clifford_thornton Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmce Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted April 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 yeah, that's what I was fearing too. MBefore rips indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optatio Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 R.I.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjazzg Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Д.Д. Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HutchFan Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 Sad news. R.I.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabshakeh Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 This is really sad. So many great records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted April 10, 2023 Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 Whoever recently used the phrase "a life well-played", I'm gonna use it here. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulpope Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 R.I.P .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gheorghe Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optatio Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felser Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 RIP, fascinating musician, so glad to hear he was also a wonderful human being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adh1907 Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pim Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Bivins Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted April 20, 2023 Report Share Posted April 20, 2023 A local paper finally published a significant obit. Karl Berger, music pioneer: His mind and work will live on - Hudson Valley One Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjazzg Posted April 20, 2023 Report Share Posted April 20, 2023 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted April 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2023 That is a good obit, although the misspellings of artists' names are a bit frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasing the Korean Posted April 28, 2023 Report Share Posted April 28, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romualdo Posted May 1, 2023 Report Share Posted May 1, 2023 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted May 1, 2023 Report Share Posted May 1, 2023 (edited) 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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