David Berkman
David Berkman
Learn the right way to shout, scream, distort, perform, record
Since moving to New York in 1985, David Berkman has been an important part of the jazz community. He is an award-winning composer/bandleader (2000 Doris Duke/Chamber Music America New Works Creation and Presentation Grant), a recording artist whose 9 recordings as a leader have appeared on numerous best records of the year critic’s lists (the New York Times, the Village Voice, Downbeat, JazzIz, Jazz Times and others) and an award-winning jazz clinician who has performed and taught at numerous jazz camps, universities and conservatories around the United States, South America, Asia and Europe.
He has played in countless bands including those of Cecil McBee, Tom Harrell and the Vanguard Orchestra and has performed with and/or recorded and/or arranged for numerous jazz luminaries, including: Sonny Stitt,, Brian Blade, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Ray Drummond, Billy Hart, Dick Oatts, Tony Malaby, Robin Eubanks, Steve Wilson, Chris Potter, Scott Wendholt, Lenny White, Scott Colley, Bill Stewart, Dave Stryker, Fathead Newman, Hank Crawford, and Jane Monheit.
He has published three books with Sher Music Publishing, “The Jazz Musician’s Guide to Creative Practicing” (2007) and “The Jazz Singer’s Guidebook” (2009) and “The Jazz Harmony Book” (2014).
Now appearing more and more often as a bandleader, David Berkman has performed solo, trio and with his quartet, quintet and sextet at festivals and clubs in the United States, South America, Europe and Japan, most recently at the Edinburgh festival, the Cork Festival and the London Jazz Festival.
Recent tours include: clubs and concert performances in the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and around the United States.
Recent projects include the New York Standards Quartet (featuring Tim Armacost, Daiki Yasukagawa and Gene Jackson) and The David Berkman Quartet (featuring Dayna Stephens, Linda May Han Oh and Johnathan Blake).
David Berkman’s most recent recording is “Old Friends and New Friends” on Palmetto records and features Brian Blade, Dayna Stephens, Adam Kolker, Linda May Han Oh and Billy Drewes, recorded, mixed and co-produced by Matt Balitsaris at Maggie’s Farm.
David Berkman is the director of the Queens College Jazz Master of Music (MM) degree program.
