June 23, 2008

Home for 10 days and then out to Los Angeles to conduct the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for Liza's Induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.

We arrived in LA and the weather was very very hot. I had rented a convertible but the heat made it impossible to put the top down. Just AC on the coldest setting for the entire trip.

BB King, James Galway and Liza were the honorees. All performed and all were great.

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is made up of the best studio and concert musicians in LA and the World for that matter. They played everything from Shostakovich to Kander and Ebb with the same brilliance.

I conducted from the drums, in front of the Orchestra...somewhat unusual but it went off without a hitch.

Liza was, as always, amazing. Her vocals are so strong and even in the heat, she moved and danced like a 19 year old!

She and I had a great impromptu moment during rehearsal where we recreated the ending of the Fred Astaire dance to SHINE ON YOUR SHOES. On stage, at the Bowl, I got to dance, (not really...but I try) with Liza. When asked to repeat my efforts for the Choreographer, I begged off...better I stay behind the drums or on the Podium.

This Saturday night, the 28th, in Lake Geneva, Wisc. with the Chicago Philharmonic, I'll be doing a first half tribute to Henry Mancini. Second half, Maureen McGovern.

July 11 & 13th with Spectrum and the Hartford Symphony in Simsbury, Ct. Outdoors....Come hear the music play!!!

More to come soon.

Stay cool.

Mike B.

June 9, 2008

Hello out there. Mike Berkowitz back from 19 days on the road and glad to be home. A few things to talk about this month. I was inducted into the Hall of Fame at my High School in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 27th. 41 years after Graduation, I am now hanging on the wall alongside the sitting Governor of the State of Indiana, Mitch Daniels and Ballerina Elaine Bauer. Quite an honor to be included and I thank the good folks at North Central for including me.

Did the American Theatre Wing's Gala on Monday the 19th of May. Don Pippin, David Finck and myself were the musicians backing David Hyde Pierce, Debby Gravitte, Faith Prince and Leslie Uggams in a Tribute to Jerry Herman.

On May 20th, I left JFK with Liza Minnelli, headed for Moscow, which was the first stop on a tour that included Concerts in London, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Here we are in the B1 Club in Moscow. Billy Stritch, me, LM and Chip Jackson's hand on his Bass.

Moscow was pretty amazing. Went to Red Square, many fine restaurants, shopping galore and more traffic than I've ever seen.

As usual, Liza was spectacular...

Then on the 24th, off to London, where we were detained at Immigration for lack of proper Work Visas.

After a sleepless night, the proper papers were secured at 4 pm prior to our Opening at the London Coliseum at 7:30 that same night!


Onstage at the London Coliseum during Soundcheck.

Three Brilliant Shows in London by Liza and the Band and the Boys. The Reviews, which you can find on Google, were Unanimous in their praise for Liza's performance(s). The audiences were standing up after every number and the theatre was like a Power Plant, there was so much energy and electricity in the room.

The same excitement followed us to Nottingham, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Liza was on fire and had the audiences eating out of her hand!

After Glasgow on Friday the 6th, I left at 5:50 am for a flight to Amsterdam. Left Amsterdam at 10:20 am for Detroit. Arrived in Detroit at 1 pm, cleared Customs and drove 200 miles to Roscommon, Mi for a Big Band concert. Arrived at 5:45, rehearsed with the band, (Thanks Bill Sears) and did a concert at 8 pm.

Three standing ovations later, it was all over at 10:15 and I went to my hotel for some rest.

Arrived back in Newburgh, NY at 4 pm and had a great reunion with the lovely Deirdre, my son Seth and his bride to be, Susan. Wonderful finish to a wonderful bit of touring.

Coming up...The Hollywood Bowl Opening Night with Liza, June 20th.

June 28th in Lake Geneva with Maureen McGovern.

July 11 / 13 with the Hartford Symphony and SPECTRUM, my favorite Motown Band.

Then onto Spain and Germany with Liza...August 22/23 with the Lexington Phil, MANCINI MAGIC strikes again!

Until next time...

MB