TODAY’S DATE: June 1, 2000
WHO: The Banff Centre for the Arts, Music & Sound
WHAT: The Banff Arts Festival - Kenny Werner in concert
WHEN: Friday, June 9, 2000 8 PM
WHERE: The Banff Centre for the Arts, Rolston Recital Hall

Music & Sound at The Banff Centre invites you to enjoy a special evening of the jazz stylings of pianist Kenny Werner this Friday, June 9 at 8 PM in Rolston Recital Hall.

Kenny Werner’s career as a pianist began at an early age. At eleven years old, he made his first TV appearances playing stride piano. Upon completion of his high school studies, he went on to earn a Concert Piano Major from the Manhattan School of Music. Being drawn to improvised music, Werner transferred to the Berkley School of Music where he studied jazz and began to find his creative direction.

Today, Kenny Werner is one of the most accomplished and in-demand pianists in the jazz world. His credits include performances with Bob Brookmeyer, John Abercrombie, Lee Konitz, Joe Henderson, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Charlie Haden and Joe Lovano, to name just a few. He has also made a name for himself as a composer and arranger of music for his own groups as well as for various other ensembles.

Kenny Werner is at The Banff Centre this week giving a workshop on his book entitled "Effortless Mastery" - a method to show performing artists ways to unblock their creativity and get to a state of uninhibited play. The Effortless Mastery method takes concepts from Eastern philosophy, Christian and Jewish mysticism, and ancient disciplines such as Yoga and Tai Chi in order to demonstrate how to remove these blocks in our everyday lives.

While having taught the steps described in his book to individuals for years, Kenny Werner is giving the very first group workshop on his methods here at The Banff Centre. "Taking the fear out of performance, returning to the seat of inspiration, unlocking the mystical secrets of the musical universe" is how pianist-composer-author Kenny Werner describes the Effortless Mastery program.

Tickets to Kenny Werner’s concert are $15 adults, $10 students and seniors. To reserve your tickets or for more information, call The Banff Centre Box Office at 762-6301.

Photo available

For more information, please contact
Enza Apa, Publicist, Music & Sound
Phone: (403) 762-6237 Fax: (403) 762-6338
Enza_Apa@banffcentre.ab.ca