Durand Bernarr is no longer one of music's best kept secrets

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and powerhouse performer Durand Bernarr headlines at Crescent Ballroom on May 31.

Bernarr, an Oakland native, has not so quietly been bewitching lovers of soul and R&B for over a decade, while recently gaining acclaim for collaborations with Kaytranada, Ari Lennox, and touring recently with the legendary Erykah Badu.

But the most comprehensive display of Bernarr’s showmanship, virtuosity, and creative range comes from his 2023 NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert performance. Bernarr effortlessly crooned a melange of upbeat genre-flipping selections while he, his backing band, and supporting vocalists dressed in costume as characters from Disney’s The Proud Family. The tiny desk concert was so captivating that clips from the set were quickly turned into memes on social media.
Bernarr’s exhilarating live show is heavily influenced by music. His mother, a music teacher and vocal coach, and father, an audio engineer who had previously worked with Beyonce and Rihanna, both heavily influenced his passion for music.

At just 16 years old, Bernarr traveled with Earth, Wind, & Fire as a production assistant, getting a front row seat to the pageantry that the group is renowned for. On an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show, Bernarr noted his biggest influences being Rick James, Little Richard, and, maybe the most surprising of all, Bugs Bunny. That particular influence becomes uncanny when Bernarr injects his performances with comedic quips, crowd control, and his hilarious facial reactions when singing.

Touring his fourth studio album, BLOOM, Durand Bernarr’s soulful journey feels like it’s just hitting its crescendo and just in time for those unaware of his meteoric rise to start playing catch-up and paying attention to music’s most personality-drenched R&B showman.

The Phoenix stop of Bernarr’s tour, You Gon’ Grow Too, marks the halfway point of the 38-city international journey and Crescent Ballroom, a local venue noteworthy for being the place to see music’s next big thing before they become household names, should prove to be a memorable backdrop for Bernarr and company.

Durand Bernarr performs at 8 p.m. May 31 at the Crescent Ballroom. Desz and Jack Freeman open. Tickets start at $25.