what a profound influence his music has been on me and my understanding of jazz piano. I like what he plays. I try to play the way he plays. And that's been true even before I made the connection.
So, here's the commentary.
The sound of Bebop Beatniks playing Georgia means that Something Blue is about to begin.
Exceptional show this week featuring Warren Bernhardt.
Steps Ahead – Modern Times
L’Image, Hidden Drive
Paul Winter Sextet, Marilia
Warren Bernhardt was my brother's fraternity brother when The Paul Winter Sextet recorded this, his song Marilia.
Because of the success of the New Jazz On campus album they became Goodwill Ambassadors to Latin America.
So that means they met JFK.
When they got back from Latin America they did a Bossa album.
The trio we're listening to now is Warren Bernhardt, piano - Eddie Gomez, bass - Paul Erskine, drums.
A jazz Hall Of Fame in three pieces.
Warren Bernhardt Trio, Fun Ride
L’Image, Praise
Another Warren Bernhardt song this one gospel and blues.
L'Image is both pre and post Steps/Steps Ahead but with Steve Gadd on drums and no Michael Brecker.
Mike Mainieri: Vibraphone
Warren Bernhardt: Keyboards
David Spinozza: Guitar
Tony Levin: Bass, Chapman Stick
Steve Gadd: Drums
Vibes and piano is a thing to me.
MJQ with Milt Jackson and John Lewis.
L'Image and Steps/Steps Ahead with Mike Mainieri and Warren Bernhardt.
In Bebop Beatniks I have played with Craig Collison on vibes, then Emily Lindley, and now my grandson, Conley Hunt.
[bobjonkman] hairylarry++ Getting in the plusplus while I'm still here. Great show so far.
One of my favorites.
I never met Warren Bernhardt when he was in college with my brother and it wasn't until much later that I learned what a big influence he was on me and my ideas about jazz piano.
[x1] :) too
If you've ever seen the Steely Dan videos with Chris Potter on sax that was Warren Bernhardt playing jazz piano and he was musical director for the tour.
On the last song Donald Fagen calls him out by name.
Damn proud to have Warren Bernhardt in his band.
So in Steps Ahead he worked with Michael Brecker and on the Steely Dan tour he was Chris Potter's boss.
Both giants of jazz saxophone.
Around the turn of the millenia O'Donel Levy got in touch with Vivian and she would talk to him on the phone all the time. I featured him on Something Blue and Delta Boogie and not only did we get to meet Levy but we also became friends with his drummer.
Then about 2 years ago I learned about this O'Donel Levy album, Simba, with Warren Bernhardt on piano.
So I thought what is this, Dr. Who?
Warren Bernhardt Trio, B-Loose Blues
O’Donel Levy, Joni
O’Donel Levy, Nigerian Knights
After Warren Bernhardt played with Paul Winter he moved to Woodstock, New York, where he recorded with O'Donel Levy and was a founding member of L'Image and Steps.
Like Steve Gadd he played all kinds of music. Besides the Steely Dan tour he toured with Paul Simon and on the Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour. And many others.
I'm going to work this walk through of the show into an article.
That's O'Donel Levy on guitar now.
He was mentioned in the hard bop book.
Steps Ahead, Self Portrait
Warren Bernhardt Trio, New Samba
Steps/Steps Ahead forged a new direction for jazz featuring the EWI work of Michael Brecker. And tenor.
They did this while I was working and raising a famiily so I didn't hear their music until much later in spite of already being a fan of most of the musicians in the group.
Steps Ahead − Modern Times - Michael Brecker, Warren Bernhardt, Peter Erskine, Eddie Gomez, Mike Mainieri
Eddie Gomez played with Bill Evans on many of his most famous albums.
Peter Erskine was a founding member of Weather Report and Steps/Steps Ahead.
On New Samba they are playing with Warren Bernhardt.
It don't get no better than this.
I don't usually put this much work into a Something Blue show.
It was a labor of love.
[x1] but that was nice :) and the beautiful metadata in com
Thanks
And thanks for listening.
I'll send a link on the anonradio mailing list when I post the article.
Bye
