Karl Berger Leaves UMass Dartmouth

Karl Berger has ended his most recent stint in the world of formal, higher education. (See the January 7, 2005 posting in this blog.) He's back full time in the "dangerous free-lance life."

He and Ingrid recently returned from Sicily where they performed "In the Spirit of Don Cherry" with an octet consisting of Karl, Ingrid, Graham Haynes (trumpet), Carlos Ward ( alto sax ), Peter Apfelbaum ( tenor sax, flute, percussion, piano ), Bob Stewart ( tuba ), Mark Helias ( bass ), Billy Elgart ( drums ).Karl and bassist John Lindberg are teaming up, as they have on many occasions over many years, for a series of performances and educational residencies. They have a duo recording coming out on Between the Lines Records, a German label, which will be distributed internationally this spring. For information on their projects, contact maximalmusic@hv.rr.com.

Karl and Ingrid have released a duet recording, which is a pilot for a series of CMS releases entitled Artists Create Recordings (ACR). The next one will be an album by CMS alumnus Sylvain Leroux, a world-musical (African) mix.

Karl is still arranging for some selected singer songwriters, through a company called wacbiz.com. You can download tracks of independent productions there, itunes style.

"So you see we are keeping busy," Karl says.

Yes, we see. Sure beats the college life, dangerous as free-lancing may be.

Leroy Jenkins' "Coincidents" at Long Island University

Leroy Jenkins was one of the first of the AACM luminaries to come to CMS in the early seventies. Before my time there, unfortunately, because I've come to understand that his contribuiton was considerable, and I'm sorry I missed him.

I'm still not over the guilt that I inflicted upon myself when, upon meeting him at a Leroy Jenkins, Myra Melford, Joseph Jarman gig in a Detroit suburb a few years back, he said, "Why didn't you interview me for your book?" (Music Universe, Music Mind).

Why, indeed? It was one of my great oversights in my haste to get the book done and out there.

I'm trying to make it up to him just a little bit here by encouraging you to go see his "multi-media opera-in-progress."

"Brooklyn, New York -- 651 ARTS presents the second installation of Coincidents: a multi-media opera-in-progress composed by Leroy Jenkins and written by Mary Griffin, at Long Island University's (LIU) Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, February 10, 2006. This one-night-only performance fits another piece to Jenkins and Griffin's family history puzzle, meshing media, oratorio and opera as only they can. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 651 ARTS at 718-636-4181 x2229 or go to www.651arts.org. To purchase tickets call LIU's box office at 718.488.1624." (From All About Jazz.)

CMS in Istanbul?

Well, yeah, sure. Istanbul came to CMS in Woodstock in the early eighties in the personage of Ismet Siral. Now, it's turning around as filmmaker and Ismet Siral promoter Dost Kip works to create a Turkish version of CMS in his home town.

It's a fascinating exchange. Check out Dost Kip's website at www.ismetsiral.org.