Karl Berger (1935-2023)

[clifford_thornton]

Sad news to report from the Hudson Valley: vibraphonist, pianist, author, and Creative Music Studio founder Karl Berger has passed at age 88.

Saw him quite a number of times over the years with various ensembles, both up here and down in NYC. Nice man and a generous spirit -- we had a very engaging phone conversation many years ago when I was working on a Don Cherry article.

Condolences to his wife, Ingrid (vocalist and CMS co-founder), family, and many friends and collaborators.

RIP sir, and thank you.

[colinmce]

What a contribution over such a long period of time, and he surely went out on top too. His playing on MBefore from last year is incredibly deep. 

For me at least there's not much in jazz as exciting as those recordings with Don Cherry, specifically from Montmartre. All-time burning.

RIP

[T.D.]

RIP.

Noticing that an upcoming concert program including Karl Berger (in Kingston, NY) was recently cancelled "for health reasons" and replaced with another,  I immediately feared something like this.

I know Ingrid (though not on a first-name basis) via non-musical activities but never met Karl.

[clifford_thornton]

yeah, that's what I was fearing too.

MBefore rips indeed!

[optatio]

R.I.P.

[mjazzg]

No!  I'm just sitting and listening for the first time to "Heart is a melody" and wondering anew at Berger's way with melody. I love so many of his albums. Thanks for such an important and maybe understated contribution.  Huge loss

[jlhoots]

5 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

No!  I'm just sitting and listening for the first time to "Heart is a melody" and wondering anew at Berger's way with melody. I love so many of his albums. Thanks for such an important and maybe understated contribution.  Huge loss

Waiting for Heart Is A Melody to arrive. R.I.P.

[Д.Д.]

Very sorry to hear this. Coincidentally, was listening to "Moon", his beautiful lyrical duo with Kirk Knuffke on NoBusiness, just yesterday and was thinking that I need to explore more Berger.     

20 minutes ago, optatio said:

R.I.P.

This one was recently reissued on CD for the first time. 

[HutchFan]

Sad news.

R.I.P.  

 

[Rabshakeh]

This is really sad. So many great records.

[mikeweil]

R.I.P.

He was such an important figure between the US and German scenes. Good teacher as well, directing the jazz department at the Frankfurt Music University for many years. Sad that I never had the opportunity to attend one his concerts while I was working there in a different department. 

[JSngry]

Whoever recently used the phrase "a life well-played", I'm gonna use it here.

RIP

[soulpope]

R.I.P ....

[Gheorghe]

I had heard very much about him, but must admit that the only stuff I heard was on one of Don Cherry´s BN albums. I think , he played piano AND vibes. 

[optatio]

A hidden recording - unissued:

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/sendungen/jazz/Karl-Berger-Ensemble-Tune-in-1968,audio410248.html

See: http://inconstantsol.blogspot.com/2009/01/karl-berger-total-music-ensemble.html

[felser]

RIP, fascinating musician, so glad to hear he was also a wonderful human being.  

[adh1907]

6 hours ago, optatio said:

A hidden recording - unissued:

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/sendungen/jazz/Karl-Berger-Ensemble-Tune-in-1968,audio410248.html

See: http://inconstantsol.blogspot.com/2009/01/karl-berger-total-music-ensemble.html

Thanks for posting. Amazing recording of Karl with Marion Brown, among others. 

[Pim]

RIP.

[Jason Bivins]

RIP.

[T.D.]

A local paper finally published a significant obit.

Karl Berger, music pioneer: His mind and work will live on - Hudson Valley One

[mjazzg]

5 hours ago, T.D. said:

A local paper finally published a significant obit.

Karl Berger, music pioneer: His mind and work will live on - Hudson Valley One

Thank you for posting this, it's the most in depth obit I've come across.

I had no idea that he and Ingrid's relationship started way back at his musical beginning.

Also, how I'd love to recordings of that CMS tour to Turkey 

[clifford_thornton]

That is a good obit, although the misspellings of artists' names are a bit frustrating.

[Teasing the Korean]

I learned about him through The Real Book.  There were two short pieces on one page, one by Dave Holland, and one by Karl Berger, with a note at the bottom reading, "For information concerning concerts by these artists, please write: Creative Music Studios, PO Box 671, Woodstock, NY 12498."  I never tried to book them in concert, but I did attempt to solo over "Perfect Love" as an exercise.  

RIP.

[romualdo]

On 4/20/2023 at 7:44 PM, T.D. said:

A local paper finally published a significant obit.

Karl Berger, music pioneer: His mind and work will live on - Hudson Valley One

Thanks for the link - what a fulfilled life & wonderful partnership with Ingrid/"Sertso"

RIP Karl

[T.D.]

12 hours ago, romualdo said:

Thanks for the link - what a fulfilled life & wonderful partnership with Ingrid/"Sertso"

RIP Karl

You're welcome. The local paper initially printed a short and woefully inadequate obit. From what I've heard, they subsequently hired a freelancer to write a proper one. Thus the two-week delay.

Edited May 1, 2023 by T.D.