This week we welcome Shelly Berg whose debut recording as a bandleader, “The Joy”, had just been released (DMP-1996). It was a well-received, straight ahead jazz piano trio recording. “The Joy” would serve as an introduction to a remarkably talented and articulate musician who’d quickly excel at a broad range of musical disciplines. Though referred to back then as “a talented if somewhat obscure pianist”, he was the chair of Jazz Studies at U.S.C. in Los Angeles and had just accepted a new role as president of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), a position he held from 1996-98.
A thoroughly well-rounded musician, Shelly Berg has since released several outstanding CDs, had a chart-topping recording (“Blackbird” on Concord Records, 2005), and has been a finalist for both Record of the Year and Artist of the Year awards. His former students include Gerald Clayton, Taylor Eigsti, Eldar Djangerov and Donald Vega.
Since our program, Shelly's composing and orchestrating for television includes CBS's A League of Their Own, and HBO's Dennis Miller Live. He has orchestrated for Chicago, Kiss, Carole King, Richard Marx, Joe Cocker & Lou Rawls. He’s also done considerable orchestration work for film and has written for the Royal Philharmonic, the American Symphony, and orchestras worldwide. A Steinway piano artist, he’s also a frequent guest on Jim Cullum'sRiverwalk Jazz radio show heard locally here on WMOT.
Beegie Adair welcomes Shelly Berg as we revisit "Improvised Thoughts" on WMOT.