Bernard is a Chicago-based guitarist who specializes in jazz and smooth-jazz, but also includes soul/funk, pop, Brazilian, jazz-reggae, and Blues songs in his reportoire. He plays regularly in the Chicago area and occasionally tours-mainly in the Midwest. He has 2 CDs: (1)LATE ARRIVAL, which includes cover tunes by Van Morrison (Moon Dance), Sade (Keep Looking), Henry Mancini (Slow Hot Wind), and Whitney Houston (I Believe In You And Me); and (2) "A NEW DAY" released in February, 2009 and has 10 originals + cover tunes by the Temptations, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and the Doors.
Bernard has played professionally for over 25 years and has played at several festivals/venues (eg.Evanston's Fountain Square Art Festival; Beverly Arts Festival; Southside Art Music Festival). He played at Andy's Jazz Club, one of Chicago's premier jazz clubs, for over 10 years, and played on Chicago's popular Rush Street area for over a year. For the past 17 years, Bernard has worked as a solo performer capable of producing a full band sound utilizing his skills in programming sequencers and using MIDI technology. The influences of Wes Montgomery and George Benson can be heard in his sound, but many other artists have been an inspiration to him, including Kenny Burrell, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, C.Santana, Grant Green, D.Sanborn, Stevie Wonder, E.W & F, Incognito, Third World (reggae), Azymuth (Brazilian), Herbie Hancock, Pat Martino, and many other "old school" jazz and soul artists.
Bernard's cd's can be heard and purchased on CdBaby-(www.cdbaby.com/cd/bernardalcorn2 ; www.cdbaby.com/cd/bernardalcorn ;Amazon.com; iTunes; and Guitar Nine Records.
Bernard's latest CD, 'A New Day' has received very favorable reviews and featured airplay on 4 internet radio programs based in the U.K. (SmoothGroovers.com; Rod Lucas' BestSmoothJazz.com-London; Colin Hughes' 'Strawberry Jazz'; and Denis Pooles's SmoothJazzTherapy.com). Carole Hayes (Australia) has added his music to her 'All The Best' program. He has also recently received airplay in the U.S. on Chris Acton's 'The Wav', 'Smooth Jazz Affair'; and the 'Jazzy Lounge' program. The new CD is currently ranked #1 on RadioDirectx's contemporary jazz chart.
To get more bio information and listen to samples of Bernard's music, visit his new website at www.bernardalcornmusic.com .
