Ken Bernstein
Composer, Lead Singer, Song Writer, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Visual Artist
My Story
Ken Bernstein has been writing music, playing guitar and bass for over 40 years. He has released two albums of devotional mantra music, Healing and Passage; and the single, "Jai Bhagavan". Ken has led his own kirtan band, and played in the Bhakti Shakti Kirtan Band for over 18 years- recently taking over leadership of the band. He has played in other contemplative musical groups, including Igniting the Fire of the Heart.
Improvisational music has been a continuing source of inspiration for Ken. He played in the Boy-Girl Band with Art Lande, Mark Miller, Emily Takahashi, and Clare Church They played together for over 15 years, and recorded two albums, Down the Corridor and Mindbender.
He has written music for, and recorded two albums; Calluses of Poetry and Colors Born of Shadow, with the late poet Jack Collom. He is also the maker of strange instruments like the “Electric Snake”, which makes a variety of deep and resonant tones, as well as soaring harmonics. He plays “The Snake” for Sound Journeys with Merlyn Holmes and Marcy Baruch.
Ken studied music with Dale Bruning and Bill Douglas at Naropa University, Art Lande
and continues a study of Flamenco guitar with Miguel Espinoza.
Ken is also a sculptor and muralist. His public art works are in collections both nationally and internationally. His awards and grants include: Federal Highways Administration’s Exemplary Human Environment Initiative, The 28th Street Central Corridor Redevelopment Project in Boulder, Colorado, The Boulder Art Commission, The Colorado Council for the Arts, The Science and Cultural Facilities District, The Milash Foundation, and The Boulder Library Foundation.
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He has, and continues to be inspired by, Ram Das, Jerry Garcia, Jeff Beck, Ramana Maharshi, Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Alex Gray, Wassily Kandinski, Thomas Hart Benton, Georgia O'Keefe, Bruce Cockburn, Eckhart Tolle, Leonard Cohen, and Rumi.
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Favorite Mantras: Om Mani Padme Hum, Gate Gate, Paragate, Para Sam Gate, Bodhi Swaha, Hare Krishna, Maha Mantra.
You can see his work by clicking the "Ken's Art Studio" button below