The Art of the EWI - Bernie Kenerson - News/Lessons/Refills

New BeatJazz Trio "Lap Partners" Debut

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800

I've been busy working on a new project with Mix Master Doc & Sam Favata. We are doing our first show Friday 2/19 at the Basement in Myrtle Beach. This is some fun brand new music stemming from the ideas of my latest CD "Make My Jungle Electric". The trio is myself on EWI 4000s and EWI USB. Sam Favata on Guitar with lots of effects and funky rhythms. Dan Brady aka Mix master Doc on Turntables and Laptop. I'm running both my EWIs through Record on my Macbook. EWI 4000s internal sounds going through Record as audio and EWI USB playing sounds from my own Refills. I'm also using Aria "The Trumpet" and "The Sax Bros." It's so much fun exploring the sonic frontier. Look for more shows from "Lab Partners" and a recording project later this year. We Be Jammin'

EWI Reason Refills Pack Available Now!

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

With the release of my latest wind controller refill for Reason 4 I'm offering all three refills for the special price of $99.00 (USD).

That's a total of 180 custom wind controller sounds for Reason 4.

EWI Thor Refill Vol. 1 (50 Thor Patches)
EWI Thor Refill Vol. 2 (50 Thor Patches)
EWI 80 Combinators (80 Combinator Patches)

Not only are these refills great for new responsive and expressive sounds but they also serve as advanced tutorials on programming for wind controllers in Reason.

If you already own Reason these refills are a must have. If you aren't using Reason then these refills are plenty of reason to get it.

EWI, WX5 and Reason user Dan Mackey says, "I'm liking everything I've played. The PB 4th on the one patch is very cool. The DX7 patch is excellent in legato mode. It's the way I've always wanted an electric piano patch to work on an EWI. There are lots of great leads and some cool basses. This is a fun good time!

There are mp3 demo's on my music page.

EWI Thor Refill Vol. 2 Available Now!

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

EWI Thor Refill Vol. 2
Â© 2009 Bernie Kenerson/The Art of the EWI
www.berniekenerson.com

This is a custom Refill of 50 Thor patches set up especially for wind controllers (CC#2). There are leads, basses, pads, chords, sequences and special effects. To get the most out of these patches please play them at different volumes and velocities. You should audition every patch by playing soft to loud and try soft and hard attacks. Some are set up to be used well with your upper PB plate set to hold or sustain (CC#64). If you have any questions about any of these patches please email me: mizmor@sc.rr.com. Remember to experiment, have fun and be musical.

50 Wind Controller Thor Voices for only $30.00 (USD)

There is a mp3 audio demo on my music page.

New Art of the EWI Releases

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

My new sultry smooth jazz single "H W S" has just been released digitally.

"Make My Jungle Electric", the 3rd in the Art of the EWI series has just been released digitally and the CDs should be available by October.

Both releases are avaiable on iTunes, Amazon and many other music download sites.

A free ringtone of "H W S" and mp3 audio clips are on my music page.

You can hear me on Jango radio. Make your own Bernie Kenerson radio station while you're there.

http://www.jango.com/music/BernieKenerson

EWI 80 Combinators Refill

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Hot from the sound lab at the Art of the EWI comes a very powerful and expressive Reason 4 Refill of 80 Combinators especially for wind controllers. This refill has a wide variety of sounds and capabilities. Most of the sounds are easily edited, tweeked and morphed using the front panel Buttons and Rotary knobs on the Combinator. It also serves as a tutorial for unlocking the power of Reason 4 Combinators using breath control (CC#2). Check out the sounds demo on my Music page. All sounds reccorded live in real time using an EWI USB. Purchase price: $56.00 (USD) for download. You can go here to purchase: https://drop.io/ewicombi80
or just click the Buy Now Button to use PayPal.

EWI Lessons and Consulting Now Available

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

I am pleased to announce that I'm giving wind controller lessons and doing consulting over the internet using live video via Skype. My Skype name is: jazzewi

The fee is $1.00 per minute and payment is made via PayPal after the session.

I have over 30 years experience with wind controllers and can give lessons on EWI and WX along with consulting and set up help for most all hardware and software sound sources.

I have over 21 years experience with MIDI.

I'm a power user of Cubase, Reason, and many other soft synths. I'm a Mac user but also have a working knowledge of Windows.

Currently, I use my EWI4000s and EWI USB on a daily basis for studio and live performances.

I have a new 63 year old beginning EWI student that just started a few weeks ago and he's catching on quick and having a great time.

I just helped an EWI user in Michigan that needed help programming the soft synths FM8 and Massive for optimal EWI control. I also have a begginning EWI student from Dublin, Ireland you come to the EWI via Flute, Penny Whistle and Uilleann Pipes.

If you want to get on the fast track to mastering the EWI then take some lessons from the EWI master. I look forward to sharing the Art of the EWI with you.

Custom EWI Tracks For Your New Project

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

If you're looking for custom EWI tracks for your next project then your search is over. Here is how it works. Send me an mp3 of your song and let me know the style of solo or section playing you'd like to hear (lyrical, shredding, jazzy, funky, latin, etc...) and I'll record some EWI here in my studio and email you a mp3 mix with the EWI tracks added. If you want something changed I'll be happy to do two more revisions at no extra cost. Usually one or two revisions are more than enough and clients love the EWI tracks. Next you will make your payment through PayPal and then I will post the high quality wave files of the EWI tracks to a secure server for you to download and mix into your project. The cost is $150.00 per song, one track (up to two revisions. Section works and stacks are negotiable. You can check out some of the infinite sonic possibilities of the Art of the EWI by checking my YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/berniesax56

EWI Thor Refill Vol. 1

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I've just complete a 50 voice custom refill for the powerful Thor Polysonic Synth in Reason 4. There is a demo on my Music page.

EWI Thor Refill
By Bernie Kenerson

This is a custom Thor Refill for wind controllers. It is set up to respond to Breath Control (CC#2) and some patches have some interesting effects/controls using Mod Wheel. Try setting your EWI/WX’s upper plate/rocker to Mod Wheel. On most patches your can turn the Delay and/or Chorus on and off with Button 1 and/or Button 2. This refill includes a variety of very responsive Leads, Basses, Pads, Chords and Special Effects. It also serves as a tutorial for programming Thor as a powerful wind controlled synth. Remember to experiment, have fun and be musical. You can email me for a complete patch list. You can purchase this REfill for $28.00 thru PayPal and it will be emailed to you. Just click the "Buy Now" button. Peace.

Merry EWI Christmas Released

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

My new Christmas CD is now available!!!

You’ve Never Heard Christmas Like This!

D and M Records announces the release of Merry EWI Christmas, an exclusive collection of holiday favorites by Electric Wind Instrument virtuoso Bernie Kenerson. His modern arrangements of these classic tunes are refreshing, and the deft improvisations that have become the trademark of this veteran improviser will surely breathe life into your home this holiday season.

“I’ve always loved these songs—they’re such an important part of our culture, and I wanted to pay tribute to that.” Kenerson explains. “At the same time, I really wanted to do something fresh—something contemporary that might help listeners rediscover the revelry in Christmas.”

Revelry is in no short supply on Merry EWI Christmas, and Kenerson even includes one original composition (and the album’s namesake). The record closes with a duo performance of “Little Drummer Boy” that features his father—a one-time Big Band drummer and full-time supporter of Kenerson’s musical endeavors. “The holidays are about family, and recording with my father put that in perspective for me. I’m honored to share that with folks.”

The unique & modern sounds of the EWI range from serene and haunting to joyful and triumphant. You’ll find the same variety in style, including a jazz waltz, up-tempo electronica and the classic ”˜smooth groove’ that has made Kenerson’s music so popular. There’s little doubt that your friends & family will delight in this fresh approach to holiday carols ~ you may even find yourself listening year ”˜round!

New Christmas CD Mixed and Mastered

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

My Christmas CD "Merry EWI Christmas" on D and M Records is due out November 1st.
It has 10 tracks: 1 new original and 9 jazzy funky fresh version of some of my favorite Holiday tunes.

1. Merry EWI Christmas (5:44)
By Bernie Kenerson

2. Sleigh Ride (5:01)
By Leroy Anderson

3. Do You Hear What I Hear? (5:49)
By Gloria Baker

4. Linus and Lucy (4:08)
By Vince Guaraldi

5. Christmas Time Is Here (4:55)
By Vince Guaraldi

6. Carol of the Bells (4:47)
By Mykola Leontovych

7. We Three Kings of Orient Are (5:01)
By John Henry Hopkins

8. Silent Night (5:00)
By Franz Gruber

9. Good King Wenceslas (5:03)
Traditional

10. Little Drummer Boy (5:31)
By Katherine Davis

Credits

Bernie Kenerson: Akai EWI 4000s, Keyboard, Programming
Ken Kenerson: Snare Drum (track 10)
Sam Favata: Guitar (tracks 1 & 9)
Glenn Harkins: Piano (tracks 5 & 7)
Produced By: Bernie Kenerson
Recorded, mixed and mastered by: Bernie Kenerson
Original Cover Art by: Christine Giguere

This CD was recorded using an Akai EWI 4000s and M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI Keyboard
with Reason 4, Cubase 4 and Peak Pro 6 software.

I had a great time making this CD. Christmas is a time of family, friends, celebration, thanksgiving, joy, giving and receiving. I love Christmas because I’m more aware of the greatest gift of all, Jesus. I’m so glad to have been able to record Little Drummer Boy with my Dad who is 86 years old. He is a wonderful musician and a big part of why I’m a successful professional jazz musician.