MP3 Bernardo - Outside Looking In

From Smooth Jazz to Anthemic Pop/Rock to Hard Rock - it's all here.

14 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Hard Rock, POP: Today's Top 40



Details:
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Jose Bernardo hails from a global influence. The musician's musician, Jose plays drums, bass, guitar, and sings. With roots in Finland, the Philippines, the United States, and most recently, Hong Kong, Jose's music reflects a vast exposure to arts and culture. It should come as no surprise that his debut album OUTSIDE LOOKING IN captures stylistic appreciation as diverse as Jose.

Bearing tracks in styles from Retro Pop to Metal, Jazz to Filipino Folk, Jose infuses a solid thread throughout, and remains completely contemporary. Jose served as Executive Producer for OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, and composed all of the songs on the album himself with the exception of two songs which were co-written with guitarist Eric Ecklund who also appears on OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. Remarkably Jose is capable of all this despite having significant hearing loss in his right ear and being born totally deaf in his left. Then again, Jose is no stranger to facing adversity head on and making it work for him. Jose's willingness to share his stories is evident as he offers introspective songs with a wonderful extroversion - and without apology.

When his family moved from The Philippines to Helsinki, Finland, Jose began primary school and quickly gravitated toward music in a local community program. His teacher was so impressed by his natural aptitude for the drums she suggested he audition for Oulunkylä Pop/Jazz Conservatory (now part of Helsinki Polytechnic.) Jose was admitted into their prestigious drum program where, once his discipline matured, he learned how to apply himself to musical study. He graduated to the classically-based West Helsinki Music School for Double Bass training and taught himself guitar by middle school.

In the early nineties, Jose found himself making yet another geographical and cultural change with a move to the United States. When the gleam of living near Pop stars wore off, Jose busied himself in the Rancho Bernardo High School Orchestra Bass section. On the move again, this time to Singapore, Jose found the music program did not give him what he gained in prior schools. But this was of no consequence. He always overcame these things. He gained much experience performing in real gigging bands, and eventually running them â developing his leadership and music direction skills early on.

Joseâs live performance credits include shows at Sheraton Hotel, Woodstock 1997 at United World College (Singapore), headlining the Endangered Tiger Awareness Fundraiser, the Peace Festival at the Singapore American School, the Philippine Rain and Reef benefit, Escondido Performing Arts Center, and TT the Bearâs Place in Boston to name a only few.

Post high school, Jose was drafted for the Finnish military. Having been accepted to Berklee College of Music, he deferred admission by one year to serve his country as a musician in the Navy Band. Performances included several official Finnish events at Elysee Arena, Säkylä Military Base, Helsinki Cathedral, a Finnish Independence Day national television broadcast appearance, and others.

With a fine set of entering credentials, it was not long before Jose became allied with fellow high caliber students. He formed XYgoatZ during that time, which released one CD that garnered airplay on WMWM, WMFO, and WZBC.

After Berklee, Jose immersed himself in composing and a deep self-analysis, which evolved into many of the songs on OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. Jose views music as a lifelong journey â and the only journey he wishes to embark upon.