David Berkman

Biographical Information:

David Berkman is a professor of Jazz Studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music, CUNY in New York and has published 3 books on jazz with Sher Music Publishing (The Jazz Musician’s Guide to Creative Practicing, The Jazz Singer’s Guidebook, and the The Jazz Harmony Book) which are used in universities worldwide. He has taught and performed at workshops and artist residencies at scores of schools and programs around the U.S., Canada, Europe, the U.K., South America, Asia and the Mideast.

David Berkman has been an essential part of the New York jazz scene for over 40 years, as a creative and swinging pianist and as a gifted composer and arranger. 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, often in Japan. Berkman has performed extensively with (and/or recorded and/or composed and arranged for) numerous jazz luminaries including: Sonny Stitt, Tom Harrell, Brian Blade, the Vanguard Orchestra, Cecil McBee, Ray Drummond, Dave Douglas, Chris Potter, Nasheet Waits, Chris Cheek, Steve Wilson, Victor Lewis, Dayna Stephens, Linda Oh and Dick Oatts. Berkman’s 12 recordings as a leader have appeared on numerous “Critic’s Best” lists. Recent recordings include a solo project released in 2019 David Berkman plays Music by John Coltrane and Pete Seeger, a sextet recording “Six of One” released in 2020, and a Japanese trio recording Kid Stuff released in 2023. He also recorded seven recordings with the collaborative band, the New York Standards Quartet (with Tim Armacost, Gene Jackson and Daiki Yasukagawa) which featured Berkman’s unusual arrangements of jazz standards. Berkman appears as a sideperson on numerous jazz recordings.

Office: Music Building 317

Phone: (718) 997-3853

Email: david.berkman@qc.cuny.edu