Corey Bernhard’s Eternity Ensemble
Johnny Brenda’s
1201 Frankford Ave.
Philadelphia
April 30, 2026
Composer and keyboardist Corey Bernhard’s Eternity Ensemble took over Johnny Brenda’s this past Thursday night for an evening of cosmic, hip-hop-informed jazz and soul. As the modest crowd shuffled into Johnny Brenda’s, they were greeted by the sound of classic ‘90s hip-hop playing over the house speakers. In between sets, the playlist featuring A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, and The Pharcyde returned, adding a warm and nostalgic ambience to the evening. The choice to play these legacy rap acts felt intentional, as these groups did much of the heavy lifting to introduce new generations to the ‘60s and ‘70s jazz and soul that lives on in the DNA of the musicians on the bill.
Alt-R&B and Indie-pop powerhouse Suzanne Sheer opened the night, backed by 3xplotits, the production of duo LOTITS, and 3xpo. Armed with a battery of keys, laptops and controllers, 3xplotis opened with a spacey, swinging instrumental before Sheer made her way to the stage flanked by the luminous house lights and fog. She then launched into a thrilling set of ballads and bittersweet songs about heartache and jilted love. A highlight of Sheer’s set was her single, “2 Graves,” a mighty slab of Ennio Morricone-style Spaghetti Western Soul that they remixed live by incorporating DJ Premier's menacing instrumental for Nas’ “New York State of Mind.” Next up, Sheer and crew played a lovely version of their new single “Ain't that Somethin'". The song’s spare, atmospheric arrangement made for a perfect display of Sheer’s smoky, bluesy voice.
Corey Bernhard’s Eternity Ensemble took the stage next for a daring set of cutting-edge jazz. Berhard opened by improvising on the keys, with a dreamy electric piano intro that sounded like something pulled from an old Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes record. His warm chords and glittery, high-register runs filled the room, building anticipation before the band launched into a slow, smoldering double-time groove. Rapper/multi-instrumentalist Khemist joined the band for a few songs, performing an introspective spoken word piece and deftly freestyling off the top of his head. Between the guest slots from vocalists, the band burned through a series of heady jazz and hip-hop, fusing instrumentals whose tone swung from dark and aggressive to uplifting and euphoric. At one point, the band built up a furious improvised section that brought to mind the jazz fusion experiments of John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra. R&B legend Musinah then joined the band as they settled back into a rich, soulful R&B groove. Skill, open-mindedness, and high-level musicianship were on full display last Thursday night at Johnny Brenda’s. The talent and seriousness on that stage prove that while jazz, soul, and hip-hop are now well-established in popular music’s history, their future is in sure, capable hands.
