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David Berger is a composer, arranger, conductor, and leading authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era. Berger was conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from its inception in 1988 through 1994. Berger has transcribed more than 750 full scores of classic recordings, including more than 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Several of these transcriptions as well as Berger’s original arrangements were featured in the Broadway hit, After Midnight. In 1996 Berger collaborated with choreographer Donald Byrd to create and tour the 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. Berger has written music for symphony orchestras, television, Broadway shows and films and has composed and arranged for Duke Ellington, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Quincy Jones and the WDR Big Band. He has also arranged for singers including Jon and Aria Hendricks, Betty Carter, Natalie Cole, Rosemary Clooney, and Cecile McLorin Salvant.

Listening Session

June 5, 2022

Presenting Artist(s)

David Berger

Topic

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Chelsea McBride

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Mini-Lesson

May 5, 2022

Presenting Artist(s)

David Berger

Topic

Being Original in the Jazz Tradition

Daniel Jamieson

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Composer Spotlight

February 9, 2022

Presenting Artist(s)

David Berger

Topic

Re-Composing: Snowflake Joys

Scott Ninmer

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Mini-Lesson

February 3, 2022

Presenting Artist(s)

David Berger

Topic

Intros, Codas, 1st Endings, and Developing Motifs

Daniel Jamieson

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