December 24th, 2007

Quick bit of news. I'll be at Arturo Sandoval's Jazz Club in Miami Beach on January 9th with the Gene Krupa Orchestra. Come see us if you're in Florida.

The Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club is located at the Deauville Beach Resort on Collins and 67th. We are surrounded by water, nestled between the famed Art Deco District and the shops at Bal Harbour. Gifted with

AAl e Atlantic Ocean to the East. Charmed and intrigued by the thrill of Miami to the West. The setting is perfct for hosting world class jazz artists and exquisite cuisine.

The Club is at the Deauville Resort is Miami Beach...

Another review of THINKING OF GENE...The new album...Makes a wonderful stocking stuffer!

Fritz the Nite Owl Jazz

Smooth Jazz WJZA 103.5FM/104.3FM Sunday 9pm to 12 Midnight

Visit www.wjza.com

Email Fritz at www.wjza.com/sections/contact/index.asp

or email info@shortnorth.com (Attn: Fritz)

Want to learn more about this guy? http://m.homestead.com/m.html

DECEMBER 2007

Give youself a jazzy little Christmas

Make your spirits bright. Good jazz sounds put your troubles out of sight. So give yourself, and the jazz fans on your Gift List, one of these albums and enjoy your holidays even more.

Michael Berkowitz and the Gene Krupa Orchestra: Thinking of Gene (Sea Breeze-SBJ-2143)

This CD will cause explosions of delight to any jazz friend-or-fiend to whom you give it. On the other hand, after hearing it, you may decide to keep it for yourself and send the friend a fruitcake. Whatever. Suffice it to say, whoever gets this outstanding set will love it and play it repeatedly for years.

The legendary Gene Krupa was the first drummer in jazz history to achieve national and international acclaim after his appearances as a main guest-attraction with Benny Goodman. His featured performance and drum solos on Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing" in 1941 are still quoted and used by many modern drummers in the 21st Century. As Buddy Rich once said, "If it wasn't for Krupa, there wouldn't be any of us today."

Krupa's first big band as a leader ran from 1938-1943. It was enormously popular due to such stars as Roy Eldridge and Anita O'Day. He also worked in gigs with Goodman, Dorsey and others before reforming and leading a new version from 1944-1951. His steady, relentless beat, ever-improving technique, showmanship, and dynamic personality contributed enormously to his sustained popularity over the years. So much for the brief bio and history of Krupa.

Drummer Michael Berkowitz was first inspired by Krupa at age 4; met him and became friends at 16. Who'da guessed that 35 years after Gene's passing in 1973, Berkowitz would now be the leader of the current Gene Krupa Orchestra?

Using modern arrangements, which are extremely faithful to the originals, Berkowitz and his 16-piece band easily evoke that great '40s swing-sound, yet burst with the fire that defines the best of big band jazz today.

Krupa's theme and intro, "Starburst," is, to me, the most exciting show opener-ever! It is as dynamic here as when originally recorded. The same can be said for the 12 other selections. This is timeless music that will keep the spirit and sound of Krupa alive for years to come - and introduce him to new fans who never had the thrill of seeing or hearing him perform in person.

Until 2008!!!

Have a Wonderful Holiday!!!

Warmly,

Mike Berkowitz 

December 19th, 2007

Howdy Folks,

Been on the road with a lot of different things so it's been a while since last update.

Let's see.

Was in Vancouver for 3 great shows with Liza Minnelli. While there, Bill Hayes, Rick Cutler and I visited with Ronn Dunnett at his studio/shop/garage/abode.

Picked up a beautiful snare drum, 5.5 x 14 Ti, that is the most sensitive drum I've ever played. No ghost notes allowed on this thing!

Bill Hayes, Rick Cutler and MB at the Dunnett shop.

Seen here with Mr. Cutler looking on, playing my new snare.

October found me conducting the Santa Rosa Symphony for the third year in a row. ( Next year I will be conducting all of their Pops Concerts!) Love the Orchestra, Love the People, Love the Executive Director!

We did a Tribute to Nelson Riddle (also doing this concert in January with the Oregon Symphony.

Below is me with our two World Class Singers, Rachael Price and Michael Civisca

This is one great concert!

Was in Warren, Ohio at the end of November for the Warren Concert Association.

Did a Tribute to the Music of Capitol Records with singers Lauel Masse' and Anthony Apicella. Sold out the Packard Music Hall, 2100 in attendance!!! Great night.

Then off to Palm Springs with Ms. Minnelli at the McCallum Theatre Benefit. Saw some friends like Dan Gloser from Paramount Pictures' music department and spent some quality time with Mitch Gershenfield, the Major domo of Booking at the Center.

4 days of R & R in the California sun and then the Krupa Band returned to Charley O's on December 4th. We were joined by singer Cassie Miller and the all star LA band tore the Krupa book up.

Always nice to be back in my musical home.

Just back from 8 days in Sweden with LM. She gave us a scare the last night, but she's fine and looking forward to 2008 and many concerts and galas and the filming of the Kay Thompson project.

That's all for now.

Have a Great Holiday and a Happy and Safe New Year.

Until 2008 (I'm in Greensboro on New Years Eve with Freddy Cole and the Carolina Pops)

Mike Berkowitz

(Also, look for me in Englewood, Fl. on January 8th. Englewood Methodist Church. 2 shows for the Englewood Arts Association. Tribute to the Movie Music of Henry Mancini on the first half and then Tribute to Nat King Cole on the second. 26 piece Orchestra, Joe Bourne on vocals and Cecil Welch on trumpet. )

If you want to hire me as a Conductor for Pops, please contact Bob Bauchens at ARTRA in Chicago.

800-354-1645

If you want to hire the Krupa Band...Craig Hankenson c/o Producers, Inc. www.producersinc.com

If you want the Tribute to Capitol Records Show...please call Terry Kippenberger at Mainstage Artists in St. Louis.  www.mainstage-mgmt.com

Anything else, just contact me directly.

800 -397-6293

646-387-4030 mobile

berkowitz66@msn.com

Here's the album!!! BUY IT!!!

Amazon.com, 

CDuniverse.com

www.seabreezejazz.com

Google it...Buy it...Listen to it...Love it!!!!

REVIEW FROM ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Drummer Michael Berkowitz brings back the sound of Gene Krupa and his orchestra on this intriguing set. Unlike too many of the swing big-band recordings of the past 40 years, this program does not have solos that are mere re-creations of the original recordings (although Steve Hawk does play tribute to Roy Eldridge on "Rockin' Chair"). The arrangements are mostly transcriptions from the recordings but occasionally they are opened up a little. One could certainly imagine this band stretching out much more on some of the songs. Quite interestingly, the orchestra sounds as much like Krupa's 1946-1947 slightly boppish big band than it does his famous 1941-1942 version with Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge. Annette Sanders shows plenty of spirit in her five vocals (which include a rousing "Boogie Blues") and Mike Tomaro on tenor fills in for Charlie Ventura on "Stompin' at the Savoy." Otherwise the soloists are unfortunately not identified. Mike Berkowitz does a fine job of sounding like Krupa on the famous charts. This enthusiastic set is much more rewarding than most of the more predictable swing re-creation projects and is quite fun. 

-Scott Yanow