Pianist and Keyboardist
Bernie Worrell is probably one of the most important and innovative musicians to help shape and mold how funk, jazz, classical, and rock in
American popular music.
This Rock and
Roll Hall of Famer, along with
Eddie Hazel,
William "Bootsie"
Collins, and
George Clinton changed the world musically by adding a new musical mix by playing a more aggressive form of music that added the use of electronics as well as percussion to the mix. The groups Parliament-Funkadelic would become a musical amalgamation that played rock and soul that evolved into funk music. Worrell would go on to become the arranger and co-writer of the groups songs including "
Flashlight,"
Give Up the Funk," "
Mothership Connection," and "
Aqua Boogie." His signature Minimoog and many keyboard arrangements have been sampled endlessly by rappers including
De La Soul,
Ice Cube,
Dr. Dre, and
A Tribe Called Quest.
His latest project is both a labor of love as well as something he's wanted to record during his entire career. "Bernie Worrell:
Standards," is his first jazz recording in a career that spans some 45 years.
Bernie enlisted the help of drummer
Evan Taylor, who also serves as the co-producer of the disc, to also put together his new group The
Bernie Worrell Orchestra. As his producer, both the and Bernie endlessly put together a list of jazz standards ranging from
Duke Ellington's "
Take the A Train" to
Dave Brubeck's "
Take 5." But it allows him to play behind a nine-piece band that features two drummers, a percussionist, two saxophonists, a trumpeter, a bassist, and guitarist.
It's a funky and organic project that allows the master keyboardist to 'funk out' these jazz standards.
These songs aren't a far departure from Bernie's origins and beginning in the industry.
Born George Bernard Worrell, Jr on
April 19,
1944 in
Long Branch, New Jersey, he grew up listening to classical and jazz music as a child. He was born with perfect pitch and began studying classical music at 3 years old. By playing the piano, his mother wouldn't allow the young musical prodigy listen to the sounds of rhythm and blues that was popular at the time.
Instead, he had to sneak and listen to
R&B; while studying
Brahms,
Beethoven, and
Bach. Though he listened to jazz music which he took a liking to and followed pianists like
Thelonious Monk,
Oscar Peterson, and
Bud Powell.
Upon graduating from high school, Bernie attended the
New England Conservatory of Music. But it was while he was in school that he was getting his chops as a professional musician while playing in
Boston. He backed the likes of
Tavares,
Tammi Terrell,
Pigmeat Markham, and
R & B great
Maxine Brown; whom he became her musical director for 2 years after he completed school.
But it was his reign with
Parliament that he gave the music world his innovative keyboard style. He also was a member the new wave group
The Talking Heads and was featured in the critically-acclaimed concert film "
Stop Making Sense."
Bernie has been a leader since the late
1970's when he recorded and released his debut
album "All the
Woo in the
World." He's backed and played on recordings by The
Honey Cones,
Johnnie Taylor,
Black Rock Johnson,
Freda Payne,
Albert King,
Bobby Womack,
The Dramatics,
Mtume,
The Spinners,
Gil-Scott Heron, and
Sly & Robbie.
Currently, Bernie is on the road with the orchestra. For upcoming dates or to order his latest disc "Bernie Worrell: Standards," please visit him on the web at www.bernieworrell.com.
- published: 17 Oct 2011
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