Artist Profiles: Warren Bernhardt

“I really enjoy playing (and programming) my Nord Electro 3. Right now, I'm using it mainly for Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer and Clavinet sounds. It's great that I can get the sounds I want without having to lug all those big instruments around the world with me. It makes life much simpler. And I haven't even begun to scratch the  surface yet! I dig the way the instrument is set up. Programming is right there for me, and then I can carry all my sounds and get new ones on a small laptop. The keyboard 'feels' natural and easy to play. Great work, Nord! Keep it up.”- Warren Bernhardt, keyboardist, Simon and Garfunkel, sideman and solo artist

Gear: Electro 3/73

Bio:
Warren Bernhardt is an internationally acclaimed keyboardist. He began playing piano as a child by studying classical music in NYC. He became interested in jazz while attending the University of Chicago in the late 50's. He worked around Chicago and in 1962 he was brought to NYC by the legendary John Hammond as a member of the Paul Winter Sextet and has remained there ever since. His career has spanned decades of working with such jazz notables as Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, David 'Fathead' Newman, Mike Mainieri, Steve Gadd, Michael  Brecker, Art Farmer, Jack DeJohnette, John Tropea and many others. He has also accompanied singers in the pop and folk worlds, among them Carly Simon, James Brown, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Tim Hardin, Astrud Gilberto, Richie Havens, Donald Fagen, Don McClean, Bette Midler, Rory Block, Michael Franks and Linda Ronstadt. He was co-leader of the band Steps Ahead, musical director and pianist with Steely Dan, and now co-leads an all-star quintet called L'Image with Mainieri, Gadd, Tony Levin and David Spinozza. He has released over 20 CD's as a  leader and co-leader and has played on more than 50 major motion picture soundtracks and hundreds of other albums. He is currently using the Nord Electro 3 73 while touring the US and Canada with Simon & Garfunkel. He also plans to use it with L'Image in their Fall 2010 tour