From the Pandemic...

After realizing that this Blog still existed, I invite you to read of an incident with Helen Reddy in 1973.

I was asked recently about the private plane that Helen Reddy and her band and husband Jeff were on from Philadelphia, on its way to Los Angeles, that almost didn't make it. Here's the story as I can recall it after all these years.

I was introduced to Helen the first night I moved to Los Angeles by my friend and her pianist, Tom Hensley. A few months after that introduction I became Helen's drummer, following Larry Brown, who was and still is a wonderful drummer/engineer/Producer.

At the beginning of those touring days, Helen had a hit with "I Don't Know How To Love Him" and we were booked in Utah for many college dates. The bookers thought that Helen was a quasi religious singer and perfect for their squeaky clean audiences in the many Mormon based colleges that required three airplanes to reach from LA. When we arrived on site for these gigs, the college promoters were met with a rag tag group of hippy musicians and a lead singer who didn't shave her underarms. Needless to say, hilarity ensued. The months went on, the gigs got better. Helen shaved. We flew to Europe for the Midem Festival and a small date at Ronnie Scott's in London. I left to join the Association for a while and then returned to The Helen Reddy Summer Show on NBC with Nelson Riddle, Carnegie Hall and a long list of live concerts.

Jeff knew George Carlin well, and as a result, we traveled a bit in George's private plane, a Jet Commander with call letters WW0069 or Whiskey Whiskey 69 on the radio. Following a gig in Phiadelphia, the band of myself, Dick Horn, Dave Parlato, Mike Warren, Paul Cowsill and Helen and Jeff boarded the plane for Los Angeles. We always wanted to get home as soon as possible. Occasionally Jeff and or Helen would get the opening act on a concert to let us open for them, so we could leave earlier. Anyway, we take off from Philly and settle in for the flight home. We knew there would be a fuel stop between along the way. Dave Parlato, Helen and myself began a game of Scrabble on the small table. Helen and Jeff were facing us, their backs to the front of the plane. Dave Parlato, myself and Mike Warren were in the rear row bench seats Dick Horn was on the the window and in from of him was Paul Cowsill. An ice chest of soft drinks was in front of Mr. Cowsill, on the floor. We were told there was a line of thunderstorms over the Midwest and that we were diverting to another airport for our refueling stop.

Our Scrabble game was fast and furious and Dave Parlato was winning, for the first time ever in all our matches. Suddenly over Illinois a hard bump shook the plane. We looked at each other and timidly continued our game. Jim Croce had died in a plane accident a few weeks earlier and was on our minds. Seconds later, the plane began to descend...very fast and at a very steep angle. Mike Warren, who hated to fly, was in a fetal position in his seat. The plane's descent was so rapid that we were actually weightless. I had neglected to put on my seat belt and was now on the ceiling, which was quickly coming apart, losing tiles as we descended. The ice chest began to float in the cabin. Jeff was moaning and Helen was saying it would be all right as she knew it was not her destiny to die in an airplane. 14, 000 feet straight down and the veteran pilots somehow found some clear air and got us level, and not a moment too soon. We landed at Moline Illinois' Quad City Airport. We came to a stop on the tarmac. Quickly exiting the plane, we took our belongings and thanked any and all deities that we had been spared. The inside of the plane was a wreck. There would be no flight the rest of the way that night in the Jet Commander.

We checked into the local Holiday Inn at the Airport and Jeff arranged flights home the next day on a commercial airliner. Preparing for bed, I took off my trousers and two Scrabble tiles fell to the floor. They spelled HA.

God's Frozen People

Good Evening from cold Balmville, NY. While not unseasonably cold, my ancestors were a tribe of desert nomads and I think the gene for cool temperatures is missing in my DNA.

No matter. The heat is on and I'm wrapped in some nice warm clothes from the local Marshalls. 

I love Marshalls. They have a line of products from THE PALM restaurant, cookware, glassware, dishes, etc. that the lovely Deirdre and I are addicted to. The square dinner plates are to die for.

My new drum set from Gretsch is the best I've ever played. My opinion, your mileage may vary.

Shell layups and hardware like the old Gretsch round badge sets from the 50's and 60's, they sound very Tony Williams, which I love. Not to denigrate any of the other drum manufacturers that are making drums in the style of Gretsch, but, if you want Gretsch sound, you must buy Gretsch drums.

Most people think I'm a long time Buddy Rich acolyte but my love of Mr. Rich came rather late in life. Prior to that my faves were Tony Williams, Pete La Roca, Billy Higgins, Joe Chambers, Joe Morello, Sol Gubin and Alvin Stoller.  An eclectic bunch to say the least. Krupa is in there some where too.

I always find that a different set up or changing the tuning makes me think differently about what I'm doing and how I'm approaching the music. Great fun to change things up. 

Clark Terry always talks about IMITATE, ASSIMILATE, INNOVATE as the path to one's Jazz identity and I couldn't agree more. I'd be happy if the last one was just CREATE. When you get a chance to play, go for it. COMMUNICATE...(maybe CT would like to add communicate).

Always thrilled whenever I'm somewhere on the road and some player in the local band plays in the style that we're playing and communicates to the audience. It's lovely when that happens.

Have changed agents again for my Symphony dates. Back to my tried and true team of pros. Sometimes you try something and it doesn't work out. Of course, an elegant leave taking is much preferred to a vitriolic email but what can you do? Moving forward.

Our new puppy, Maisie, is now 5 months old. A Havanese, she has changed our lives and our routine.

She's just the greatest addition to our home and Deirdre and I are glad we finally joined the World of Dog Owners. 

Acquired a snow rake for this year's snow storms. Put it to good use on Thanksgiving Day when we received about 8 inches of heavy wet snow. Clearing the roof prevents ice dams and giant icicles, which I detest.

TV...we still love Person Of Interest, NCIS, Alpha House, Elementary, some BBC three parter with Bill Nighy, Forever and we're on the fence about the new show State of Affairs. Funny how the other NCIS' don't do it for us... Modern Family is a late discovery...yes, I know. Not sure about the Claire character. Might be a deal breaker in the long run. And last but not least, SHARK TANK.  We love this show...not crazy about all the Sharks but really enjoy watching this...even the reruns. Why does Barbara Corcoran always looks like she's smelling something really bad?

Much new music finding it's way to my Library. Great arrangements for Pops concerts of all types. Can't wait to hear them played.

Just finished Frank Foster's autobiography. Reading the new Bob Hope book now. Also read the Peggy Lee bio. She might have been among the most eccentric of all great stars. Nice to see Mike Renzi's name mentioned so frequently in the book.

OK, time for dinner.

Back soon, y'all.

In the meantime, sleep warm.

Mike Berkowitz

Note from the Road, 2014 Edition.

Summer 2014

Direct from Capstone Production's HQ's in beautiful downtown Balmville, NY, we bring you the long awaited first post of 2014.

Thankfully, Summer has arrived and we are enjoying all the pleasures of the Hudson Valley, which seems impossibly green this year, owing I assume, to all the moisture from the snowy Winter and the wet and cool Spring we had in these parts.

Part of the enjoyment has been in attending concerts by John Pizzarelli, Eddie Izzard, Adam Nussbaum and assorted other events here in our area. John P and his Quartet were magnificent at the Town Crier in Beacon. If you've never seen John live and in person, go! In addition to his amazing musical talent, his patter and affable demeanor are as good as it gets...funny and never corny.

I'll be conducting the Rochester Philharmonic July 3/4. I'm very pleased to have been asked and the program includes a lot of fun music...1812 Overture, of course and a pice by my old friend Jim Beckel, "Liberty For All"...in addition to works by Mancini, Hamlisch, John Williams, Alan Silvestri,
Sousa, Percy Faith and to top it off...Tommy Newsom's arrangement of "Strike Up The Band", written for Buddy Rich. (On that one, I'll be playing drums.)

Concert in Hackettstown, NJ on July 12th at Centenary College...Tribute to Gene Krupa. Great band and featuring vocalist Amy London. We'll be doing some Krupa tunes that we haven't performed before, such as "Melody in F" as well as music from the movie "The Gene Krupa Story" and Quincy Jone's charts from the classic album GK did in 1956, "Drummer Man". Cincy native Amy London will be singing some Anita O'Day tunes as well as some Nelson Riddle/Rosemary Clooney charts, in honor of her hometown favorite.

End of July finds me at the Green Music Center with the Santa Rosa Pops, performing a concert with Mariachi Sol de Mexico. Should be an exciting evening of the best in Mariachi Music and some Orchestral faves like "Andalusia" and Overture from "Man of La Mancha".

Looking forward to upcoming concerts with Byron Stripling, Haven Burton, Cady Huffman, Karen Mason, Carmen Bradford, Lisanne Lyons, Tony Babino, Five By Design, The Music of John Williams as well as Holiday concerts and ABBA Tribute.

Krupa date in Seattle area in October...booking more gigs around that one so I'll have that info next time  for all. Looking forward to working with my good friends from the Seattle music scene. They're great and they know how to swing and have a good time.

OK, that's it for now. Enjoy all the Summer has to offer and keep in touch.

Best,
Mike B

The Way They Were, A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch and Barbra Streisand. Conceived and conducted by Michael Berkowitz, Marvin's friend of 33 years and his Music Director/Conductor from 1980 until 1990 and featuring Broadway's Haven Burton, star of Shrek, Legally Blonde and Rent.

Marvin was the rehearsal pianist for FUNNY GIRL, Barbra's great Broadway triumph.  From The Way We Were to conducting Barbra's 1994 legendary comeback tour, right up until  Marvin's untimely passing in 2012, these two legends created some of the World's most memorable musical moments.

Michael Berkowitz has brought the music of these two legends together for a program unlike any other. Among the selections are:

Overture to Barbra's 1994 Tour

The Way We Were

People

Don't Rain On My Parade

Send In the Clowns

Putting It Together

Memory

With One Look

Evergreen

Music That Makes Me Dance

Windmills of Your Mind

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life

Ordinary Miracles

Plus Marvin's Instrumentals 

A Chorus Line Overture

Movie Medley

Nobody Does It Better

They're Playing My Song

The Entertainer

Sophie's Choice

One

Smile 

There will never be another Marvin Hamlisch. This show is a true celebration of the joy and laughter and the music that made him a Legend, plus the music of Barbra Streisand, sung by the amazing Haven Burton. 

  

 

 

 

Where did I go?

Sorry to both of my readers about the long break between blogs. I hope you've been keeping yourselves occupied while I have been otherwise engaged.

So, NYC this Summer is about as weird as I can remember. An abundance of folks having conversations with themselves in diners and on the streets. Regular (?) folks, talking to themselves, laughing, yelling, pleading, exhorting...another odd phenomenon.

Also, tourists in NYC. It is now impossible to walk at intersections in midtown NYC as tourists stand on the corners, looking around for a cab or a hotel or are texting and standing in the middle of the sidewalk or just generally moving at the snail's pace that is normal in Normal, Illinois but not New Yawk City. And I've become that guy who tells these people to get out the way! I am now that Geezer who would be in a Martin Scorsese film, if Martin Scorsese still made those kinds of New Yawk centric movies.

One last thing...tattoos...WTF? We are now living in a world that is driven by Honey Boo Boo TV.
In the words of the late, great Fred Ebb..."Whatever Happened To Class?" I'm glad I'm not young anymore.

Have been traveling to Seattle lately for work a bit. Lovely place. Someone said that Seattle is the new NY and that NY is the new Des Moines. Might be the case. Lot's to do there, a vibrant downtown, a large concentration of good musos, restaurants all over the place and nice folks. One of the few places that is in consideration for a move from the Hudson Valley.

Lot's of great concerts coming up...new programs, new music. Doing a Benny Goodman Tribute with the GREAT Ken Peplowski in Santa Rosa. Conducting from the drums on this one. Can't wait.

New Year's Eve with the Grand Rapids Symphony, a couple of concerts in Long Beach and Ft. Myers with the Copa Boys Tribute to the Rat Pack and then concerts with the Three Phantoms, Classical Mystery Tour and our annual Christmas Extravaganza in Santa Rosa as well. Plus Big Band concerts at Hofstra University, The Neel Center in Florida, a Sinatra & Basie at the Sands concert in Illinois and a Riddle Tribute with the Fabulous Naples Jazz Orchestra.

So, taking life as it comes. We welcomed our new Grandson, Hudson Berkowitz into the World two weeks ago. Nine pounds, one ounces of wonderfulness. He's a cutie but I might be prejudiced. Nah, he's a cutie.

OK, promise to write more frequently but don't forget to call nonetheless. I'm always available!

Happy end of Summer.
Mike B

Where Have I Been?

And we're back...

Was in beautiful Santa Rosa, Ca. this past weekend for our Opening Santa Rosa Pops Concert featuring the Four Freshmen. All I can say is....GREAT MUSIC!!!

The lovely Deirdre and I were accompanied on this trip by Martin and Judi Schwartz. Our exploits included dinner at Scoma's in Sausalito, walking in Armstrong Woods among the Redwood Forest, Wine Tasting at Kendall Jackson, more eating at Coppola's Rustic Restaurant and side trips to Healdsburg, Windsor and Downtown Santa Rosa. Sandwiched in between was a rehearsal and then the concert on Sunday afternoon.

Off to conduct the Fab 4 concert with the Columbus Symphony. Looking forward to returning to the Ohio Theater with a really amazing group of musicians. And I'll be wearing my finest Beatles clothing for this concert as well...Shea Stadium Jacket for the first half and Abbey Road Frock coat for the second. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.

Was also out in Glendora, Ca. for a Sinatra/Basie at the Sands concert with an amazing LA Big Band and singer Tony Babino. All the real charts and all the great music from the classic album by Frank and William Basie. Look for us in Wickenburg, Az in January for another one of these Tributes to these musical geniuses.

Have stopped watching and reading anything more about the Election. Can't wait until the voting is over so we can move on. The 24 hour news cycle is the worst thing to happen to the US since deregulating the airlines and Corn Syrup.

FACEBOOK...I'm on it but it seems to have jumped the Shark as well as a couple of other things. Some many ways to waste time these days. Has anyone ever gone to a concert as a result of a FB invite? And thanks for the Events invites from Australia. I'll be right over.

Interesting to see the excitement Barbra Streisand still creates whenever she performs. She can fill up Arenas on multiple nights, performing with a 60 piece Orchestra and amazing Production/Sound and Lighting..
So great that there's still someone out there singing well written music, live, with the ability to attract such a devoted and large audience. Not many of those left. In various degrees I guess Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, Tony Bennett, Cher and Bette Midler when they perform...Billy Joel and Elton John and the Rolling Stones. Sting. Bruce Springsteen. It's a mighty small club and she's the Prez.

Don't read any further unless you don't mind some overly sentimental musings about Life and the Pursuit of Happiness.

As I get older, I value certain things more than ever. Loyalty is maybe at the top of the list. Friends, enjoying what's really important in life. Chunkies. Real Coca Cola made with cane sugar (available at my local Stop and Shop from Mexico), and of course the lovely Deirdre and our family, extended and otherwise.

So many of my old friends have joined the Choir lately. Some big names and some not so big names...all will be missed and remind me that it's important not wait to do things we really want to do in life. You never know what's around the corner. Time waits for no one, especially if you're a drummer. And it's a drag deleting contacts from my iPhone.

Sentimental section over.

Things I'm Loving These Days...

NCIS
Person Of Interest
The San Francisco Giants
Jeff Hamilton//Peter Erskine
A good pair of drumsticks (tougher to find than a good reed, IMO)
Being able to download Music and Books anywhere in the World.
Loose shoes.
When all my music is returned quickly from Symphony Orchestras...intact.
A good agent.
Locally owned Businesses.
Independent Films.


What I'm Not Loving These Days...
Musicians, etc. not getting paid for all those downloads I love so much.
Reality TV
TV Talking Heads, no matter the Political persuasion. Why Al Sharpton is on the air is as much a mystery to me as Glenn Beck.
Commuting, although the Quiet Car is a big help.
Intersections with tourists bunched up so I can't get through.
Blaming Musicians for the failures of their Executive Directors and Boards to raise money.  We play the music... We'll do anything we can to help you raise funds, but at some point it's up to you to do your job too.
Airline prices, which are going through the roof and beyond. And the service is worse than ever.
People who "reach out"


OK, that's all Folks.

See you next time...

Mike B

Man, the time does fly when you're having fun. Last posted on Valentine's Day and here it is, almost the end of April already.

So glad the Winter was MILD. I really cannot stand cold and snow and ice and WIND anymore.
The Spring has exploded up in dear Old Balmville, with colors ranging from bright yellows to amazing pinks and purples on every tree in the neighborhood.

Was in Columbus, Ohio last month with the mighty Columbus Symphony. Great Orchestra. Opened for Johnny Mathis on Saturday night and then a Children's Concert about RHYTHMs OF THE WORLD on Sunday afternoon. So happy to see Mr. Mathis again. I worked with him many moons ago and he came right up and gave me a big hug right in front of the Orchestra, which was very nice. He still sounds amaze balls. Same keys as always and his arrangements are remain among my favorites of any act in the business. (Right up there with the Sinatra and Garland charts, IMO).

Also nice to reconnect with my cousin Jeff while in Ohio. Jeff is the World's biggest Ohio State fan and was on his way down to watch the Buckeyes (lose as it turns out) in New Orleans for the NCAA tourney. Had a nice lunch with him and his wife Mary and at this point in my life reconnecting with people from the same gene pool seems to be a good thing.

Off to Santa Rosa, Ca. for concert with the Santa Rosa Pops and RADIANCE, a tribute to the female singers of Motown and Memphis Soul. Always happy to see my Brother from another Mother, Tex Richardson, who did the charts and is playing piano. Tex is the absolute finest Man I know on the Planet...period. No contest.

Also coming up, concerts with the Long Beach Symphony Pops and the LA Jazz Institute Tribute to Gene Krupa and the Be Bop charts of the late forties band. Really looking forward to being back in LA for both of these...and the Greatest Musoids in the World.

Saw an article about Sean Hayes, of TV fame and other things, including his latest stint as Larry Fine in the new Three Stooges movie. He said that these days one must generate their own work/careers, etc. One can't afford to wait for the phone to ring. Truer words were never spoken. As Joe Cocuzzo said to me many years ago, "Michael, you've got to own your own store." Best advice I ever received. And mandatory for musicians these days. I only hope that while all the Music schools continue to graduate class after class of newly minted credentialed musicians, that they also prepared them for the reality of the Music business now and in the future.

Enjoying the playing of Jeff Hamilton and Peter Erskine more and more these days. So many drummers  sound totally generic...a very clean version of whatever style they are playing, Peter and Hammer sound like themselves and continue to be an inspiration to me as I keep listening and stealing their best ideas!

Missing a lot of old friends these days. Wish I could still call Sol and Harvey and Gary and Nelson and a whole bunch of other folks, just to say hi and schmooze and laugh, like we used to.
I don't feel a day over 28, so no maudlin slide into Geezerhood for Berkowitz...I'm just saying...

The lovely Deirdre and I finally booked a few days by a Beach for a bit of a Holiday. So looking forward to getting to sit by some beautiful blue water and read a good book and enjoy each others company. Going on 23 years and still on our Honeymoon.

Still collecting great music and charts to play either in Big band or Orchestra. About to do some Enoch Light charts done by Dick Lieb of Classic Beatles. Also looks as if I'm going to be the owner of a nine piece book owned by Hal McKusick with charts by Mike Abene and other greats. I was in contact with  Hal about this and then he was gone, all of a sudden. Looking forward to playing these with some NY Jazzers in the very near future.

Are there stars these days? If so, who are they? Why don't we have our own Leonard Bernsteins, Duke Ellingtons, Mile Davis', Buddy Richs'???  What's different these days?????? Or, am I wrong...

All right. Enough for now. Talk to you soon.

Mike Berkowitz
berkowitz66@msn.com