PRESS RELEASES
Connor Bernhard | “Pathways”
Chicago Trumpeter and Clinician Connor Bernhard
Celebrates the Release of Pathways
Wednesday, April 29
Chicago, IL
Jazz Showcase
8:00PM & 10:00PM
On Pathways, Connor Bernhard, who has Worked with Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Neal Francis and Many More, Reflects on Years of Musical and Personal Development
Available Now, Pathways Features Pianist
Julius Tucker, Guitarist Jeff Swanson, Bassist Evan Salvacion Levine and Drummer Clif Wallace
Chicago-based trumpeter Connor Bernhard celebrates the release of Pathways with his album release show at Jazz Showcase in Chicago, IL on Wednesday, April 29. His band is made whole by Julius Tucker piano, Jeff Swanson guitar, Evan Salvacion Levine bass, and Clif Wallace drums. There are two shows; 8:00PM and 10:00PM.
On Pathways, 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).
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
For the Preferred Artist
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