Shelly Berg

Shelton "Shelly" Glen Berg (born August 18, 1955) is an American pianist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, and producer. He is the Dean and Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.[1]

Early life and career

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Berg is the son of entrepreneur and jazz trumpeter Jay Berg[2][3] At the age of six he entered the Cleveland Institute of Music,[4] studying classical piano with Maxine Priest.[3] At age nine he composed his first work, for children's choir and orchestra, for the opening of a synagogue. His father took him to sit in at jazz jam sessions beginning at age 12.[5] He was introduced to gospel piano by organist Ricky C. Watkins, son of Pentecostal Church Bishop Charles Watkins, who recorded for Savoy, Praise, and LaCross.[6] In middle school he played piano for Heights Youth Theater and summer stock musicals. He was also accompanist for the vocal group Happiness Unlimited.

At age 15 Berg moved with his family to Houston, Texas[5] where he continued classical piano studies with Lucien Lemieux.[7] He performed at jam sessions with jazz saxophonist Arnette Cobb,[8] and with Gatemouth Brown. He was the student conductor for choirs at Clear Creek High School and played French horn and trumpet in the band.

He earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (1977) and a Master of Music in Piano Performance (1979) from the University of Houston School of Music where he studied piano with Albert Hirsh and Abbey Simon[7] and was the student conductor for choir and orchestra. During his freshman year he substituted for a week with the Woody Herman Band. He lectured at the University of Houston, 1979–1981, and was a teaching assistant in music theory, 1977–1979.

Berg began his career at San Jacinto College North in Northshore, Texas, as Chair of Instrumental Music, 1979–1981. He then served as Chair of Instrumental Music and Commercial Music at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas from 1981–1991.[9] He performed with trumpeter Larry Martinez and singer Marilyn Savage in Larry and Marilyn and the Brass Connection [5] He learned to play Latin montunos from Kido Zapata during this time. He composed and arranged music for regional and national advertising campaigns[9] and worked with Mickey Gilley and Bill Watrous.[10]

1991–2007

Berg moved to Los Angeles, California in 1991 to join the music faculty at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.[11] He was the McCoy/Sample Endowed Professor of Jazz 2004–2007;[12] Chair of Jazz Studies, 1994–2004; Professor, 1998–2007; Associate Professor, 1995–1998; and Assistant Professor, 1991–1995. He was president of the International Association for Jazz Education, 1996–1998;[13] was named one of three "Educators for the Millennium" by The Los Angeles Times, 1999;[5] and received the Dean's Award for Scholarship and Research from the USC Thornton School of Music in 2005.

He wrote Jazz Improvisation: The Goal-Note Method (Kendor), the Chop-Monster jazz improvisation series (Alfred), Essentials of Jazz Theory series (Alfred), and co-wrote Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Directors (Alfred) plus arrangements for big band published by Kendor and Walrus.

Berg worked with Hollywood studio arranger Dick Marx and Tom Halm at Sunset Sound Recording Studios. He was a composer and arranger for the CBS television series A League of Their Own (1993), the weekly ABC television series Fudge (1995–1997), and was orchestrator for the motion picture Almost Heroes. He recorded with the Shelly Berg Trio, including The Joy (DMP, 1995), The Will: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson (CARS, 1998), and Blackbird (Concord, 2005). In 2006, he arranged songs on the album Ray Sings, Basie Swings (Concord, 2006) and was music director and pianist on the Great Performances television show We Love Ella! A Tribute to the First Lady of Song (PBS, 2007).[14]

2007–present

In 2007 he became dean of Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.[15] He is a teacher for the Frost Experiential Music Curriculum.[16] Berg is a Steinway artist[17] music director of The Jazz Cruise, and artistic advisor to Larry Rosen's JazzRoots Series at the Adrienne Arsht Center of Miami-Dade County, and host of the monthly Generation Next Sirius XM radio show.

Awards and honors
  • Grammy Award nomination, Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), "Out There" by Lorraine Feather, Tales of the Unusual
  • Grammy Award nomination, Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), "What a Wonderful World" by Gloria Estefan, Gloria Estefan: The Standards, 2014[18]
  • Grammy Award nomination, Best Arrangement Instrumental and Vocals, "Be My Muse" by Lorraine Feather, Flirting with Disaster, 2015[18]
  • Grammy Award nomination, "There's a Boat that's Leaving Soon for New York/I Loves You Porgy" by Clint Holmes, Rendezvous, 2017[18]
  • Educators for the Millennium, The Los Angeles Times, 1999[19]
  • Berk Leadership Award, International Association of Jazz Educators, 2002[20]
  • Jazz Educator of the Year, Los Angeles Jazz Society, 2003[21]
  • Number one jazz album, Blackbird, at JazzWeek, 2005[22]
  • Proclamation Honoring Leadership in the Arts, City of Miami, 2009[23]
  • Oro Valley Legend of Jazz Award, South Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, 2010[24]
  • Inside Out Award, University of Miami Alumni Association, 2011[25]
  • Jazz Education Achievement Award, DownBeat magazine, 2011[26]
  • Knight Arts Champion, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 2017[27]
  • 12 Good Men 2017 Honoree, Ronald McDonald House Charities, 2017[28]
  • Champion of the Arts Award, Citizens Interested in the Arts, 2017[29]

Discography

As leader
  • The Joy (DMP, 1996)
  • The Will (CARS, 1997)
  • First Takes (Azica, 2005)
  • Blackbird (Concord Jazz, 2005)
  • Meeting of Minds with Dick Hyman (Victoria, 2008)
  • The Nearness of You (Arbors, 2009)
  • The Deep (Chesky, 2017)
  • Gershwin Reimagined (Decca, 2018)

As sideman

With Lorraine Feather

  • Ages (Jazzed Media, 2010)
  • Attachments (Jazzed Media, 2013)
  • Dooji Wooji (Sanctuary, 2005)
  • Flirting with Disaster (Jazzed Media, 2015)
  • Language (Jazzed Media, 2008)
  • Math Camp (Relarion, 2018)
  • Such Sweet Thunder (Sanctuary, 2003)
  • Tales of the Unusual (Jazzed Media, 2012)

With Bill Watrous

  • Bone-ified (GNP Crescendo, 1992)
  • A Time for Love (GNP Crescendo, 1993)
  • Space Available (Double-Time, 1997)

With others

Film, television, video, podcast, and radio

As composer / arranger / orchestrator / performer / musical director

YearLabelTitleNotes
2020PBSJonathan Antoine: Going the Distance also Sony DVDperformance
2019PBSGloria & Emilio Estefan: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Songmusic director, orchestration, performance
2019Jazz CruiseJoey Alexander and Shelly Berg Jazz Cruise Conversations, Podcast Episode 18interviewer, performance (Apple, Spotify) [30]
2019NAMMShelly Berg: NAMM Oral History Programinterview, National Association Music Merchants [31]
2019The SessionsShelton Berg: Dean, Frost School of Music, University of Miamiinterview, The Sessions Panel, (YouTube)[32]
2019FrostMusic Masters: Take on Keith Jarrettperformance, commentary (YouTube)[33]
2019Kino LorberLifeline / Clyfford Still documentarycomposer, orchestration, performance, production [34]
2018PBSTony Bennett: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Songperformance, 2018, Emmy winner[35]
2016PBSWhite House Holiday Tree Lightingorchestration, performance, musical direction, 2016, 2014, 2013
2015Sirius XMGeneration Next Real Jazz Sirius XMmonthly program host, 2015–present
2015NBCMacy's July 4th Spectaculararranging, orchestration, production
2015PBSRenée Fleming: Christmas in New Yorkarranging
2014PBSGloria Estefan: The Standards also Sony DVDarranging, orchestration, performance, musical direction
2014PBSJazz and The Philharmonic also Sony DVDarranging, orchestration, performance, musical direction
2010NPRJim Cullum's Riverwalk Jazzperformance, 13 episodes, 2007–2010
2007PBSWe Love Ellaarranging, orchestration, performance, musical direction
2006Warner Bros.For Your Consideration (feature film)orchestration
2005MiramaxCinderella Man (Academy Award-winning feature film, Golden Globe nominations)performance
2005Imo Wo Dakshimete (Japanese television series)arranging and orchestrating
2000FoxMen of Honor (feature film)arranging, performance and production
2000HBODennis Miller Live (weekly television series)composing, arranging, performance, production
1999HBODennis Miller Millennium Specialcomposing, arranging, performance, production
1999Warner Bros.Three to Tango (feature film)arranging, orchestration, production
1999LifetimeTwo Cups of Joeorchestration, performance
1999NBCThe 60s (miniseries)composing, performance, orchestration
1998NBCAlmost Heroes (feature film)orchestration
1997ABCFudge, weekly television series 1995–1997composing, arranging, performance, production
1993CBSA League of Their Own, weekly television seriescomposing, arranging, performance, production
1988ESPNUS Olympic Festivalcomposing, arranging, performance, production
1988PBSGreat American Jazz Piano Competitionperformance
1986ESPNTurn It On for 1986 U.S. Olympic Festival television showcomposing, arranging, performance, production

References
  1. "Message from Dean Berg". frost.miami.edu. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  2. Jazz Education Journal. Manhattan, Kansas. 39 (4): A62. February 2007. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Levy, Tanya (March 22, 2017). "And All That Jazz". Piano Performer.
  4. Collar, Matt. "Shelly Berg". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  5. Feingold, Danny (February 7, 1999). "Three for the 21st Century". Los Angeles Times Magazine.
  6. McNeil, W.K., ed. (2013). Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music. Routledge.
  7. Baytown Sun. March 18, 1983. p. 16. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. MacArthur, Paul J. (September 28, 2000). "Swing Time". Houston Press.
  9. Baytown Sun, 18 Mar 1983
  10. The Odessa American (Odessa, Texas), 17 Nov 1985, p. 73
  11. Los Angeles Times, 25 Jul 1996 p. 57
  12. USC Thornton School of Music music.usc.edu, Buzz and Barbara McCoy
  13. Jazz Education. Manhattan, Kansas. 37 (4): A38. February 2005. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. Holden, Stephen (June 6, 2007). "A Mastery in Swing Time That Endures for All Time". The New York Times.
  15. "University of Miami names Acclaimed Musician, Composer and Educator to Lead Frost School of Music". Business Wire. April 27, 2007.
  16. Score. Frost School of Music. 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. "Shelton Berg". www.steinway.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  18. "Shelly Berg". grammy.com. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  19. Feingold, Danny (February 7, 1999). The Los Angeles Times. p. 26. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. Jazz Education. Manhattan, Kansas. 34 (4): A33. January 2002. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. "Past Tribute Awardees". Los Angeles Jazz Society. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  22. JazzWeek, February 09, 2005
  23. Presented by Mayor Manual A. Diaz, Miami City Commission Meeting Minutes, April 23, 2009
  24. "Jazz Legends Live". SAACA. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  25. Veritas, University of Miami, April 27, 2011, UM Alumni Association Honors Distinguished Individuals
  26. "34th Annual Student Music Awards Issue". DownBeat: 114. June 2011.
  27. On its 10th anniversary, Knight Foundation website
  28. Veritas, University of Miami, May 25, 2017
  29. Social Miami, March 26, 2017
  30. https://www.thejazzcruise.com/joey-alexander-with-shelly-berg/
  31. https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/shelly-berg
  32. https://thesessions.org/video-categories/legend-interviews/?video-search-query=Shelton+Berg&sort-by=&video-artist-type=
  33. https://frostmusicmasters.frost.miami.edu/
  34. https://www.docnyc.net/film/lifeline-clyfford-still/
  35. https://www.emmys.com/bios/gregg-field
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