| Bernie Arai’s
career as a
performer, recording artist and educator spans styles from jazz to
electronic music to Japanese taiko. He works regularly with some of
Canada’s most accomplished musicians. Born, raised and based in
Vancouver, Bernie has performed across the country with various
ensembles, and has toured across Canada, the U.S., Japan and Europe. |
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| While studying
engineering physics at
the University of British Columbia (’91-’95) Bernie played
drums in the UBC big band and was gigging around town. He then
transferred to the Jazz Studies program at North Vancouver’s
Capilano College, where he studied with percussionist Ken Moore and
jazz drummers Dave Robbins and Dylan van der Schyff. Bernie has also
studied with New York jazz drummers Ian Froman and Bill Stewart. |
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| Now Bernie leads his own
ensembles (see his projects), including a
trio
featuring original music (Bernie Arai Trio) and a series of
duets with pianist Chris Gestrin (Wabi). Using the pseudonym underscore
he creates experimental electronic music using a
Nintendo Gameboy. Densabi features Bernie using the
Atari ST computer with Chris Gestrin and shakuhachi master Alcvin
Takegawa Ramos to create improvised ambient music.
Along with saxophonist Jon Bentley Bernie co-leads a hard bop
sextet called Ugetsu (cellarlive.com),
and the electronic ensemble Elevatorhead (unitywaves.com).Thanks
to
Vancouver’s supportive
scene, Bernie also works with many of the country’s finest
musicians as
a member of
ensembles such as: the Brad Turner Trio, the Hard Rubber Orchestra, the
Jennifer Scott Trio, the Ihor Kukurudza Trio, Fred
Stride Jazz Orchestra, Sharon Minemoto Quintet, and Altered Laws.
He remains in demand as an accompanist and bandmember for many
legendary musicians from across Canada and around the world, appearing
in concert at numerous music festivals worldwide, and on CBC Jazzbeat
and Hot Air seesions. (see his performance credits) He has even had the opportunity to guest host CBC's long running Hot Air program. |
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Bernie's latest CD
with the quartet Altered Laws, entitled "Metaphora" was nominated for
the 2007 Juno for Best Contemporary Jazz Recording. In March 2006
Cellar Live Records
released Bernie's first recording as co-leader and producer featuring
his sextet Ugetsu. Other recent recordings featuring Bernie’s
playing include discs by
Jennifer Scott ("Mile 41"), and the Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra ("Forward Motion"). (see his discography)
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teaching
A dedicated and experienced educator,
Bernie continues to teach here in Vancouver, including work as drumset
instructor at
the Vancouver Community College School of Music, and as a director of
jazz bands at the University of British Columbia Summer Music
Institute. He has been an instructor in the Capilano College Jazz
Studies program and the Vancouver Creative Music Institute, and also
teaches workshops and clinics in local schools for jazz bands and
drumset.
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