My Conversation with Bob Berg

by Mike Brannon
August 13, 2024

This article first appeared at All About Jazz in March 2002. The probability that you've heard Bob Berg's distinctive, soulful, intelligent soloing is very high if you've heard the more contemporary work of Miles Davis, Mike Stern, Chick Corea, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Gary Burton, Randy Brecker, Jaco Pastorius and now a new version of the supergroup, Steps Ahead, with Mike Mainieri, Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine, Elaine Elias from which a new release is due later this Spring. ...

Michel Camilo, Steve Khan, Jaco Pastorius, Jean-Luc Ponty and Jim Beard

by Len Davis
July 21, 2024

Continuing with music from 1990-1991 featuring Michel Camilo, Steve Khan, Face To Face with Gerald Gradwohl, Jaco Pastorius Live in Italy and Jean-Luc Ponty. Swedish bassist Jonas Hellborg, the late Jim Beard, Frank Gambale and al Di Meola. Frank Gambale and Al Di Meola. Playlist Michel Camilo “On The Other Hand" from Why Not (Epic) 00:00 Steve Khan “Blue Zone 41" from Public Access (GRP) 08:22 Face To Face “Rubber Man" from Cats and Camels (L&R) 16:32 Jaco ...

Melbourne band The Outernet, Yellow Jackets, Adam Holzman and Mike Stern

by Len Davis
December 15, 2023

Introducing Melbourne band The Outernet led by keyboard wizard Phil Turcio, We continue our feature on music from the year 2000 and beyond with Chick Corea Elektrik Band, Yellow Jackets, and Adam Holzman. Mike Stern, the late Bob Berg, the late Allan Holdsworth, plus Austrian guitarist Gerald Gradwohl and from France, guitarist Marc Guillermont. Playlist The Outernet “Menacing Images-Live" from Menacing Images (Self Produced) 00:00 Chick Corea Elektrik Band “Hound Of Heaven" from To the Stars (Stretchl) 06:54 ...

Chick Corea: The Montreux Years

by Doug Collette
September 26, 2022

If there is anything more ambitious than curating an extensive, comprehensive collection covering the history of an artist, it is collating selected works which vividly outline a particular timeline or theme. Chick Corea's The Montreux Years is a fine example of the latter; this seventh edition in the archive series devoted to the iconic festival not only reflects the late composer and pianist's technical skills, but also his eclectic stylistic tastes. And that is not to mention his fondness for ...

Continuing our visit to the '90s with Bob Berg, Adam Holzman and Tom Coster

by Len Davis
July 17, 2022

Continuing with our visit to the '90s with the late Bob Berg, Adam Holzman, Steps Ahead, Gary Willis and the late Allan Holdsworth.Playlist Bob Berg “Silverado" from Back Roads (Denon) 00:00 Adam Holzman “Iron Curtain" from The Big Picture (Escapade) 05:49 Bill Evans “Whisky Talk" from Starfish and the Moon (Escapade) 11:30 Steps Ahead “Vibe" from Vibe (NYC) 17:16 Vital Information “Listen Up" from Where we Come From (Intuition) 22:54 Tom Coster “Dennis The Menace" from From The ...

Bob Berg: Remembering Bob Berg

by John Kelman
October 17, 2005

When saxophonist Bob Berg was tragically killed in December, 2002 at the age of 51, he'd just recorded two projects that would demonstrate just how passionate and far-reaching a contemporary post bop player he was. On one hand, trumpeter Eddie Henderson's So What (Eighty-Eights, 2003) was built on the kind of atmospheric and open-ended approach of Miles Davis' mid-1960s quintet with Wayne Shorter--a seminal influence on Berg. On the other hand, on vibraphonist Joe Locke's 4 Walls of Freedom (Sirocco ...

Antonio Fara: Far Out

by Mark Corroto
January 2, 2003

The joyous occasion of this new disc by Italian pianist Antonio Fara�� is unfortunately overshadowed by the tragic death late last year of saxophonist Bob Berg, his sideman for this recording. Berg, whose horn accented the bands of Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, and 1980s bands of Miles Davis, made his biggest splash with jazz/rock guitarist Mike Stern. His final recording features some very inspired playing.

Farao, a child prodigy now a jazz sensation in Italy, has slowly entered ...