BERNIE KENERSON - JUST YOU & ME (2007)

The Art of the EWI

Variety of contemporary jazz styles featuring the Akai EWI4000s (Electric Wind Instrument). Fresh new sounds that you'll really enjoy

Bernie Kenerson: Akai EWI 4000s, Tenor Sax, Flute & Bass Clarinet
Jim Schneider: Keyboard
Gary Craddock: Bass
Art Weiss: Drums & Percussion
Vince Peeples: Guitar (track 1 & 7)
Nemil Chabebe: Percussion (track 8)

many thanks to Lisa Reedy Promotions

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

Review by Paul J. Youngman - KJA Advocate for WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET

The newest release by reedman Bernie Kenerson, Just you & Me - The Art of the EWI plays as a grand advertisement for the Akai EWI4000s, an electronic saxophone that sounds part keyboard synthesizer and part saxophone, played through electronic devices, that shape shift the sounds. The sounds take some getting used to, the playing is good, the sound quality is good, it’s just that the sound is obviously electronic. The music is performed smoothly, safely and in an ambient jazz manner.

The first song and title track of the recording “Just You & Me” focuses on the EWI as a lead instrument, a smooth jazz tune with a funky, repetitive groove that allows Kenerson to highlight the art of the EWI. Kenerson is a masterful player who can produce a wide range of sounds from this electronic instrument, at times coming close to the sound of an acoustic saxophone. The closest he gets to a saxophone sound and some of the most exciting playing comes on the up tempo, smooth rhythm “She Said.”

There is a EWI feature, an introduction to a song entitled “Glad You Said Yes” it shows off another side of the instrument. The EWI can pack some heavy power, it sounds very similar to a full set of synthesized keyboards, channeled through a huge sound system, I don’t mean loud, I mean a large, full orchestral sound. (I have trouble believing this is the EWI and not a keyboard setup.)

The song “Summer Release” is a bluesy ballad that allows the band to stretch out. Jim Schneider on piano lays down some passion and opens the door for some statements by acoustic bassist Gary Cradock before the song is rejoined with a EWI sounding - sax solo by Kenerson.

All of the songs are composed and arranged by Bernie Kenerson. Most of the songs have an up tempo, bouncy, happy go lucky feel to them. There are those pleasant interludes by keyboardist Jim Schneider where he fires off some tasty runs, but for the most part he leads the rhythm section of Gary Craddock (bass) and Art Weiss (drums) with a safe, easy listening, smooth jazz foundation. Kenerson and his AKAI EWI4000s are the feature entertainment of the recording.

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