Karl Berger

Launching the vibraphone (and the like) section of HMR is Karl Berger. Born on 30 March 1935 in Heidelberg, Germany, Berger began piano studies at age ten and performed at piano throughout his career. Among his first gigs was at the Club 54 in Heidelberg, a favorite place to jam for musicians visiting from America. Jazz Realities has Berger on piano in Antibes, France, with Hans Koller in the latter's Quartet with Fred Dutton (bass) and Klaus Hagl (drums) on July 7, 1960, for 'All the Things You Are' issued that year per Barclay 84081. It was that configuration minus Koller in 1962 to back Helen Merrill on 'The Thrill Is Gone', ''S Wonderful' and 'There Will Never Be Another You'.

Along the way to completing a Ph.D. in music in 1963 Berger took up the vibraphone. His next session, however, was yet at piano for 'Jazz Da Camera' on July 3, 1963 in Bremen toward issue the next year. That was his debut release as a leader per Da Camera JZ 7001. A couple years later in 1965 Berger moved to Paris w vocalist, Ingrid Sertso, where they married that year, Berger also gaining employment with Don Cherry, the latter based at the time in Paris. Berger's debut session with Cherry consisted of his first recordings at vibes on April 22, 1965, coming to 'Togetherness'. Come January of 1966 Berger supported tenor saxophonist, Barney Wilen's, 'Zodiac'. Upon Cherry's return to the United States in 1966 Berger followed, then to record 'Symphony for Improvisers' in New York City.

Berger's second album as a leader, 'From Now On', was recorded in December of 1966 in NYC. Berger's third album, 'Tune In', resulted of two sessions in the summer of 1969 in New York. His fourth, 'We Are You', was recorded back across the water in Germany in November 1971.

It was 1971 when Berger, Coleman and Sertso founded the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York, to promote jazz improvisation and the concept of world jazz. That project, which held various workshops for composers and performers, later took an orchestra to Donaueschingen Fest in Germany in 1979. In the meantime more titles with Ed Blackwell at drums surfaced on 20 March 1976 in Albany toward 'Just Play' on Quark 9996 in 1979:

Creative Music Studio celebrated its tenth anniversary at Woodstock in September of 1981 featuring Lee Konitz, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette and Miroslav Vitous. Berger does not participate in the recording of that issued on Volumes 1 and 2 of 'Woodstock Jazz Festival' (Douglas Music ADC8/ADC9). Though the CMS facility closed in 1984 its programming continued in use about the globe until its reestablishment in 2013.

Berger toured internationally in 1985-86 before his 1987 issue of 'Transit' w Ed Blackwell (drums), Dave Holland (bass) and himself on vibes:

It was vibes again on 9 and 10 of May 1990 in New Jersey toward 'Around' w Paul Shigihara (guitar), Santi Debriano (bass) and Leroy Williams (drums):

In addition to his own bag of marbles, Berger innovatively supported various others, such as contributing vibraphone to Pete Namlook's electronic mix, 'Polytime', issued in 1998:

Into the new millennium Berger contributed vibes on 26 March 2000 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to 'Jallaludin' and 'Thought Forms' toward Ed Sarath's 'Timescape'. Berger joined double bassist, John Lindberg, in Rhinebeck, NY, on 27 Nov of 2004 toward 'John Lindberg - Karl Berger: Duets 1'. It was spring of 2011 when he put together both his Stone Workshop Orchestra and the improvisers Orchestra in association with a resurrecting of Creative Music Studio.

Found on about forty albums as a leader or co-leader, deeper into the 21st century 'Gently Unfamiliar' arrived in 2014, consisting of 7 Movements composed by Berger for piano trio, the latter filled by Joe Fonda (bass) and Harvey Sorgen (drums). He contributed composition and vibes to Kirk Knuffke's 'Moon' in 2015. It was composition and vibes w tenor saxophonist, Ive Perlman, on 'The Hitchhiker' in 2016. The latter was a second duo with Perelman, their first having been 'Reverie' in 2014. A few more albums down the road witnessed the release of 'In a Moment' in 2018, the same year Berger joined trumpeter, Chris Pasin' in March on the latter's 'Ornettiquette' in 2018, that w Adam Siegel (as), Michael Bisio (bass), Harvey Sorgen (drums) and Ingrid Berger (vocals). The issue of 'Live in Köln 23.2.1975' in 2019 had gone down on 23 Feb 1975 w Cherry and Terry Riley. Berger's most recently issued album as of this writing is 'Conjure' in 2019.

Berger currently directs the Creative Music Studio. Among a host of others unmentioned on whose recordings Berger can be found are John McLaughlin, Werner Hasler and Aki Takase.