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

Review

Hello,

Back from a string of Minnelli dates in Mexico and Ft. Worth. But before I tell you all about what's happening in the World of Liza, I must report that Jack Gilfoy, drummer with Henry Mancini for 30 years, colleague and friend of mine for over 40 years, passed away in his sleep last Saturday morning. If you look below, you can see Jack, Steve Dokken, Cecil Welch and me in Naples, Florida, following a wonderful concert with the Naples Philharmonic on April 11/12. Jack will be missed by me more that he probably would think to be reasonable...(his Hoosier sensibilities being what they were.) I'm sure Hank Mancini is glad to have Jack back in his band.

Liza and the Minnoolians were in Mexico for three great concerts last week. The first one was in Guadalajara. An amazing Concert Hall...all clad in shiny metal like the Disney Hall in Los Angeles. 5000 people attended. Liza was on her game, singing better than ever and dancing up a storm. On to Mexico City, for another concert, this time 8000 people in attendance. Multiple Standing Ovations! Liza's sister, Tina Nina sang "On A Clear Day" with her. While rehearsing this number, (which we did as a slow Bossa Nova with a quickie arrangement by Ross Konikoff, long time Liza trumpeter), an earthquake of 5.8 magnitude started shaking the Intercontinental Hotel. Liza was singing away and I finally stopped and said, "I think we're having an Earthquake!" Liza simply turned around and said, "That's what happens when the Minnelli's sing together!"

On to Puebla for our final concert. When the band arrived at the Hall, a first. No one had ordered a Piano for the Concert! After much back and forth between the Promoters and Liza's manager, a piano did appear in time for the Show. And once again, another spectacular performance, bringing the Crowd to it's feet after practically every number.

So, Mexico was fun. An earthquake, a live Volcano sighting as we left Puebla, interesting food choices like Goat! and no Piano!!! Ah, life on the road.

In Ft. Worth, we played a Gala for the 10th Anniversary of the Bass Performing Arts Center. What a place! I was there in 98 with Diana Ross for the Opening and now back 10 years later with Liza. Sold out crowd, amazing review:

REVIEW

Liza's still got lots of pizazz

BY MARK LOWRY STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

Liza Minnelli, still in fantastic form, performs Saturday in the headlining show in Bass Hall's 10th-anniversary celebration.

FORT WORTH -- There was a moment in Liza Minnelli's Bass Hall debut Saturday night where, right before she brought home -- as only Liza can -- the Gershwin song The Man I Love, she giggled ever so adorably.

That's a good analogy for her overall bravura performance, the headlining show in Bass Hall's weeklong 10th-anniversary celebration.

Throughout the show she absolutely tore up (in the best sense) Broadway songs and American standards. Minnelli, still in fantastic vocal form at 62, dedicated a song to Fort Worth's Van Cliburn, whom she called a "good friend."

And all the way through she joked about her very public personal life, admitting "I have had it; I've learned my lesson" before doing a Sophie Tucker hit, I'm Living Alone (And I Like It), and confessing that she can now really identify with one of the stage roles she played, husband-murdering Roxie Hart, before My Own Best Friend from the musical Chicago (it was cut from the film, kids).

The point is, after several sparkly costume changes (the girl is back in dancer shape, lookin' good in knee-high boots and leotards), frequent engaging banter with the audience and two hours of her song-interpretation trademarks (breathy pauses, heavy S's and big song finishes), Liza hasn't lost any of the pizazz on which she built her career.

Speaking of pizazz, her multi-song tribute to her mentor and godmother Kay Thompson's nightclub act, complete with four gents as the Williams brothers (Andy and three sibs), was a high-energy thrill.

It, like the rest of the show, proved that Liza baby, you still got it.

mlowry@star-telegram.com

Mark Lowry, 817-390-7747

 

We're off to the Beau Rivage Casino this weekend. Then on to Moscow, the UK and Liza's induction into the Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame on June 20th...Opening Night at the Bowl!

See you in the airport or at the gig.

Mike B.

April 14, 2008

And now it's time for another entry into "Where In The World Is Michael Berkowitz?"

Was in Naples, Florida with the Naples Philharmonic this past weekend (April 11 & 12).

One of the finest Pops Orchestras I've ever had the pleasure of Conducting. Did two Mancini Magic Concerts and as always, Henry's music brought the audience to their feet at the end of both performances!

Brought along Mancini alum, Jack Gilfoy, Cecil Welch and Steve Dokken plus pianist Joseph Thalken who not only played all of Hank's piano parts but also looked like a young Mancini with hair!



Jack Gilfoy, Steve Dokken, Cecil Welch, Mike Berkowitz - April 12, 2008 Naples Philharmonic

Was in San Remo, Italy with Liza Minnelli April 4 & 5 performing on a Television Show for RAI 1.

Liza was the featured artist, singing Cabaret, My Ship/Man I Love and New York, New York. Looking gorgeous on the Broadcast, Liza sounded amazing! The audience was supposedly still applauding and screaming for more as we pulled away from the studio on our way to yet another fabulous restaurant in San Remo.

Our plane was cancelled the next day, so Liza and her assistants went to Paris for the day while Gary Labriola, Johnny Rodgers and myself were forced to hunker down at the amazingly beautiful Monte Carlo Bay Resort for the night. If you're stranded, Monte Carlo ain't the worst place in the world.

The weeks before, Liza and her trusty band of Minnollians played concerts in Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Ft. Myers and Melbourne, Florida.

Off to Albuquerque, NM this Friday for a concert with the New Mexico Symphony. Another Mancini Magic Concert with Trumpeter Extraordinaire, Charley Davis subbing for Cecil Welch.

Then on to Mexico with LM on the 24th for Concerts in Mexico City, Guadalajera and Puebla.

May finds us in Ft. Worth at the Bass Hall, Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Moscow and then the UK!

Getting the Frequent Flyer miles these days.

New Symphony Concerts in June with the Chicago Philharmonic, The Hartford Symphony July 11 with Spectrum and the Lexington Symphony in August...plus lots more LIZA!!!

If you're reading this and see me somewhere, come up and say Hi!

Best to all,

Mike Berkowitz

March 11, 2008

Hello Everyone,

Been busy and also under the weather so the updates on this page have suffered a bit.

New Year's Eve with Freddy Cole in North Carolina was a joy. Freddy is a wonderful performer and working with him and his talented Quartet was a great way to bring in the New Year.

Then down to Englewood, Florida for two concerts featuring the Music of Henry Mancini.

Chuck Bergeron put together a magnificent Orchestra for these concerts, both Sold Out!

4 Concerts with the Oregon Symphony featuring the Music of Nelson Riddle took place the end of January. Once again, I was joined by Rachael Price and Michael Civisca, two of the besy vocalists anywhere. The Orchestra was a joy and the audiences were my kind of people. Also enjoyed roaming around Portland. Great book stores and places to eat.

Liza was back on the road in Providence, RI. She was at the top of her game for this show and also shows in Lake Tahoe and Friant, California.

Went snowmobiling with some of our Liza group in Tahoe. 7 brave souls accompanied me to the top of the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe...9000 feet up and what a view!

Liz Callaway in North Carolina for Valentine's Day. What a treat it is to work with her! Hope to do more with her very soon.

Then on to Kentucky for a Tribute To John Williams! Challenging music...we had a full Orchestra, 100 person Choir and people dressed as the characters from Star Wars!!! A night I will never forget.

California with Liza...Chumash Casino in Santa Barbara and then the Frank Sinatra Golf Tournament in Palm Springs.

Liza and I went to hear and see Michael Feinstein and her sister Lorna Luft in Palm Springs the night before our show. Always fun to go to a Michael Feinstein concert.

Then I was in Norfolk, Va. with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. A Big Band Show featuring Lynn Roberts, my favorite Big Band Singer! Once again, the Orchestra was magnificent and I had a ball meeting members of the audience after the show.

In the studio this week with Liza M. as we put down the vocal tracks for the Kay Thompson Show.

Then off to Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville with Liza. Later this month, Ft. Myers and Melbourne, Fl.

And I'll be with the Naples Phil and the New Mexico Philharmonic on April 11/12 and April 19th respectively. MANCINI MAGIC is the program.

Come see me if you're in the area!

Liza's schedule: 

Thanks to everyone who visits this site. Hope to see and/or hear from you soon.

Till then,

Mike Berkowitz 

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