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Karl Berger
Karl Berger is a six time winner of the Downbeat Critics Poll as a jazz soloist, recipient of numerous Composition Awards ( commissions by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, European Radio and Television: WDR, NDR, SWF, Radio France, Rai Italy. SWF-Prize 1994 ). Professor of Composition, Artist-in-Residence at universities, schools and festivals worldwide; PhD in Music Esthetics.
Karl Berger became noted for his innovative arrangements for recordings by Jeff Buckley ("Grace"), Natalie Merchant ("Ophelia"), Better Than Ezra, The Cardigans, Jonatha Brooke, Buckethead, Bootsie Collins, The Swans, Sly + Robbie, Angelique Kidjo a.o.; and for his collaborations with producers Bill Laswell, Alan Douglas ("Operazone"), Peter Collins, Andy Wallace, Craig Street, Alain Mallet, Malcolm Burn, Bob Marlett a.m.o. in Woodstock, NY. New York City, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Rome.
He recorded and performed with Don Cherry, Lee Konitz, John McLaughlin, Gunther Schuller, the Mingus Epitaph Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Ingrid Sertso, Dave Holland, Ed Blackwell, Ray Anderson, Carlos Ward, Pharoah Sanders, Blood Ulmer, Hozan Yamamoto and many others at festivals and concerts in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, India, Phillippines, Japan, Mexico, Brazil.
His recordings and arrangements appear on the Atlantic, Axiom, Black Saint, Blue Note, Capitol, CBS, Columbia Double Moon, Douglas Music, Elektra , EMI, Enja, Island, JVC, Knitting Factory, In&Out, MCA, Milestone, Polygram, Pye , RCA, SONY, Stockholm, Vogue a.o.
Founder and director of the Creative Music Foundation, Inc. , dba The Creative Music Studio, a not-for-profit corporation, dedicated to the research of the power of music and sound and the elements common to all of the world’s music forms; and to educational presentations through workshops, concerts , recordings, with a growing network of artists and CMS members worldwide .
Special areas of interest: Improvisation; world musical communications in ensembles/orchestras of soloists through modular compositions/arrangements; Rhythmic Training ( the GaMaLaTaKi system ): timing/attention/expression; R+ D of the elements governing the universal power of sound and music with emphasis on the healing power of sound and music.
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Filarmonica Laudamo Creative Orchestra: "Suite For Peace" di Karl Berger
by Neri Pollastri
Filarmonica Laudamo Creative Orchestra Auditorium Antonello da Messina Messina 19.11.2023 Storica associazione musicale messinese dalla vita ormai secolare, la Filarmonica Laudamo da molti anni organizza partecipatissime stagioni (oltre seicento gli abbonamenti) con cartelloni che affiancano alle rappresentazioni classiche anche concerti di altri generi. Tra questi --specie da quando nel 2013 la direzione fu assegnata al pianista Luciano Troja, oggi sostituito dal fagottista Antonino Cicero --figura il jazz che, oltre a destare l'interesse del pubblico, ...
read moreDon Cherry: Where Is Brooklyn? & Eternal Rhythm - Revisited
by Stefano Merighi
Nel percorso artistico di molti, è decisivo il rapporto tra emancipazione ed auto-affermazione. Il jazz moderno è spesso testimone di una dialettica feconda tra individualismo e trama collettiva, ma è dirimente il tema dell'originalità. “Se sei come tutti gli altri, a che serve il jazz?," diceva spesso Monk. E un vero “percorso," costellato da innumerevoli stazioni, è stato quello di Don Cherry, mai del tutto soddisfatto delle sue conquiste, costantemente messe in discussione. Ammesso e non concesso che Cherry sia ...
read moreKarl Berger: Heart Is A Melody
by Dave Linn
Karl Berger, one of the more unsung and underrated jazz musicians of our time, passed away on April 9, 2023. He had just turned 88 years old. Berger released several dozen albums as a leader and scores more as a sideman. His discography reads like a Who's Who of modern jazz. He recorded with people such as Don Cherry, Bill Laswell, Carla Bley, Anthony Braxton, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Charles Mingus, Lee Konitz and John McLaughlin, among many more. Berger ...
read moreKarl Berger, Max Johnson, Billy Mintz: Sketches
by Mike Jurkovic
An exquisitely palatable sense of dance permeates the gregarious music bassist Max Johnson brings to the fore on Sketches, the second of two heady 2022 releases. Whereas the first, Orbit of Sound (Unbroken Sounds), teams him up with the rule-elusive sax and flute of Anna Weber and drummer Michael Sarin, Sketches presents a slightly more straight ahead approach with pianist and vibraphonist Karl Berger and drummer Billy Mintz. But straight ahead is not quite fair, or descriptive enough ...
read moreJohn McLaughlin: Where Fortune Smiles
by Maurizio Comandini
L'invito che Tony Williams fece a John McLaughlin, chiamandolo a New York per far partire l'intensa avventura musicale denominata 'Tony Williams Lifetime,' arrivò proprio quando lo stesso McLaughlin aveva magicamente trovato un suo punto di equilibro. Dopo aver lasciato intravedere interessanti bagliori nell'eccellente disco Things We Like di Jack Bruce (registrato a Londra a fine agosto del 1968, con Dick Heckstall-Smith ai saxofoni e Jon Hiseman alla batteria) il suo talento esplose nel bellissimo album di esordio Extrapolation, registrato a ...
read moreMichael Bisio Quartet: MBefore
by Karl Ackermann
In the dark days of Covid and the lingering return to normality, only a handful of musicians managed to be prolific. Fewer remained relevant. Bassist & composer Michael Bisio is among the more productive artists, with half a dozen releases during the pandemic. Add to that collection MBefore, with the bassist's new namesake quartet. The album was recorded at Clubhouse Studio in Rhinebeck, New York, in March 2021, and includes liner notes by Matthew Shipp. The group comprised some top—if ...
read moreDon Cherry: Complete Communion & Symphony for Improvisers Revisited
by Stefano Merighi
Di fronte a questi gioielli di Don Cherry degli anni '60 che cosa si può scrivere ancora? Si può solamente invitare ad ascoltarli con orecchie ricettive e lasciarsi andare all'emozione, come scriveva Nat Hentoff nelle sue note originali per Complete Communion, senza perdere molto tempo in analisi formali poco utili. Questa edizione della collana Ezz-thetics fa scorrere per un'ora e venti minuti due opere manifesto della poetica del compositore-improvvisatore-cornettista e polistrumentista, che all'epoca coordinava organici smaglianti ...
read moreCreative Music Studio Announces Fall Workshop, October 5-9, 2015
Source:
Creative Music Foundation
Composer/multi-instrumentalist and Creative Music Studio alumnus Peter Apfelbaum, master percussionist/educator Billy Martin, and composer/saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa will join CMS Artistic Directors/Co-Founders Karl Berger and Ingrid Sertso as Guiding Artists for the Creative Music Studio Fall 2015 Workshop Intensive, October 5-9, at the ear-inspiring Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. CMS’s Fall 2015 Workshop features a format designed to create ample opportunities for participants and Guiding Artists to interact directly, both formally and informally. This workshop, during the height of ...
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8th Annual Red Hook Jazz Festival Takes Place June 14 & 21 In The Urban Meadow
Source:
James Keepnews
“The Red Hook Jazz Festival exists contentedly on the margins, like its namesake neighborhood and much of the music on its bill... The mood in the audience was neighborly, with a higher ratio of small children to youngish adults than I’ve seen at any musical event not expressly pitched as a kids’ show.” —Nate Chinen, New York Times “The lineup seems to get better every year at the Red Hook Jazz Festival, held on two successive Sundays at the Urban ...
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Creative Music Studio's Spring Workshop June 9-13
Source:
Michael Ricci
The Creative Music Studio continues its resurgence, offering two four- day workshops in 2014 at the well-appointed Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. Master musicians/educators Joe Lovano, Henry Threadgill, Tyshawn Sorey, Marilyn Crispell, Peter Apfelbaum, Judi Silvano, and Warren Smith will join CMS Artistic Directors Karl Berger and Ingrid Sertso as Guiding Artists for the CMS Spring workshop intensive, June 9-13. Additional Guiding Artists will be announced soon. Registration deadline for CMS's Spring Workshop is May 19, 2014. CMS's ...
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Mondays at The Stone in NYC: Karl Berger's Stone Workshop Orchestra
Source:
Deborah Day
MONDAYS AT THE STONE Karl Berger's Stone Workshop Orchestra 7:15 REHEARSAL/WORKSHOP and 9:00 PERFORMANCE The Stone is proud to host a new series of CMS workshops in 2011: a new improviser's workshop orchestra is underway EVERY MONDAY NIGHT IN 2011 led by composer/pianist/vibraphonist Karl Berger. Conducted in the tradition of the legendary Creative Music Studio, original compositions, themes by the likes of Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, and world musical melodies will be utilized for orchestral explorations and contrasting solo/duo/trio flights. ...
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The Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University Presents: The Creative Music Studio: A Symposium with Karl Berger, moderator
Source:
Yulanda Denoon
The Creative Music Studio: A Symposium with Karl Berger, moderator During the 1970s and 1980s, the Woodstock-based Creative Music Studio was widely considered as the premier center for the study of contemporary creative music. Founded in 1971 by Karl Berger, Ingrid Sertso and Ornette Coleman, CMS brought together leading innovators in the jazz and world music communities. Unprecedented in its range and diversity, CMS was an acknowledged phenomenon in the international music world, providing participants with the rare opportunity to ...
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Karl Berger & Friends at the Stone Saturday, January 19th Sets at 8 and 10 PM
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
A rare treat: Karl Berger & Friends at The Stone On Saturday, January 19, 2008 Karl Berger & Friends with Kenny Wessel, guitar Mark Helias, bass Tim McLafferty, drums Ingrid Sertso, vocals Karl Berger, piano, vibes will perform at The Stone (corner of Ave C and 2nd Street in New York) Sets are 8 and 10 PM They ...
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Jean-Louis Matinier Meets Karl Berger & Friends at the Thalia Thursday, December 6th 8:30 PM
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
The World Music Institute presents a rare event on Thursday, December 6 at the Thalia Theatre of Symphony Space: The Parisian accordionist Jean-Louis Matinier meets pianist/ vibraphonist Karl Berger & Friends 8:30 pm $25 . Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton Symphony Space Broadway at 95th St New York
Matinier, whose distinctive sound is reminiscent of Astor Piazzolla, is regarded as one of the most adventurous virtuosos on his instrument and is a jazz and new music celebrity ...
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Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Legacy (Tues) Karl Berger & Friends: "In the Spirit of Don Cherry" (Wed) Vinicius Cantuaria Quintet Thu-Sun) at the Iridium Jazz Club
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:00 & 10:00PM Effective immediately, minimums are $10/person/set for all show except Les Paul - $15 mins.
EVERY MONDAY LES PAUL AND HIS TRIO
EVERY TUESDAY MINGUS LEGACY Sets at 8:00 & 10:00PM
Sept. 19 KARL BERGER & FRIENDS: “IN THE SPIRIT OF DON CHERRY" FEAT. ...
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Karl Berger + Friends: "In the Spirit of Don Cherry" Sept. 19th at the Iridium Jazz Club Sets at 8:00 & 10:00PM
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:00 & 10:00PM Karl Berger + Friends: “In the Spirit of Don Cherry" Sept. 19 at The Iridium Jazz Club Steven Bernstein, tp, Peter Apfelbaum, ts/fl, Bob Stewart, tuba, Mark Helias, bass, Tani Tabbal, dr., Ingrid Sertso, vocals, Karl Berger, piano/vibes A Symphony for Improvisors that continues the exuberant spirit of Don ...
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Karl Berger & Friends and Imani Winds Open 2007 Season Maverick Concerts June 23 and 24
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Maverick Concerts “Music in the Woods" * 92nd Season P.O. Box 9 * Woodstock, New York 12498 * 845.679.8217 [email protected] * http://www.maverickconcerts.org/
Two Spectacular Maverick Debuts Open the 2007 Season, with Jazz and Chamber Music
Karl Berger & Friends and Imani Winds will Perform on June 23 and 24
Woodstock, N.Y.--Maverick Concerts in Woodstock opens its 92nd season of Music in the Woods with a weekend of adventurous and eclectic programming, featuring jazz and ...
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“Karl Berger brings the rhythms of Africa and the swing of Milt Jackson to a higher degree of improvisation on the vibes. Berger’s instrument is at once vividly imaginative and filled with the dance of magic.” —Philadelphia Tribune
“Karl Berger’s a great pure player: without getting into stylistic pigeonholes and without any amplification, he delivers a constantly satisfying mixture of colorative nuances and straight ahead swing.” —Downbeat Magazine
“The way Karl plays the vibes he should be president of the United States.” —Dave Brubeck
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Karl Berger
Instrument: Vibraphone
Born: March 30, 1935
Died: April 9, 2023
