Karl Nerenberg

Karl Nerenberg is en enthusiastic amateur player, who has played keyboard with the Ottawa bands "Verona Katz", "Stay Tuned/Restez-à-l'écoute", and a number of singers, notably Samantha Christ François, Ferline Regis, and Michèle Castonguay.

He enjoys playing blues, standards, Latin tunes and jazz treatments of folk and country tunes. His aim is bring the fun back into jazz. He plays accessible and spirited music, that includes some soul and gospel, as well as lots of well-known and lesser-known standards, and material in French and Spanish.

Professionally, Karl is a journalist and documentary film director/producer. During a successful 23 year career in Canadian public broadcasting (from 1977 to 2000, at the French and English services of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) he received a number of national and international awards, including a Gemini (Canadian television award) and an award for best international documentary series from the international association of French language television services ("la Communauté des télévisions francophones"). More recently he co-directed, wrote and produced the film "Never Come Back" about the Roma (Gypsy) people in Canada and Europe. Earlier, he wrote and directed the documentary "And Who Are You?" which explores the feelings of four well-known Canadians vis-à-vis their Polish roots and will be broadcast on the Canadian Omni-TV network.

He is currently a senior political writer for the online Canadian newsmagazine rabble.ca

Awards

Gemini, Golden Sheaf, CEMA best documentary (all film/television awards)

Gear

Yamaha 88 key keyboard, with weighted keys

Tags

From a review on December 6, 2018 on OttawaJazzScene, about a gig at Lebanese Palace in Ottawa, Canada: The jazz ensemble "Stay Tuned/Restez-à-l'écoute" attracted an almost-full house, as it played an upbeat mix of standards and a few originals. The group has been often heard hosting JazzWorks jam sessions and performing at benefits for causes like equitable land development in Africa or support for Eritrean and Syrian refugee families, but its dedication and skill was completely professional. Their spokesperson, pianist Karl Nerenberg, has frequently said that the group's mission is to bring the love of jazz to everyone – and you could see that in how their music connected with the audience, who regularly applauded and even occasionally got up to dance