PRESS RELEASES
Connor Bernhard | “Pathways”
On Pathways, Chicago Trumpeter Connor Bernhard, who has Worked with Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Neal Francis and Many More, Reflects on Years of Musical and Personal Development
Available March 27, 2026, Pathways Features Pianist
Julius Tucker, Guitarist Jeff Swanson, Bassist Evan Salvacion Levine and
Drummer Clif Wallace
On Pathways, Chicago-based trumpeter Connor Bernhard, who has worked with Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Neal Francis and many more, reflects on years of musical and personal development, and he dedicates the album to the people and experiences that have formed his life and career.
“The album follows the many different paths I walked on,” Bernhard says, “musical and otherwise, to make me the artist who I am today.”
Pathways, Bernhard’s follow-up to Altitude (his 2020 debut as leader), includes eight originals and arrangements, as well as three covers of songs Bernhard grew up with that became significant inspirations to him (Bobby Timmons’ “Dat Dere,” Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar’s “Three Little Words” and “Wichita Lineman,” composed by Jimmy Webb for Glen Campbell).
Pathways opens with “Jackalope,” one of the first compositions Bernhard wrote for his current ensemble of dynamic Chicago musicians, including pianist Julius Tucker, guitarist Jeff Swanson, bassist Evan Salvacion Levine and drummer Clif Wallace. The song was inspired by the mythical animal of Western American Folklore that Bernhard saw mounted at the famous Wall Drug store in South Dakota as a very young child on a trip with his family. “Jackalope” reflects the playful bouncing nature of a hare running through the Great Plains with its 12/8 time signature.
Bernhard dedicated “Support” his family, who have been supporting him without fail for his entire life. From his saxophone playing father taking him to rehearsals from the time he could barely talk, to attending church choir with his mother and performing with that ensemble from an early age to his sister exposing him to modern music like rock, pop, and reggae, Bernhard was blessed to be around so many positive musical influences in his upbringing.
“Altitude” was written after a hike through Upper Cheesman Canyon in Colorado while on tour with one of the many bands Bernhard performs and records with. Bernhard wrote the song’s complicated and unpredictable melodic lines at coffee shop in Denver with no instrument in hand.
“This was the hardest track to get recorded on Pathways,” Bernhard says, “Of course, I wrote the tune with the hardest melody to be played unison by all the melodic instruments in the band. The guys weren’t too happy with me! But after several different takes over two days, we had it down.”
After a shift as a merchant mariner on one of the Chicago Architectural tour boats, Bernhard was practicing alone on the deck, the sound of his trumpet echoing off the tall buildings surrounding the south branch of the Chicago River, when the melody for “Evenings with Linnea” came to him.
“Lament for Roy,” is dedicated to the incredible trumpeter Roy Hargrove, one of Bernhard’s greatest musical influences. Bernhard wrote the composition shortly after hearing about Hargrove’s untimely death in 2018. Performed on flugelhorn, Bernhard strived to recreate the pristine sound and emotional depth that Hargrove was well known for.
On “Claudio,” Bernhard also pays homage to another influence, Brazilian jazz trumpeter Claudio Roditi, who Bernhard was lucky enough to meet and perform with multiple times. “Moo the Mooch” is dedicated to the beloved and incredibly food-motivated Bernhard family dog, Molly. The simple blues form features a winding and playful melody with energetic improvisation and performance from the band.
“Struttin’” features the unpredictable and winding melody that Bernhard is known for. Set over a simple and swinging accompaniment. Bernhard describes this composition as “like taking a walk on a beautiful afternoon when life may not be perfect. but you know how to roll with the punches and strut through the negative, instead choosing to focus on the positive.”
About Conor Bernhard
Connor Bernhard has been enamored with music and its creation since birth. Born in 1992, he was exposed to jazz by his father from day one, but officially started studying guitar at age 7, trumpet at age 10. In his early years, he studied with the inimitable Fareed Haque and Art Davis and learned the tradition of Swing and Big Band music from Ronald Carter at Northern Illinois University.
In 2013, Bernhard made his move to Chicago to start a full-time professional career in music while also working full time as a merchant mariner on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan to support himself financially while he worked to make his name. In 2017, Bernhard was selected by the Luminarts Foundation as a finalist in its annual Chicago jazz competition and awarded a grant to fund his debut album, Altitude (2020).
Recently, Bernhard has been busy playing, composing, and arranging for a variety of ensembles including several of his own. He has performed with artists such as Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Victor Lewis, The New Lionel Hampton Band Featuring Jason Marsalis, The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Neal Francis, Eryn Allen Kane, Jorge Luis Pacheco, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, New Nostalgia, and too many more to list. With these artists and others, he has played venues such as The Chicago Jazz Festival, The Detroit Jazz Festival, The Salt Shed, Summercamp Music Festival, The Green Mill, Andy’s Jazz Club, The Jazz Showcase, Lincoln Hall, Park West, Martyrs, and more. Besides performing live music, Bernhard is currently working on multiple recording releases that are in various stages of completion at the time of this publishing including his new band The Chicago Experiment, which he mainly plays guitar in.
Connor Bernhard · Pathways
Release Date: March 27, 2026
For more information on Connor Bernhard, please visit:
connorbernhard.com | Instagram
For media inquiries, please contact:
DL Media · (720) 369-3728
Jimmy Finnegan · jimmy@dlmediamusic.com
Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com
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