CONNOR BERNHARD

PATHWAYS

Independent Label

Connor Bernhard, Trumpet/composer/arranger; Julius Tucker, piano; Jeff Swanson, guitar; Evan Salvacion Levine, upright bass; Clif Wallace, drums/cymbals.

The trumpet of Connor Bernhard opens this album, playing the introduction to his original composition, “Jackalope.”  It’s one of the first songs Bernhard wrote for his current ensemble, played at a 12/8 tempo.  It has proved to be a crowd pleaser, and some big bands have even requested arrangements, to add his original song to their repertoire. The title refers to a mythical animal from Western America Folklore.  It appears to be a wild hare with small antlers on its head.

His tune “Altitude” quickly becomes one of my favorites.  Bernhard composed this one after taking a hike through Upper Cheesman Canyon in Colorado, while sitting in a coffee shop.

“This was the hardest track to get recorded on ’Pathways.’  I wrote the tune with the hardest melody to be played unison by all the melodic instruments in the band.  The guys weren’t too happy with me.  But after several different takes over two days, we had it down,” Bernhard explained.

The tune swings hard!  Drummer Clif Wallace is on fire throughout.  Evan Salvacion Levine walks his upright bass with gusto and excitement.  Levine’s bass solo is stellar. Bernhard dances atop the strong rhythm section on his trumpet while Jeff Swanson’s guitar is prominent and energized. He takes an improvised and creative solo after the bass solo.  Connor Bernards ensemble really steps it up on this tune.

Bernhard’s Latin arrangement of “Claudio” is a tribute composition to the late, great, Brazilian trumpeter, Claudio Roditi.

In his press package, Connor Bernhard says his song “Evenings with Linnea” was composed one late night when he was practicing outside on the deck of a Chicago Architectural Tour Boat.  He was on a shift as a merchant mariner.  Once the crew left for the night, this lovely ballad’s melody came to him.  He can still recall the sound of his trumpet echoing off the tall buildings surrounding the South branch of the Chicago River.

Bernhard offers a couple of familiar tunes you will recognize.  One is Bobby Timmon’s composition “Dat Dere” with lyrics by Oscar Brown Jr.  It became a big hit record for Brown.  The ensemble swings on this tune.  They also cover “Wichita Lineman” that was released as a single from this album. Bernhard calls his arrangement ‘Pseudo-Latin.’  I loved the piano solo on “Moo the Mooch.”  This composition becomes another favorite and sounds like a jazz standard. Bernhard’s trumpet solo is awesome.

The only criticism I have is the horrible, tiny font used to print the names of the musicians, with no mention of Connor Bernard’s instrumentation at all. I think artists should be more cognizant of promoting and approving album cover design.  These products celebrate the great artists who make this music live and breathe. Please respect their names and use readable font!

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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