{{Short description|Canadian jazz pianist, organist, and composer}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bernie Senensky | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Bernard Melvin Senensky | alias = | birth_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1944|12|31}} | death_place = | death_date = | instrument = Piano, organ | genre = Jazz | occupation = Musician, composer | years_active = 1970s–present | label = | website = }}
'''Bernard Melvin Senensky''' (born December 31, 1944) is a Canadian jazz pianist, organist, and composer.
==Life and career== Senensky was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on December 31, 1944.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110512210951/http://www.canadianjazzarchive.org/en/musicians/bernie-senensky.html "Bernie Senensky – Biography"]}}. Canadian Jazz Archive. Retrieved February 26, 2015.</ref><ref name="AM">Yanow, Scott [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernie-senensky-mn0000760209/biography "Bernie Senensky"]. AllMusic. Retrieved February 26, 2015.</ref> He received classical piano lessons from the age of nine and became interested in jazz around age 15.<ref name="AM" /><ref name="Hum">Hum, Peter (September 23, 2014) [https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/music/jazzblog/the-bernie-senensky-interview "The Bernie Senensky Interview"]. Ottawa Citizen.</ref> He had one jazz teacher, and thereafter was self-taught.<ref name="Hum" />
He moved permanently to Toronto in 1968.<ref name="AM" /> He played briefly with high-profile visiting musicians, including Chet Baker, Art Blakey, Art Farmer, and Art Pepper.<ref name="Hum" /> Senensky played with Moe Koffman between 1980 and 2000, and they toured internationally for several years.<ref name="Hum" /> Senensky has recorded several small group albums since 1975.<ref name="Grove">Miller, Mark [http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/J734800 "Senensky, Bernie (Bernard Melvyn)"]. ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'' (2nd ed.). Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 22 May 2015. (Subscription required).</ref>
==Playing style and influences== Senensky described himself as "essentially a bebop player, and beyond. My heroes are anyone from Bud Powell to McCoy Tyner to Keith Jarrett and Herbie Hancock".<ref name="Hum" /> Senensky was influenced on organ by Larry Goldings, Mike LeDonne, and Larry Young.<ref name="Hum" /> ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'' states that "His playing is characterized by his obvious comfort in a wide range of styles, from swing to the assertive post-bop of his own groups."<ref name="Grove" />
==Discography== An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
===As leader/co-leader=== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year recorded !Title !Label !Personnel/Notes |- |1975 |''New Life'' |PM |Trio, with Michel Donato (bass), Marty Morell (drums) |- |1989 |''Friday the 14th'' |Unity |Trio, with Kieran Overs (bass), Barry Elmes (drums) |- |1991 |''Re: Action'' |Unity |Septet |- |1991 |''Homeland'' |Timeless |Quartet, with Gary Bartz (alto sax, soprano sax), Harvie Swartz (bass), Akira Tana (drums) |- |1993 |''Wheel Within a Wheel'' |Timeless |Quartet, with Bobby Watson (alto sax, soprano sax), Ray Drummond (bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums) |- |1996 |''Rhapsody'' |Timeless |Trio, with Jim Vivian (bass), Bob Moses (drums) |- |1995 |''New Horizons'' |Timeless |Quintet, with Kirk McDonald (sax), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Neil Swainson (bass), Jerry Fuller (drums) |- |2022 |Don't Look Back |Cellar Live |Quintet with Bob Mover (alto sax), Sam Noto (trumpet), Neil Swainson (bass), Barry Elmes (drums) |- |2023 |Moment To Moment |Cellar Live |Quartet with Eric Alexander (sax), Kieran Overs (bass on 1,3,4,6,7 & 8), Joe Farnsworth (drums on 1,3,4,6,7 & 8), Dave Young (bass on 2 & 5), Morgan Childs (drums on 2 & 5) |}
Main source:<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernie-senensky-mn0000760209/discography "Discography"]. AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2015.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Senensky, Bernie}} Category:1944 births Category:Canadian jazz pianists Category:Hard bop pianists Category:Musicians from Toronto Category:Musicians from Winnipeg Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian pianists