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Tuesday, 09 February 2010

Farewell Eddie Berger, You Will Be Missed

Written by Don Berryman

Saturday, 04 October 2008

"I didn't want to be a star or anything, just blow jazz. I've gotten to do that and it's been good music." -Eddie Berger

Eddie Berger By Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin

Twin Cities bebop legend, broadcaster, educator, and master-musician, Eddie Berger, passed away early in the morning on Saturday, October 4th, 2008, at the age of 76 in Minneapolis after a long illness. Eddie was the quintessential bopper, both musically and in personal style. His sense of humor off and on stage is well remembered. He had a big sound on alto saxophone with a full and appealing tone like Sonny Stitt - only sweeter, his phrasing and timing were impeccable. He was loved by fellow musicians and many jazz fans who either knew him from the Twin Cities' jazz scene, or from listening to his weekly jazz radio show on KFAI.

Eddie Berger was born in Philadelphia on March 30th, 1932. In an interview for The Bridge by Cyn Collins, Eddie recalled his beginnings in jazz: "I played clarinet for two years, and my idol was Benny Goodman. There’s no question about it. Then I got a saxophone. I was 12. Charlie Parker started to come out with single 78 records in black record stores and blues record stores. I was going to high school one time, in a pretty mixed neighborhood in Philadelphia. I ran into a guy and he said, 'I want you to come down to a record shop on the avenue and listen to this alto saxophone player.' So I went down there and he put on this Charlie Parker record. And I thought, 'Ah, come on man. This is a gimmick, right? Isn't this a joke? This is sped up, right? This is some kind of trick thing.' So I got right off on Charlie Parker."

Eddie honed his skills playing in Philly for a while and then toured with the Continentals before being drafted into the army during the Korean war. In 1959 Coltrane released Giant Steps, Mingus released Ah Um, Davis released Kind of Blue and Eddie Berger moved to Minneapolis and brought bebop to the prairie. Playing many clubs, including long standing gigs with his group the Jazz All-Stars at William's Pub and the Artists' Quarter, Berger also hosted a popular weekly jazz radio show on KFAI for 20 years. He recorded the album Live at WIlliam's Pub in the 70's, Bebop and Soda in 1982, and his last recording with the Jazz All-Stars, I'm Glad There is You was released in 1999.

There will be a memorial celebration of Eddie's life and music at the Artists' Quarter in Saint Paul on Sunday October 12th. Details to be announced at artistsquarter.com.

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