Will Bernard
Encyclopedia
Will Bernard is a guitarist and band leader from the San Francisco Bay Area
, now living in Brooklyn, New York. He has led the Will Bernard Band, Will Bernard Trio, Will Bernard 4-tet, and Motherbug.
Bernard's first major touring and recording was with Peter Apfelbaum's
Hieroglyphics Ensemble. In the mid 1990s he joined guitarists Charlie Hunter
and John Schott as T.J. Kirk. The band's name originally "James T. Kirk" tributed James Brown, Thelonious Monk and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Their second release, If Four Was One, received a 1997 Grammy Award
nomination. Bernard also received a Grammy Award nomination for his own Party Hats
in 2007.
Bernard has played with many musicians including Jai Uttal
and the Pagan Love Orchestra, The Coup
, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, MG5 (formerly Frequinox), Idris Muhammad
, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Zigaboo Modeliste, Groundation
and the Stanton Moore Trio
.
In January 2008 Bernard recorded his second album with the Palmetto label including John Medeski
on keyboards, Stanton Moore
on drums and Andy Hess
on bass which was released as Blue Plate Special
.
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, now living in Brooklyn, New York. He has led the Will Bernard Band, Will Bernard Trio, Will Bernard 4-tet, and Motherbug.
Bernard's first major touring and recording was with Peter Apfelbaum's
Peter Apfelbaum
Peter Apfelbaum is an American avant-garde jazz pianist, tenor saxophonist, drummer and composer born in Berkeley, California. He first emerged on the jazz scene in the late 1970s, performing with Carla Bley from 1978–1982 and touring with Warren Smith and Karl Berger. Around this time Apfelbaum...
Hieroglyphics Ensemble. In the mid 1990s he joined guitarists Charlie Hunter
Charlie Hunter
for the New Zealand racehorse trainer and driver see: Charlie HunterCharlie Hunter is an American guitarist, composer and bandleader....
and John Schott as T.J. Kirk. The band's name originally "James T. Kirk" tributed James Brown, Thelonious Monk and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Their second release, If Four Was One, received a 1997 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination. Bernard also received a Grammy Award nomination for his own Party Hats
Party Hats (album)
Party Hats is a jazz studio album by Will Bernard recorded in 2006 and released in 2007. Party Hats received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album of 2007...
in 2007.
Bernard has played with many musicians including Jai Uttal
Jai Uttal
Jai Uttal is an American musician and singer-songwriter born in New York City. Often performing with his "Pagan Love Orchestra," Jai's music is influenced by his R&B roots of the 1960s and '70s and by traditional Indian music, which he first became familiar with at age 19.When he was 19, Jai moved...
and the Pagan Love Orchestra, The Coup
The Coup
The Coup is a political hip hop group based in Oakland, California. It formed as a three-member group in 1992 with emcees Raymond "Boots" Riley and E-Roc along with DJ Pam the Funkstress. E-Roc left on amicable terms after the group's second album but appears on the track "Breathing Apparatus" on...
, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, MG5 (formerly Frequinox), Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Zigaboo Modeliste, Groundation
Groundation
Groundation is an American roots reggae band with jazz and dub influences from Sonoma County in Northern California.-History:Formed in the fall of 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Marcus Urani, and Ryan Newman, Groundation began on the campus of Sonoma State University's Jazz Program...
and the Stanton Moore Trio
Stanton Moore
Stanton Moore is a drummer raised in Metairie, Louisiana. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career and recorded with bands as diverse as jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter and heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity...
.
In January 2008 Bernard recorded his second album with the Palmetto label including John Medeski
John Medeski
Anthony John Medeski is an American jazz keyboards player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood...
on keyboards, Stanton Moore
Stanton Moore
Stanton Moore is a drummer raised in Metairie, Louisiana. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career and recorded with bands as diverse as jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter and heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity...
on drums and Andy Hess
Andy Hess
Andy Hess is an American bassist and former member of Gov't Mule, having joined the band in 2003. Previously, he was The Black Crowes' bassist from February 2001 until their hiatus early the following year...
on bass which was released as Blue Plate Special
Blue Plate Special (album)
Blue Plate Special is a jazz studio album by Will Bernard recorded and released in 2008. The recording includes jazz-funk musicians Will Bernard on guitar, Stanton Moore on drums, John Medeski on keyboards and Andy Hess on bass.-Track listing:# "Baby Goats" - 5:22# "Magpie" - 5:19# "Blue Plate...
.
Selected discography
- If Four Was One - T.J. Kirk (1997)
- Medicine Hat - Will Bernard Quartet (1998)
- Motherbug (2000)
- Directions To My House - Will Bernard Trio (2004)
- IIIIII (Stanton Moore album)III is Stanton Moore's third studio solo album released 2006. As each of Moore's solo albums have had unique character, III features keyboardist Robert Walter and guitarist Will Bernard for a 1970s-like soul funk with a "sense of authenticity" as "artists who live it."It was recorded at...
- Stanton Moore (2006) - Party HatsParty Hats (album)Party Hats is a jazz studio album by Will Bernard recorded in 2006 and released in 2007. Party Hats received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album of 2007...
- Will Bernard (2007) - SketchySketchy"Sketchy" is the seventh episode of the first season of the supernatural American/Canadian television series Haven. It first aired on SyFy on August 20, 2010. It was written by Matt McGuinness and directed by T.W. Peacocke.- Plot :...
- Wil Blades (2007) - Emphasis! (On Parenthesis) - Stanton Moore (2008)
- Night for Day - Bernard Emer Lackner Ferber (2008)
- Rockamovya (2008)
- Blue Plate SpecialBlue Plate Special (album)Blue Plate Special is a jazz studio album by Will Bernard recorded and released in 2008. The recording includes jazz-funk musicians Will Bernard on guitar, Stanton Moore on drums, John Medeski on keyboards and Andy Hess on bass.-Track listing:# "Baby Goats" - 5:22# "Magpie" - 5:19# "Blue Plate...
- Will Bernard (2008) - Bad As Me - Tom Waits (2011)
External links
- Will Bernard - official site
- Will Bernard at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Rockamovya - official site