Such Sweet Thunder

12/31/2020

SST Blog - Does familiarity really breed contempt?

A new blog post, and announcement about some upcoming book projects. Happy new year! https://mailchi.mp/suchsweetthundermusic/sst-blog-does-familiarity-really-breed-contempt

12/28/20  I came across a quote from Shakespeare this morning. After 400 years, he’s still the greatest writer in the English language, having coined hundreds of our words and phrases. When I was in high school and learned that many of his plot lines were commonly used by his contemporaries and o...

11/16/2020

Newest sheet music offerings from SST

New arrangements available on Such Sweet Thunder Music! Small group and big band transcriptions, check out what's on offer.

Be sure to listen to the recording of each arrangement as played by the original groups. CHOO CHOO Recorded in 1924 on Ellington’s first record date, this piece owes much to Don Redman and Jelly Roll Morton. Ellington shows us glimmers of what is to come a few years later.

09/18/2020

RIP Old Friends

In appreciation of two wonderful friends I'm remembering this week.

9/16/20 I’m feeling very sad today and writing a paragraph on Facebook just isn’t going to do it for me. Today would have been my buddy Jon Hendricks’ 99th birthday. We collaborated for 25 years. Jon taught me how to enjoy life to the fullest. He exuded joy, and even at my worst moments, being...

05/13/2020

Last day to support the Ellington Effect

It's the last day and we're almost there! Thanks for your support of this incredible project.

I just wanted to send this email out one last time to let you know that the Kickstarted campaign is over tonight.  We are getting so close to making it over the finish line, thanks to the incredibly generous support of a matching funds donor together with a final show of generosity from all of you....

05/11/2020

Final chance to help make unprecedented jazz book possible

My Kickstarter project ends just before midnight this Wed. May 13 -- and there's a 10K Match that has been extended through the final few days. This Kickstarter is necessary for me to qualify for a larger grant to initiate these FIVE books -- each an intense, unprecedented, analysis of Ellington music over a period. As described in the project:

We are creating a set of five volumes, each dealing with one era of Ellington’s work:
Flaming Youth: 1924-1930
The Age of Invention: 1931-1939
Lightning in a Bottle: 1940-1943
Extended Abstraction: 1944-1956
Citizen of the World: 1957-1974
Each volume will include analyses of 8-10 scores.

As Bird said, Now's The Time. Please share, send, discuss, as widely as possible. Thank you for your support of this project.

The home stretch is coming to a close.  We've had a wonderful response these last few days to the offer from a generous donor to match any pledges up to $10,000 over the weekend, and since the campaign ends this Wednesday, the matching funds donor has decided to extend the match to the end of the c...

05/07/2020

The Ellington Effect

Matching funds donor up to $10k for next 3 days only! Thanks for your support.

A 5-volume set of books analyzing Ellington’s compositions in detail spanning his 50-year career.

04/30/2020

DBJO rocks Ellington's classic Rockin' In Rhythm

Check this great recording out! Happy birthday Duke (yesterday)!

03/19/2020

The Ellington Effect

The Kickstarter campaign for my new book series is off to a good start! I'd like to give a giant Thank You to the folks listed below who have already pledged to the campaign so far. If you haven't checked it out yet, please have a look!
Big thanks to:
Louis Tavecchio
Dan Aldag
Quentin Bryar
Dave Lalama
John
John Lake
Chris Tackett
Brandon W. Bitner
James and Jo Ann Newton
Ben Hoehn
David Sandler
David Palmquist
Nicholas Croft

A 5-volume set of books analyzing Ellington’s compositions in detail spanning his 50-year career.

02/27/2020

Video Post: Remember This?

SST Blog - Video Post: Remember This?

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original composition Remember This?, at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKillop Wayne....

02/20/2020

Video Post: June Night

SST Blog - Video Post: June Night

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's arrangement of June Night, at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKillop Wayne Goodman Wi...

02/13/2020

Video Post: When My Sugar Walks Down The Street

SST Blog - Video Post: When My Sugar Walks Down The Street

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's arrangement of When My Sugar Walks Down The Street at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Yaala Balin Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Gross...

01/09/2020

Ambiguity in Art

SST Blog - Ambiguity in Art

1/8/20 This morning I read an obit of the artist and teacher John Baldessari in the New York Times. The final sentence quotes him as saying, “Great art is clear thinking about mixed feelings.” Since I’m always trying to define what makes some art great, I have to give this some thought. When I...

01/06/2020

Video Post: The Man I Love

SST Blog Video Post - The Man I Love

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's arrangement of The Man I Love by George and Ira Gershwin at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Ke...

01/02/2020

Memories

SST Blog - Memories

Memories 12/17/19 The strangest thing happened to me last night at dinner. I'm in Oakland, California, spending a few days with my childhood friend Maggie. On Monday I had lunch with two of my musician buddies, Chris Siebert and Marcus Shelby. Chris brought a couple of his pianist pals. Lunch was th...

12/16/2019

Authenticity

SST Blog - Authenticity

They Always Know That You’re Pandering 12/11/19 David Berger I got the following email a few days ago (as is): Hi everyone, What would be your suggestions for a crowd pleaser ? My band will play as an opener for 15' before a major act at a local festival. I have 15' to make my boys ( and girls ) s...

12/12/2019

Video Post: One Too Many

SST Blog - Video post: One Too Many

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original composition One Too Many at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKillop Wayne Goo...

12/10/2019

Video Post: On The Alamo

SST Blog Video Post - On The Alamo

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original arrangement of On The Alamo at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKillop Wayne....

11/30/2019

Video Post: Oh! You Beautiful Doll

SST Blog - Oh! You Beautiful Doll

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original arrangement of Oh! You Beautiful Doll at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKil...

11/25/2019

Opposites Attract

SST Blog - Opposites Attract

The American Experiment 11/25/19 Last week I was horrified to read that the Senate approved a judgeship for a man who wrote a paper denouncing the American melting pot ideal. He forcefully asserted that any country with a heterogeneous population is destined to failure, and that only countries with....

11/11/2019

Income Inequality

SST Blog - Income Inequality

11/10/19 We read about it in the papers every day: income inequality in the U.S. is at a level not seen in a century. In this morning’s Times there is an article that breaks it down by occupation. It seems that doctors are the highest tier in the top 1% of earners, and specifically dentists. That....

11/07/2019

Video Post: Who's Sorry Now

SST Blog Video Post - Who's Sorry Now

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original arrangement of Who's Sorry Now at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Dig our vocalist Yaala Balin singing this new version. Personnel performing: Yaala Balin Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Mar...

11/04/2019

Video Post: Mighty Lak' A Rose

SST Blog - Video Post: Mighty Lak' A Rose

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original arrangement of Mighty Lak' A Rose at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKillop....

10/31/2019

Video Post: Someday Sweetheart

SST Blog - Video post: Someday Sweetheart

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original arrangement of Someday Sweetheart at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKillop....

10/29/2019

Video Post: You Made Me Love You

SST Blog - You Made Me Love You

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original arrangement of You Made Me Love You at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Kerry MacKillo...

10/22/2019

Dance with the One That Brought You

SST Blog - Dance with the One That Brought You

10/20/19 I only wanted to do two things in this life: play for the Brooklyn Dodgers and be a jazz musician. Obviously, I only got to do the latter, but that hasn’t stopped me from being a rabid baseball fan. With the Yankees’ crushing defeat last night at the hands (and bat) of 5’6” José Al...

10/18/2019

Video Post: By the Light of the Silvery Moon

A tune from last week's show at Swing 46.

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing performing David Berger's original arrangement of By the Light of the Silvery Moon at Swing 46 in New York City on October 13, 2019. Personnel performing: Jay Brandford Kurt Bacher Jay Rattman Mark Hynes Carl Maraghi Bob Millikan Colin Brigstocke Irv Grossman Ke...

10/17/2019

3-day CD sale

Pick up some big band jazz albums this weekend from David Berger to add to your collection. Great prices.

Today it begins: CD sale — for 3 days only! All the albums we offer in physical CD format are on sale now. That's 7 great albums. And the price is right. The sale you've been waiting for has started! Act now to buy individual CDs for $7.99 each (must select "physical CD" on product page drop-down ...

10/14/2019

The Strange Case of IN THE MOOD

SST Blog - The Strange Case of IN THE MOOD

Rescoring an Iconic Chart 10/14/19 A few weeks ago I read a post online from my old buddy Kenny (not my brother—although he is heavy, musically) Berger. Kenny was the original baritone sax player in my first band in 1971. After about a year of rehearsing with us every Monday afternoon, he asked me...

10/10/2019

Developing Your Own Language

SST Blog - Developing your own language

9/30/19 I was going to spend this morning working on my upcoming book: Creative Jazz Composing and Arranging, Volume III: Writing for Small Groups, but while I was reading through my email and Facebook posts, a member of the Jazz Arrangers group asked a question about Triad Pairs. I’d never heard ...

10/07/2019

Lullaby of the Leaves - David Berger Jazz Orchestra

To whet your appetite until next Sunday, here's a swinging classic we played last month. Come hang with us next week, we will play Sunday October 13 at Swing 46 from 8:30 to 11:30 PM.

David Berger's arrangement of the 1932 Tin Pan Alley classic, performed live at Birdland in New York City on August 18, 2019.

10/03/2019

Frenesi - The David Berger Jazz Orchestra live at Birdland 8/18/19

From the Birdland gig a while back.

I based this arrangement on the Gerry Mulligan recording with Chet Baker. I apologize for the sonic imbalance in the reeds. They were balanced acoustically, ...

10/03/2019

In Celebration of Our True Selves

SST Blog - In Celebration of Our True Selves

9/29/19 I just watched an interview with Hilary Rodham Clinton on TV. I never actually met her, but when I was at a White House dinner nearly 25 years ago, I was immediately impressed by how smart she was. When her husband was in the room, it was the Bill Clinton show. This is kinda off-topic, but i...

09/30/2019

Bernie's Tune - The David Berger Jazz Orchestra

Another video from a recent show we did at Birdland. Great solos by Andrew Hadro and Nana Sakamoto!

The David Berger Jazz Orchestra live at Birdland 8/18/19 Arranged by David Berger Soloists: Andrew Hadro, baritone saxophone and Nana Sakamoto, trombone

09/26/2019

Chicago by The David Berger Jazz Orchestra

Hear us play my arrangement of Chicago (composed by Fred Fisher in 1922) at Birdland. "Chicago, Chicago, that todd'ling town..." I learned this tune as a little kid and never considered it as a jazz vehicle until I heard Mike Abene's chart that he did for Maynard Ferguson in the 1960s. This chart carries on that bebop tradition. And now you can play it in your band too, as the chart is available for sale on www.suchsweetthundermusic.com.

Chicago by Fred Fisher, arranged by David Berger Performed by The David Berger Jazz Orchestra at Birdland NYC on August 18, 2019

09/25/2019

Revisionist Jazz History

SST Blog - Revisionist Jazz History

Shoptalk about making the old chestnuts relevant 8/23/19 Over the past few days I decided that I’d like to perform a couple of classic charts from the Big Band Era. When I was 12 or 13 I bought a recent Les Brown recording from the mid-’50s where the band re-recorded a dozen of their hits from t...