Pianist, composer, and educator
David Berkman has been a vitally important figure on the NYC jazz scene since
the mid 1980s. He has appeared in the
bands of countless leaders, including Cecil McBee, Tom Harrell, The Vanguard
Orchestra and has worked with a wide array of jazz luminaries including Sonny
Stitt, Joe Lovano, Steve Wilson, Chris Potter, Ray Drummond, Lenny White, Scott
Colley, Billy Hart, Bill Stewart, Brian Blade and many, many others. In recent years he has appeared as a
leader/co-leader, at the helm of the critically acclaimed New York Standards
Quartet, with Tim Armacost, Ugonna Okegwo and Gene Jackson (the band just
celebrated their 10-year anniversary with the release of "Power of
10" and will be marching into the next decade with the Spring 2017 release
of their sixth album, "Sleight Of Hand"). He has also published three
books (with Sher Music Publishing) on jazz theory and practice that have become
"must-haves", "The Jazz Musician's Guide to Creative
Practicing" (2007), "The Jazz Singer's Guidebook" (2009) and
"The Jazz Harmony Book" (2014).
During this
time Berkman also released an album that is quickly becoming a classic,
"Old Friends and New Friends", featuring Billy Drewes, Adam Kolker
and Brian Blade (old friends) and Dayna Stephens and Linda Oh (new friends).
This February 3rd, 4th & 5th, at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, Berkman
happily reunites members of that band with special guests Ugonna Okegwo on bass
and Jochen Rueckert and Jonathan Blake, splitting the drum duties. The band
will be playing material from this album (produced by Matt Balitsaris and
released on Palmetto Records in 2015) released to great critical acclaim, plus
new music from the mind and pen of Berkman. "For this weekend at Smoke,
we're doing some music from 'Old Friends and New Friends' but I'm also looking
forward to premiering some new compositions that we'll be recording on our next
CD. This ensemble is a ball to write for because there are three woodwind
virtuosos in it, who together will be playing seven different instruments. But
the main thing is that all the members of the group are monstrous musicians and
improvisors who shape these compositions in unique ways. I think the audience
will enjoy hearing all of these individual voices and how much we all enjoy
playing this music together" explained Berkman.
Don't miss
this three night engagement at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, February 3rd, 4th
and 5th with sets @ 7, 9 & 10:30 PM
Other musicians:
David Berkman (piano & compositions)
Dayna Stephens (saxophone & EWI)
Adam Kolker (saxophones & clarinets)
Billy Drewes (saxophones)
Ugonna Okegwo (bass)
Jochen Rueckert (drums on 2/3)
Jonathan Blake (drums on 2/4 & 2/5)
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