David Berkman Performs With His Trio, Tony Scherr-bass, And Billy Mintz-drums. at Soapbox Gallery

“Mr Berkman plays with moderate aggression, swinging hard in his phrasing…he always burrows in, finding transcendence… As a bandleader and a soloist, Mr. Berkman has commitment and poise and modesty” —Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

David Berkman has been an essential part of the New York jazz scene for over 30 years, as a creative and swinging voice on the piano and as a gifted composer, arranger and bandleader.  Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he currently divides his time between teaching in N.Y. and performing with world-renowned jazz artists at home and abroad. Berkman has performed with numerous jazz luminaries including Sonny Stitt, Tom Harrell, Brian Blade, the Vanguard Orchestra, Cecil McBee, Dave Douglas and Chris Potter. His 10 recordings as a leader have appeared on numerous “Critic’s Best” lists. Berkman is a tenured professor at the Aaron Copland School of Music, C.U.N.Y. in New York and has published three books on jazz with Sher Music Publishing which are used in jazz schools worldwide. ...

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“Mr Berkman plays with moderate aggression, swinging hard in his phrasing…he always burrows in, finding transcendence… As a bandleader and a soloist, Mr. Berkman has commitment and poise and modesty” —Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

David Berkman has been an essential part of the New York jazz scene for over 30 years, as a creative and swinging voice on the piano and as a gifted composer, arranger and bandleader.  Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he currently divides his time between teaching in N.Y. and performing with world-renowned jazz artists at home and abroad. Berkman has performed with numerous jazz luminaries including Sonny Stitt, Tom Harrell, Brian Blade, the Vanguard Orchestra, Cecil McBee, Dave Douglas and Chris Potter. His 10 recordings as a leader have appeared on numerous “Critic’s Best” lists. Berkman is a tenured professor at the Aaron Copland School of Music, C.U.N.Y. in New York and has published three books on jazz with Sher Music Publishing which are used in jazz schools worldwide.

Tony Scherr

Scherr was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and is a graduate of the Hammonasset School. He played with Woody Herman as a teenager,[1] and moved to New York City in the late-1980s, where he became a prolific session musician, working with artists such as Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Norah Jones, and Ana Egge. He has been a member of a number of bands, such as The Lounge Lizards, Sex Mob, Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos, and Chris Brown and the Citizen Band. Scherr owns a recording studio[1] and has worked as a record producer for many of the artists he performs with.

Billy Mintz

"If you are a fan of modern jazz drumming but have not heard Billy Mintz, you have not heard it all." - Tom Conrad, JazzTimes

Billy Mintz was born in Queens, New York. By the age of 15, he was playing in the showbands of the Catskill Mountain resorts developing his musicianship.In his twenties, while living in New York City, he played and recorded with the Lee Konitz Nonet (1978), Kundalini with Perry Robinson and Badal Roy, the Eddie Daniels Quartet, Gloria Gaynor, the Steve Tintweiss Quartet, and the Harold Danko Quartet.In 1981 Mr Mintz relocated to Los Angeles where he was a member of the Mike Garson Trio with Stanley Clarke; the Kim Richmond Sextet; the Bobby Shew Quintet, the Joey Sellers' Jazz Aggregation, and the Vinny Golia Quartet. He also performed several times with the Mose Allison Trio and with Mark Murphy and did a stint with The Merv Griffin Showband.In LA, Mr Mintz was also the drummer for the Bill Mays Quartet, as well as for Road Work Ahead, with Mr Mays, Bob Magnusson and Peter Sprague. In 1988 he toured Europe with saxophonist Charles Lloyd's band. Throughout the 1980's he performed and recorded with Bill Perkins, Frank Strazzeri, and Pete Cristlieb.

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