BERNARD SAMUEL

CUE JAZZFEST and Music Conference

Musicians

Bernard Samuel hails from Philadelphia, PA. He's performed with Hank Mobley, Philly Joe Jones, Cecil Payne,  Roy Brooks, Rufus Harley, Carl and Earl Grubbs (The Visitors), Odean Pope, Khan Jamal, Charlie Chisholm, Johnny Lytle, Bootsie Barnes, and Jimmy Oliver. He produced two cable television projects for Rollins Cable TV Co., (currently Comcast cable), Philadelphia, PA:

  • Informance '83, a musical historical review beginning with spirituals and blues through the swing and bebop era to avant garde and other contemporary music; also included interpretive dance and poetry.

  • Jazzadelphia '84, a music talk show featuring original compositions and interviews with resident jazz artists.

Samuel was reviewed as making the "Most favorable impression" by Francis Davis contributing writer to The Philadelphia Inquirer, at the 1983 “Kool Jazz Festival”, Penn’s Landing Philadel­phia, PA when performed with own group “Sound of Freedom".  He presented original compositions at numerous PECO Energy Jazz ‘til Sunrise, and at the 1994 Jambalaya Jam, at Penn's Landing and with The Sound of Freedom, featuring vocalist/lyricist, George V. Johnson Jr..

He worked with The John W. Coltrane Cultural Society and Jazz for Youth  programs, and he conducted workshops on music appreciation and music history at public libraries and YMCAs, in Philadelphia, from 1990 ‑ 1998.

His composition, “Waltz for My Lady” was chosen, by Jazz FM (Temple University), as part of the “Philadelphia Jazz Showcase CD Compilation, Volume I”(1996).

Samuel was the house pianist for Lowes Hotel Inc. from 1999 until 2004. He performed in Frankfurt, Germany, in Winter 2004 and 2005, for Eckhard Witzigmann's Palazzo production off The Cotton Club, under the of direction trombonist Tony Hurdle.

Currently, Bernard is working with The Gerald Benson/Bernard Samuel Duo,  on Friday and Saturday evenings at Sotto Verelli's Restaurant, Broad and Locust Streets, in Philadelphia. He is a regular with trios or quartets at jazz clubs, concerts and other venues, in the Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York.

1971 ‑ 1973:  Studied piano and music theory at Granoff's Music School, Philadelphia, PA

1973 ‑ 1975:  The Thomas Eakins Workshop with Curtis Harmon (Temple University Music Dept.), Philadelphia, PA

1978 ‑ 1980:  The Barry Harris Workshop, New York, NY

1980 ‑ 1982:  Studied privately with Gerald Price, Philadelphia, PA

1982:  Made theater debut as pianist with "Baruti's Broadway Babies 82'' (a presentation of African‑American theater songs), at the Cornucopia Dinner Theater Philadelphia, PA

1983:  Pianist for the play "City Lights" at the People's Light and Theater Company, Malvern, PA

 

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