David Berger News

Ask Celia Berk what she loves about New York and she'll give you a list. Or, better yet, an album. Corporate executive by day, cabaret chanteuse by night (and a damn good one), Berk has won a MAC Award (New York Debut – Female), a Bistro Award (Vocalist), a BWW Award (NY Cabaret Debut), and The Margaret Whiting Award from The Mabel Mercer Foundation since her 2014 debut album You Can't Rush Spring. Her latest, Manhattan Serenade, is an eclectic collection of New York and New York-esque songs steeped in nostalgia and romance, complete with arrangements by Alex Rybeck and a stunning orchestra. Extended by popular demand, Berk will celebrate its release once more at the Metropolitan Room this Friday, October 14 at 7:00 pm. Before the show, we sat down for a discussion on her love note to New York, carving out a space for yourself in the city, and typical New York resilience.

It is said that music never leaves the soul. No one knows this more than jazz vocalist and radio personality, Cres O'Neal. On Today, July 16, 2016, at 4 pm, Cres will make her long awaited return to the stage at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, New York, New York. Joining Cres will be Grammy nominated percussionist, Wilson 'Chembo' Corniel; award winning pianist, Dawrin Noguera; acclaimed bassist, Paul Beaudry; and acclaimed drummer, Willie Martinez.

It is said that music never leaves the soul. No one knows this more than jazz vocalist and radio personality, Cres O'Neal. On Saturday, July 16, 2016, at 4 pm, Cres will make her long awaited return to the stage at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, New York, New York. Joining Cres will be Grammy nominated percussionist, Wilson 'Chembo' Corniel; award winning pianist, Dawrin Noguera; acclaimed bassist, Paul Beaudry; and acclaimed drummer, Willie Martinez.

Leaders in the arts and civic communities will gather to celebrate one of the nation's most innovative and entertaining arts organizations at Smuin Ballet's Annual Gala. Co-chairs Patti and Jerry Hume, and Athena and John Konstin will host a sparkling event, starring the Smuin Ballet dancers.  This festive evening will include a cocktail reception, a performance by Smuin Ballet's acclaimed dancers, a live auction, and a delectable dinner catered by McCall's and wines by Grgich Hills Estate. Smuin Ballet's Gala takes place 5pm, Sunday, March 6, 2016 at San Francisco's Galleria, 101 Henry Adams Street, San Francisco. For tickets and more information, the public may contact Smuin Ballet at (415) 556-5000 x100 or visit www.smuinballet.org.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming lineup for November 11-22, 2015. Scroll down for details, or visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its nightly performances, running November 4-15, 2015. Scroll down or visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming performances from October 28 - November 8, 2015. Scroll down or visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!

Boxer Shorts is a ninety-minute night consisting of four short plays from three classic 20th century playwrights (Beckett, Pinter, and Williams) and one contemporary playwright (Raznovich).

The Public Theater begins performances for the return engagement of Bridget Everett's ROCK BOTTOM on Tuesday, January 6.

At the Apollo Theater in Harlem, the arrival of the holiday season is marked by 'Holidays at the Apollo,' which this year includes 'Ellington at Christmas,' a two-act offering of Ellington's 'Nutcracker Suite' and portions of his 'Sacred Music Concerts.' We're re-gifted these Ellington holiday classics in an enjoyable, if not completely flawless performance by Ellington expert David Berger and his Jazz Orchestra, featuring students from the Dance Theater of Harlem School and the Arts High School Advanced Choir of Newark, as well as solos by baritone Norm Lewis, sopranos Lizz Wright and Priscilla Baskerville, and tap virtuoso Jason Samuels Smith.

The Todd Londagin Band will perform at The Terrace at Yotel, 570 Tenth Ave at 42nd Street as part of 'After Work Jazz' tonight, June 6, 2014 from 5 to 10 p.m.

The Todd Londagin Band will perform at The Terrace at Yotel, 570 Tenth Ave at 42nd Street as part of 'After Work Jazz' on June 6, 2014 from 5 to 10 p.m.

Mercedes Ellington, the renowned dancer/director-choreographer and founder and artistic director of The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts in New York City, will be an Honored Guest and one of the featured speakers at the 22nd International Duke Ellington Study Group Conference, which will be held May 14- May 18,2014 in Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Ms. Ellington, granddaughter of the legendary American composer and musician whose more than 3,000 musical compositions make him the 20th century's most prolific composer, will discuss her relationship with 'The Duke,' as well as his growing popularity today, 40 years after his passing on May 24, 1974.

'Queen of the Beatniks: The Songs of Judy Henske' moves downtown! After two smash performances at The Cutting Room, the Queen of the Beatniks is back, this time at NYC's premiere downtown venue, Joe's Pub. The show is written and performed by Meredith DiMenna under the musical direction of Jason Binnick.

On Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, high school singers from across New York City and young artists from the recently launched Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra (JLCYO) will join together to perform works from Duke Ellington's celebrated Sacred Music concerts. The afternoon's performance is led by jazz composer, arranger, and recognized authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing era David Berger, along with special guest soloists alto Lalah Hathaway, baritone Rufus Bond Jr., soprano Nicole Cabell, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath, trumpeter and composer Sean Jones, trombonist and JLYCO Director Vincent Gardner, and tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith.

Glover has been a personal idol of mine as a tap dancer since I was a young girl and fast picking up the art. This, however, was my first opportunity to see him live, and he did not disappoint. Glover tapped along to the band, his feet became a musical instrument of their own- the best musical instrument in the band, in my opinion. His feet created music with a perfectly timed flap, stomp, toe dig, or cramp roll. His infamous speed held true and created a fun, high-energy performance that took the show to the next level.

For anyone who loves joyful, unpretentious, but highly creative and spontaneous jazz, Todd Londagin's new album Look Out For Love will be a delightful discovery. The vocalist/trombonist's music is a vivid reflection of his personal roots. Growing up playing music and street busking in an itinerant, alternative-lifestyle family, he lived in buses, cars, homemade boats or tents, traveling throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe. Home-schooled and with no formal musical training, Todd honed his skills the old-style way through influences like Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, early Sinatra and New Orleans traditional jazz, especially Jack Teagarden (one of the few other trombonist/vocalists in jazz) and later, J.J. Johnson.

Three high school jazz bands took top honors on Sunday night at the 17th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center. The bands were chosen by a panel of judges composed of distinguished jazz musicians and historians, including Jazz at Lincoln Center's Artistic Director WYNTON MARSALIS; DAVID BERGER, BILL DOBBINS, JEFFREY HAMILTON and SHERMAN IRBY. The three top bands were chosen from a field of 15 finalist bands that participated in the three-day Competition & Festival from May 4-6.

The David Berger Jazz Orchestra - the acclaimed band featured in the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio and PBS TV - recently released their latest CD, 'Sing Me A Love Song: Harry Warren's Undiscovered Standards', featuring Freda Payne ('Band Of Gold,' 'Bring The Boys Home') and Denzal Sinclaire (National Jazz Award Winner). The CD has had great radio airplay and was singled out in USA Today's Best Tracks of the Week and is on sale now at retailers nationwide, as well as Amazon.com, iTunes, CD Baby and their website, http://www.davidbergerjazz.com.

THE DAVID BERGER JAZZ ORCHESTRA - the acclaimed band featured in the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio and PBS TV - will celebrate the release of their groundbreaking new album Sing Me A Love Song: Harry Warren's Undiscovered Standards, with two sets at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola on March 29, 2010.