Shelly Berg - Alegria

2024

A Spanish word for joy is alegria.  Pianist Shelly Berg picked that name for his new album, and it could not be more appropriate.  Berg, bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, and drummer Danis Prieto’s  ALEGRIA embodies buoyant joy. You won’t find any brooding introspection here; the trio’s gleeful energy wouldn’t allow it.   After hearing the first few notes of the album I was reminded of one of the greatest jazz trios, the Oscar Peterson Trio.

Shelly Berg has an amazing musical pedigree.  He is an award-winning pianist, composer, and arranger.  He has performed, recorded and arranged for jazz vocalists Patti Austin, Nancy Wilson, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Carmen Bradford, Tierney Sutton, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lizz Wright, Cassandra Wilson, Lorraine Feather, and Dionne Warwick.  He has served as dean of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and as a professor at USC’s Thornton School.  He has collaborated with many of the jazz greats, including Gloria Estefan, Arturo Sandoval, Pharrell Williams, and so many others.  The All Music Guide states “Shelly Berg is one of the finest pianists around in the early 21st century playing modern mainstream jazz.”

more here:

https://jazzviews.net/shelly-berg-alegria/