Two New Singles: august 3 - Resonation trio & rubidium - Ultra resonance

Wildly adventurous trumpeter/composer Steven Bernstein pairs the debut of his acoustic, explorative ResoNation Trio with a startling reinvention by eclectic producer Scotty Hard

Out June 5, 2026 via Royal Potato Family, ResoNation Trio features Bernstein in a rare outing solely on valve trumpet with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Nasheet Waits 

Companion record Ultra Resonance finds longtime collaborator Scotty Hard wholly reimagining the trio’s music 

“Arranger, composer, brass maniac, and musical alchemist Steven Bernstein is an all-purpose gift to human ears. If you’re a living soul who has ever felt your foot tap or your bottom swing side-to-side because of, say, Ray Charles or Little Feat or Louis Armstrong, then you owe it to yourself to get Bernstein-ized. His musical net is wider than that, but let’s start there.” – Will Layman, PopMatters

Steven Bernstein has never been one to stay in a single lane. Whether he’s leading the rowdy improvisations of Sexmob or the intricate, groove-heavy arrangements of the Millennial Territory Orchestra, the trumpeter and "musical alchemist" is constantly shifting the landscape of contemporary jazz.

Today, Bernstein announces a bold new chapter with the simultaneous release of two interrelated albums: ResoNation Trio and Ultra Resonance, both arriving June 5, 2026, via Royal Potato Family.

To kick off the journey, Bernstein has shared two singles that showcase the diametrically opposed spirits of these records: the contemplative "August 3" and the sonic hallucination "Rubidium."

The concept is a fascinating study in perspective. First, Bernstein assembled a powerhouse chordless trio featuring bassist Scott Colley and drummer Nasheet Waits. Together, they recorded a session of sparse, acoustic explorations.

Then, Bernstein handed those master tapes to his longtime collaborator, the legendary producer Scotty Hard (Sexmob, Medeski Martin & Wood), with a simple directive: reimagine them.

The result is a set of "conjoined musical twins"—one rooted in the human tradition of storytelling, the other a science-fiction vision of the far future.

"August 3" – From ResoNation Trio

"August 3" serves as our first look at Bernstein in an uncharacteristically stripped-back setting. While he is world-renowned for his mastery of the slide trumpet, this track features him exclusively on valve trumpet.

The vibe is what Bernstein calls "back porch" music—intimate, conversational, and deeply grounded. With Colley’s woody, resonant bass and Waits’ intuitive, dancing percussion, "August 3" captures the "Harmolodic abstraction" that has long defined Bernstein’s career, but delivers it with a new, quiet vulnerability. It is a rare chance to hear one of jazz’s greatest arrangers focus purely on the skeletal beauty of the melody.

"Rubidium" – From Ultra Resonance

If "August 3" is the earth, "Rubidium" is the atmosphere. Taking the raw materials of the trio session, Scotty Hard acted more as a composer than a producer, breaking the performances down into their constituent atoms and rebuilding them into something entirely "mutant."

Inspired by the dub-heavy translation of reggae classics like Burning Spear’s Garvey’s Ghost, Hard utilizes drones, reversed tracks, and pitch-shifted fragments. On "Rubidium," you can hear Bernstein’s recorded debut on the Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), weaving through a dense thicket of sonic textures. It’s a 30-year dream finally realized—a bridge between the avant-garde experimentation of the 1980s Downtown scene and the limitless possibilities of modern studio alchemy.

Coming June 5, 2026

Whether you prefer the acoustic warmth of a room where you can hear the valves click or the immersive, deconstructed world of a master remixer, this dual release offers a complete experience of Bernstein’s singular vision.

ResoNation Trio and Ultra Resonance will be available on June 5, 2026, as a double vinyl or CD package, as well as on all digital streaming platforms.

Steven Bernstein – ResoNation Trio
Steven Bernstein and Scotty Hard - Ultra Resonance
Royal Potato Family – RPF 2608 – Recorded Dec. 20-21, 2023
Release date June 5, 2026

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