Shelly Berg
Shelton "Shelly" Glen Berg 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.
Early life and career
Shelly Berg was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of business entrepreneur and jazz trumpet player Jay Berg and writer Lorraine Merle Joseph Berg. At the age of six he entered the Cleveland Institute of Music studying classical piano with Maxine Priest. At age 9 he composed his first work, for children's choir and orchestra, for the opening of a new synagogue. His father took him to sit in at jazz jam sessions beginning at age 12, and he was introduced to gospel piano by organist Ricky C. Watkins, son of Pentecostal Church Bishop Charles Watkins who recorded for the Savoy, Praise, and LaCross labels. In junior high he was the piano accompanist and played in orchestras for Heights Youth Theater, as well as summer stock musicals. He was also accompanist for the vocal group Happiness Unlimited.At age 15 Shelly Berg moved with his family to Houston, Texas where he continued his classical piano studies with Lucien Lemieux. He performed at jam sessions with jazz saxophonist Arnette Cobb, and gigs with blues legend 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 and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Houston School of Music where he studied piano with Albert Hirsh and Abbey Simon and was the student conductor for choir and orchestra. During his freshman year he subbed for a week with the Woody Herman Band, and performed throughout his college career with a variety of touring professional artists. He also served as a lecturer at the University of Houston, 1979–1981, and 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. He performed extensively in professional groups including Larry and Marilyn and the Brass Connection, featuring trumpeter Larry Martinez and singer Marilyn Savage. He learned to play Latin montunos from Kido Zapata during this time. He composed and arranged music for regional and national advertising campaigns, and maintained an active performing and recording career with artists ranging from Country music singer Mickey Gilley to jazz trombonist Bill Watrous.
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. He was the McCoy/Sample Endowed Professor of Jazz 2004-2007; Chair of Jazz Studies, 1994-2004; Professor, 1998-2007; Associate Professor, 1995-1998; and Assistant Professor, 1991–1995. He served as president of the International Association for Jazz Education, 1996-1998; was named one of three "Educators for the Millennium" by The Los Angeles Times, 1999; and received the Dean's Award for Scholarship and Research, USC Thornton School of Music, 2005.He authored Jazz Improvisation: The Goal-Note Method, the Chop-Monster jazz improvisation series, Essentials of Jazz Theory series, and co-authored Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Directors plus numerous arrangements for jazz big band published by Kendor, and Walrus.
Berg also worked with Hollywood studio arranger-orchestrator 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, the weekly ABC television series Fudge, and was orchestrator for the motion picture Almost Heroes. He recorded critically acclaimed albums with the Shelly Berg Trio including The Joy, The Will: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson, and Blackbird. In 2006, he arranged most of the songs on the album entitled Ray Sings, Basie Swings and was music director and pianist on the Great Performances television show We Love Ella! A Tribute to the First Lady of Song.
2007–present
Shelly Berg is Dean of the Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, appointed in 2007. In addition, he is a master teacher for the Frost Experiential Music Curriculum.While in Miami, he earned his first Grammy nomination in the category "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist" for his arrangement of "Out There" on Lorraine Feather's album Tales of the Unusual. He was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the category Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist category for his arrangement of "What a Wonderful World" on Gloria Estefan: The Standards. He was nominated for a 2015 Grammy Award in the Best Arrangement Instrumental and Vocals category for his arrangement of "Be My Muse" on the Lorraine Feather album Flirting with Disaster, and nominated again in 2017 for his medley arrangement of "There's a Boat that's Leaving Soon for New York / I Loves You Porgy" recorded on the Clint Holmes album Rendezvous.
Berg is a Steinway artist, ASCAP composer, music director of The Jazz Cruise and artistic advisor to Larry Rosen's JazzRoots Series at the Adrienne Arsht Center of Miami-Dade County. He is also the host of the monthly Generation Next Sirius XM radio show.
Discography
As leader / co-leader| Year | Label | Title | Notes | Award |
| 2018 | Gershwin Reimagined: An American in London | Shelly Berg & Shelly Berg Trio, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jose Serebrier, conductor, Gregg Field, producer. Also featuring Arturo Sandoval, Mark O'Connor, Ledesi, Monica Mancini, Chuck Berghofer, Gregg Field | Billboard Classical Crossover Top 15, Classical Top 20, Sep. 2018 | |
| 2017 | Chesky | The Deep | Duo, Shelly Berg with Dave Finck | 4.5 stars Downbeat, Nov. 2017 |
| 2012 | Summit | All Things Are New | Beaux J Poo Boo: Quartet, Shelly Berg with Fred Hamilton, Lou Fischer, Steve Houghton | |
| 2009 | Arbors | The Nearness of You | Solo piano, Shelly Berg | |
| 2009 | Victoria | Meeting of Minds | Piano Duo, Shelly Berg with Dick Hyman | |
| 2005 | Concord | Blackbird | Trio, as Shelly Berg Trio, Shelly Berg with Chuck Berghofer, Gregg Field | #1 JazzWeek U.S. Jazz Radio, Feb. 09, 2005 |
| 2005 | Azika | First Takes | Duo, Shelly Berg with Frank Potenza | |
| 2004 | Azika | Home with You | Duo, Shelly Berg with Carmen Bradford | |
| 2003 | Viewpoint | Pieces of String | Trio, Shelly Berg with John Fremgen and Peter Erskine | |
| 1998 | CARS | The Will: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson | Trio, Shelly Berg with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen | #6 JazzWeek U.S. Jazz Radio |
| 1995 | DMP | The Joy | Trio, as Shelly Berg Trio, Shelly Berg with Lou Fischer, Steve Houghton, Randy Drake |
As arranger / orchestrator / side musician
| Year | Label | Title | Notes | Award |
| 2020 | Concord | Ella 100, Live at the Apollo! feat. Patti Austin, David Alan Grier, Cassandra Wilson, Lizz Wright, Ledisi, Monica Mancini, Afro Blue, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Ella 100 All-Star Quartet | piano; arranger | |
| 2020 | Vivify | Brian Nova Collective: The Upside of Lonely | piano | |
| 2019 | Concord | Keb' Mo': Moonlight, Mistletoe & You | piano | |
| 2018 | Pony Canyon | Yoshiki feat. Hyde: "Red Swan" | orchestrator | |
| 2018 | Jazzed Media | Lorraine Feather: Math Camp | composer, arranger, piano | |
| 2018 | Universal Music Latino | Arturo Sandoval: Ultimate Duets | arranger, elec. piano | |
| 2017 | Universal, Republic | Seal: Standards | piano | |
| 2017 | Concord | Clint Holmes: Rendezvous | arranger, orchestrator, piano | Grammy Nomination: "There's a Boat that's Leaving Soon for New York / I Loves You Porgy" |
| 2017 | Chesky | Livingston Taylor: Safe Home | Quartet, Shelly Berg with Livingston Taylor, Dave Finck, Bashiri Johnson, also featuring Chelsea Berry | |
| 2016 | Jazzed Media | Lorraine Feather: Flirting with Disaster | composer, arranger, piano | Grammy Nomination "Be My Muse" |
| 2014 | Jazzed Media | Lorraine Feather: Attachments | composer, arranger, piano | Grammy-nominated album |
| 2014 | OhKeh / Sony | Jazz and the Philharmonic | Shelly Berg with Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Eric Owens, Denyce Graves, Terence Blanchard, Elizabeth Joy Roe, Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra | |
| 2014 | Sony Classics | Renee Fleming: Christmas in New York with Friends | arranger, piano | |
| 2013 | Sony Masterworks | Gloria Estefan: The Standards | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Shelly Berg | 2 Grammy Nominations: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album ; Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist for "What a Wonderful World" |
| 2013 | Legacy Recordings | Heart: Christmas Singles | arranger, piano | |
| 2013 | Jazzed Media | Lorraine Feather: Tales of the Unusual | composer, arranger, piano | Grammy Nomination "Out There" |
| 2013 | iTunes | Yoshiki: Yoshiki Classical | arranger, orchestrator | No. 4 Oricon, No. 11 Billboard Classical |
| 2012 | iTunes | Yoshiki: 69th Golden Globe Awards Theme - Single | orchestrator | TV airing 2012, iTunes release 2013 |
| 2012 | Concord | Arturo Sandoval: Dear Diz | arranger, piano | Grammy Award-winning album |
| 2012 | i Am Other | Pharrell Williams: i AM Other | orchestrator, conductor | |
| 2011 | Concord | An Evening with Dave Grusin | arranger, piano, co-conductor | Grammy-nominated album |
| 2011 | Shanachie | Patti Austin: Sound Advice | arranger, piano | |
| 2011 | Sanctuary | Lorraine Feather: Dooji Wooji | composer, arranger, piano | |
| 2011 | Capri | Ken Peplowski, In Search Of | piano | |
| 2010 | Jazzed Media | Lorraine Feather: Ages | composer, arranger, piano | Grammy-nominated album |
| 2010 | Concord | Monica Mancini: I've Loved These Days | arranger, piano | |
| 2010 | Azika | Trish O'Brien: Out of a Dream | arranger, piano | |
| 2010 | Tim Hockenberry: The List | piano, keys | ||
| 2010 | Capri | Ken Peplowski: Noir Blue | piano | |
| 2010 | Concord | Arturo Sandoval: A Time for Love | arranger, piano | Triple Latin Grammy Award-winning album |
| 2008 | Sanctuary | Lorraine Feather: Language | composer, arranger, piano | |
| 2008 | DIG Music | Jamie Davis: Vibe Over Perfection | piano | |
| 2007 | Concord | We Love Ella! A Tribute To The First Lady Of Song | piano, arranger, conductor | |
| 2007 | Koch | Carole King: Love Makes the World | arranger | |
| 2006 | Concord | Ray Charles/Count Basie: Ray Sings, Basie Swings | arranger, piano | Ray Sings, Basie Swings |
| 2006 | Concord | Dionne Warwick: My Friends and Me | arranger | |
| 2005 | Yoshiki: I'll Be Your Love classical version, Super World Orchestra | orchestrator | Expo 2005 live premiere, released 2013 on | |
| 2005 | EMI | Joe Cocker: Heroes & Friends | orchestrator, conductor | |
| 2004 | Concord | Ultimate Mancini various artists | piano | Grammy-nominated album |
| 2004 | Sanctuary | Lorraine Feather: Such Sweet Thunder | arranger, piano | |
| 2004 | Falconaires | Falconaires: Ev'rytime We Say Goodbye | producer | |
| 2003 | Backstage | Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra: Regions | piano | |
| 2002 | Warner P&D | Aja Daashuur: Before the Beginning | orchestrator | |
| 2002 | GNP | Bill Watrous: A Time For Love | arranger, piano | |
| 2001 | Mlp Records | Michele Patzakis: What Sweeter Music | arranger, orchestrator, piano | |
| 2000 | Rubeda Canis Musica | Morten Lauridsen: Northwest Journey | arranger, piano with Sunny Wilkinson | Grammy Award-winning album |
| 2000 | Telarc | Tierney Sutton: Unsung Heroes | piano | |
| 2000 | WUCF-FM | Live At WUCF: 20th Anniversary Concert Series | piano | |
| 1999 | Verve Records | Chris Botti: Slowing Down the World | piano | |
| 1999 | iTunes | Yoshiki: Anniversary | co-arranger, co-orchestrator | 1999 Tokyo, mix version Yoshiki 2005 Eternal Melody II, iTunes 2013 Yoshiki Classical |
| 1998 | DreamWorks | Elliott Smith: XO | orchestrator, string and horn arrangements | Spin Magazine #2 Record of the Year |
| 1998 | EMI | KISS: Psycho Circus | piano | Grammy nominated album |
| 1998 | CARS | John Leitham, Live! - Shelly Berg with John Leitham, Pete Christlieb, Ricky Woodard, Joe LaBarbara | piano | |
| 1998 | Amherst | Jeff Jarvis: Following Footsteps | piano | |
| 1997 | Capitol | Richard Marx: Flesh and Bone | arranger, orchestrator | Grammy Award-winning album |
| 1997 | Hip Bop | Michael "Patches" Stewart: Blue Patches | arranger, piano | |
| 1997 | Double-Time | Bill Watrous: Space Available | arranger, piano | |
| 1996 | Atlantic | X Japan: Crucify My Love | arranger | Japan release |
| 1996 | Sony | X Japan: Dahlia | arranger, orchestrator | Platinum |
| 1995 | Warner Bros. | Chicago: Night and Day | arranger | |
| 1994 | Mercury | arranger, orchestrator | - | |
| 1993 | Sony | X Japan: Art of Life | arranger, orchestrator | #1 International |
| 1992 | GNP | Bill Watrous: Bone-ified | arranger, piano | |
| 1991 | Sony | Johnny Hernandez: Til Death Do Us Part | arranger, piano | |
| 1990 | Four Leaf Clover | Rich Matteson, Louis Bellson: Pardon Our Dust, We're Making Changes | piano | |
| 1989 | Regina Musical | Regina Plays The Nutcracker | arranger, selected tracks | |
| 1988 | Regina Musical | Regina's Small World | arranger, selected tracks | |
| 1988 | Regina Musical | Christmas Regina | arranger, selected tracks | |
| 1984 | CBS Associated | The Beltons: Teddy Bear | arranger | |
| 1982 | Meca | Chris Meyer: Ready, Willing, and Stable | composer, arranger, producer, piano | |
| 1980 | Wheel | Car Songs | arranger | |
| 1979 | Epic | Mickey Gilley: Mickey Gilley | piano | |
| 1979 | Epic | Mickey Gilley: The Songs We Made Love To | piano | |
| 1979 | Delta | Cotton-Eyed Joe & Other Texas Dance Hall Favorites | piano | |
| 1979 | Rhythm | Wade Driver: His Favorite Singing Calls | arranger, piano | |
| 1978 | Lar Mar | Larry & Marilyn and The Brass Connection | keyboards, arranger | |
| 1977 | Lar Mar | Larry & Marilyn featuring The Brass Connection | keyboards, vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, arranger | |
| 1976 | Lar Mar | Larry & Marilyn: White Shoes | composer, arranger, keyboards | |
| Multiple | Yamaha Disklavier | Recorded over 40 Disklavier projects including: Hot it Up, The Music of Fats Waller, Amadeus, John Williams Greatest Hits, Carmen, La Traviata, The Music Man, Frank Sinatra Collection | arranger, piano |
Film, television, and radio
As composer / arranger / orchestrator / performer / musical director| Year | Label | Title | Notes |
| 2020 | PBS | Jonathan Antoine: Going the Distance also Sony DVD | performance |
| 2019 | PBS | Gloria & Emilio Estefan: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song | music director, orchestration, performance |
| 2019 | Kino Lorber | Lifeline / Clyfford Still | composer, orchestration, performance, production |
| 2018 | PBS | Tony Bennett: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song | performance, 2018, |
| 2016 | PBS | White House Holiday Tree Lighting | orchestration, performance, musical direction, 2016, 2014, 2013 |
| 2015 | Sirius XM | Generation Next Real Jazz Sirius XM | monthly program host, 2015–present |
| 2015 | NBC | Macy's July 4th Spectacular | arranging, orchestration, production |
| 2015 | PBS | Renée Fleming: Christmas in New York | arranging |
| 2014 | PBS | Gloria Estefan: The Standards also Sony DVD | arranging, orchestration, performance, musical direction |
| 2014 | PBS | Jazz and The Philharmonic also Sony DVD | arranging, orchestration, performance, musical direction |
| 2010 | NPR | Jim Cullum's Riverwalk Jazz | performance, 13 episodes, 2007-2010 |
| 2007 | PBS | We Love Ella | arranging, orchestration, performance, musical direction |
| 2006 | Warner Bros. | For Your Consideration | orchestration |
| 2005 | Miramax | Cinderella Man | performance |
| 2005 | Imo Wo Dakshimete | arranging and orchestrating | |
| 2000 | Fox | Men of Honor | arranging, performance and production |
| 2000 | HBO | Dennis Miller Live | composing, arranging, performance, production |
| 1999 | HBO | Dennis Miller Millennium Special | composing, arranging, performance, production |
| 1999 | Warner Bros. | Three to Tango | arranging, orchestration, production |
| 1999 | Lifetime | Two Cups of Joe | orchestration, performance |
| 1999 | NBC | The 60s | composing, performance, orchestration |
| 1998 | NBC | Almost Heroes | orchestration |
| 1997 | ABC | Fudge, weekly television series 1995-1997 | composing, arranging, performance, production |
| 1993 | CBS | A League of Their Own, weekly television series | composing, arranging, performance, production |
| 1988 | ESPN | US Olympic Festival | composing, arranging, performance, production |
| 1988 | PBS | Great American Jazz Piano Competition | performance |
| 1986 | ESPN | Turn It On for 1986 U.S. Olympic Festival television show | composing, arranging, performance, production |
Awards
Grammy| Year | Award | Title | Notes | Label |
| 2018 | Grammy Nomination | Best Arrangement, Instrumental & Vocals, Shelly Berg, Gordon Goodwin, Gregg Field, Clint Holmes, arrangers, "I Loves You Porgy / There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York" | Clint Holmes: "Rendezvous" | L & L Music |
| 2015 | Grammy Nomination | Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals, Shelly Berg, arranger, "Be My Muse" | Lorraine Feather: "Flirting with Disaster" | Jazzed Media |
| 2014 | Grammy Nomination | Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals, Shelly Berg, arranger, "What a Wonderful World" | Gloria Estefan: "The Standards" | Sony Masterworks |
| 2013 | Grammy Nomination | Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals, Shelly Berg, arranger, "Out There" | Lorraine Feather: "Tales of the Unusual" | Jazzed Media |
Selected Honors and Awards
| Year | Organization | Award | Location |
| 2018 | Musical America Worldwide | Top Professionals of the Year, special report | Musical America |
| 2017 | John S. and James L. Knight Foundation | Knight Arts Champion | Miami, Florida |
| 2017 | Ronald McDonald House Charities | 12 Good Men 2017 Honoree | Miami, Florida |
| 2017 | Citizens Interested in the Arts | Champion of the Arts Award | Miami, Florida |
| 2016 | Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC | The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame, Inductee | The Jazz Cruise 2016 |
| 2013 | Classical South Florida Radio | Ziff Honors Award in the Arts | Miami, Florida |
| 2012 | University of Miami | Iron Arrow Honor Society, Inductee | Miami, Florida |
| 2011 | DownBeat | Jazz Education Achievement Award | June 2011 |
| 2011 | University of Miami Alumni Association | Inside Out Award | Miami, Florida |
| 2010 | South Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance | 9th Annual Oro Valley Legend of Jazz Award | Tucson, Arizona |
| 2009 | City of Miami | Proclamation Honoring Leadership in the Arts | Miami, Florida |
| 2005 | JazzWeek | #1 Jazz CD, Blackbird | US Jazz Radio |
| 2005 | JazzWeek | Finalist, Record of the Year and Artist of the Year | US Jazz Radio |
| 2003 | Los Angeles Jazz Society | Jazz Educator of the Year | Los Angeles, California |
| 2002 | Elkhart Jazz Festival | Hall of Fame | Elkhart, Indiana |
| 2002 | International Assoc. Jazz Educators | Lawrence Berk Leadership Award | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 1999 | Los Angeles Times | Named one of three "Educators for the Millennium" | Los Angeles, California |
| 1988 | Finalist | Great American Jazz Piano Competition | Jacksonville, Florida |
| 1987 | ADDY Award | Seven Southwest Region ADDY Awards | Houston, Texas |