Bernie Senensky

[Late]

Senensky's minimally mentioned here and there on this board, but there's no particular discussion of this Canadian pianist. I was totally unfamiliar with Senensky until, for $7, I recently picked up New Life on CD from Dusty Groove. A Japanese import through the Muzak label, this one comes in the mini-LP format, and is a SHM-CD. Anyone else here happen to pick this one up?

Produced by Gene Perla, it has Senensky on piano, Michel Donato on bass, and Marty Morrell on drums. Recorded in 1975. It's really well-recorded. Only the last track shows its age (electric piano; the rest is acoustic). For those that compare Morrell to other Bill Evans drummers—to my ears, Morrell is less restrained on this record than on some Evans records. It's given me a new perspective on his brushwork in particular. Senensky is not an Evans clone. Check the album out -->

I'm guessing Canadians on this board are more familiar with Senensky. I dig his playing on this record!

Thoughts, recommendations?

[Ken Dryden]

My introduction to Bernie Senensky was hearing him on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz. Like many Canadian artists who recorded for Canadian labels, I had no exposure to his recordings until I started getting serviced with his music.

[ejp626]

I do not have that album (New Life).  It looks like the library up here has a copy but it doesn't circulate, so I would need to book some time to listen to it there.  I do have Re:Action on CD. 

I've seen him play a couple of times fairly recently, mostly at the Jazz Bistro, but I think he also plays Hirut, and I'll try to catch him the next time he pops up.