Jazz Night -Pianist Denny Berthiaume and Bassist Jim Kerwin

https://www.bwgrill.com/music

Denny Berthiaume- Pianist

DENNY BERTHIAUME - Bay Area Pianist

https://afm6.org/member-profile/denny-berthiaume-im-long-haul-alex-walsh/

Pianist Denny Berthiaume has performed with Bobby McFerrin, Diane Schuur, Helen Forrest, Mundell Lowe, Gary Foster, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Bob Crosby, the Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots, and Ed Thigpen. He recorded 4 albums as co-leader of the successful fusion group Solar Plexus.

He has appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Russian River Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, and San Miguel de Allende International Jazz Festival.

At the age of 5, Denny began his life long love of the piano and all things related to music. His father, a musician, teacher and composer saw to it that young Dennis was exposed to the early romantic sounds of Bach and Chopin. As well as the great American composers, Bernstein, Gershwin, Kern. The teen years brought included classical recitals but after exposure to Bruback, Previn, Miles and Monk, jazz took over. When a friend turned him on to fats Domino and Little Richard, the element of blues was added to his enthusiasm for creating his own sound.

Jim Kerwin- Bassist

Born in San Francisco in 1952, Jim’s earliest performing experience was as a soloist in the grade school choir. He began playing guitar in high school but soon switched to electric bass when, he said, “I realized that I could play in more bands that way.” Though rock was the music of the day, Jim’s adventurous listening tastes led him to Stravinsky, world music, Captain Beefheart and – most importantly – to the improvisational jazz of Bill Evans and Miles Davis which made him realize that music demanded serious study.

After hearing acoustic bassists Scott La Faro, Eddie Gomez and Charlie Haden, Jim decided to study classical technique. At 21, he began five years of intensive training at San Francisco State University under the tutelage of S. Charles Siani. He graduated with a performance degree in solo double bass, and then spent several years touring Europe with an avant-garde jazz trio led by vibist Larry Blackshere. As Jim put it, “I felt I had to learn the rules before I could break them.”

As a member of the DGQ and bassist on many dawg projects, Jim has been able to explore his broad musical tastes. He has performed with bluegrass greats Red Allen and Del McCoury. He played at Carnegie Hall with Stephane Grappelli and YoYo Ma. He worked with David and Jerry Garcia in a unique acoustic setting that encompassed a myriad of musical genres. He has also played on numerous recordings – including six Grammy nominees – from big band, bluegrass and jazz to Klezmer and Latin.

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