About
In addition to my professional career, I taught jazz composition and arranging for 30 years at Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music and Wm. Paterson Univ. Here is a short bio. If you would like a more complete c.v., please contact me, and I will provide:
Jazz composer, arranger, and conductor, David Berger, is recognized internationally as a leading authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era. Conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from its inception in 1988 through 1994, Berger has transcribed over 750 full scores of classic recordings, including more than 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn in addition to hundreds of other classic jazz recordings.
In 1996 Berger collaborated with choreographer Donald Byrd to create and tour Harlem Nutcracker, a full-length two-hour dance piece that expands the Tchaikovsky/ Ellington/Strayhorn score into an American classic. The 15-piece band assembled to play this show has stayed together as the David Berger Jazz Orchestra. The DBJO actively performs Berger's music on tours throughout the United States and Europe.
Berger has written music for numerous jazz groups of all sizes, symphony orchestras, singers, dancers, television, Broadway shows and films and has served as conductor and musical director for dance companies, TV and stage shows.
I am committed to passing on to the next generation jazz and compositional concepts that were given to me by my elders. My approach is to help composers and arrangers to find their voices and become the best writers and musicians they can be regardless of style or instrumentation.
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