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