Such Sweet Thunder Music - Jazz Publisher

Welcome!

Such Sweet Thunder is dedicated to making available the highest quality jazz arrangements, books and recordings. We believe that the best music is not only satisfying to listen to but also fun to play. We will be adding more products every month as well as works from other top writers including Chuck Israels and Bill Dobbins. We welcome any requests you may have.

Ever onward and upward.

David Berger, CEO

New! Online composition workshops

Following the success of David Berger’s recent Zoom presentation of A Tone Parallel To Harlem for ASMAC, a number of participants have enthusiastically responded through emails, texts, and phone calls with and emphatic, “Encore!”

Such Sweet Thunder is excited to announce the first of an ongoing monthly series of online jazz composition workshops with David Berger. Each month, David will analyze a different piece by Duke Ellington, using recordings and full scores to dissect measure by measure to unlock the secrets to Ellington’s genius and inspire us all to raise our consciousness and aspire to be the greatest version of who we truly are.

Tickets for individual workshops or discounted annual memberships to the monthly workshops are both available here. Tickets include ongoing access to the corresponding workshop recordings.

High School Jazz: A Director's Guide to a Better Band

(Available in Hard Copy)

"High School Jazz is the culmination of 40 years of teaching jazz. It is designed to give you clear instructions as well as the reasoning behind why I make these suggestions. I currently travel to high schools around the country doing clinics with jazz bands. The band directors are among the best high school jazz band directors in the country, and yet I am able to transform their bands in 15 minutes. In this book I am going to tell you exactly my procedure and how to do it. At first some of these things I say and do may sound strange or even counterintuitive, but I have used them hundreds, maybe even thousands of times, and they work for me." - David Berger

INTRODUCING OUR NEW ARTIST

BILLY STRAYHORN

Often overlooked because of his long and exclusive relationship with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, Billy Strayhorn should be considered the 2nd greatest jazz composer and arranger of all time behind only Ellington himself. Although his job was to arrange for the Duke Ellington Orchestra, he found ways of putting his personal stamp on everything he wrote. He was Duke's right-hand man and was responsible for most of the vocal arrangements and arrangements of popular songs but when given the chance to compose his own pieces, he never disappointed. After the first rehearsal of a new arrangement of his, he would walk around the room and ask the players if they liked their parts. He would say "Do you like your part?"

BILLY STRAYHORN ARRANGEMENTS

NEW EBOOK FROM DAVID BERGER

FANCY FOOTWORK: The Art of the Saxophone Soli

INTRODUCING OUR NEW ARTIST

JIMMIE LUNCEFORD

The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra was more known for its clever and witty arrangements, precise and nuanced ensemble playing, and visual antics than for its soloists. During the Swing Era they rivaled Ellington and Basie. Both Glenn Miller and Stan Kenton modeled their bands after Lunceford but never were able to catch the absolute joy that permeated every note the Lunceford band played.

JIMMIE LUNCEFORD ARRANGEMENTS

DOWNBEAT ARTICLE

IMAGINATION TRUMPS FACT

An Analysis of David Berger's Arrangement of "Hindustan"

This article in the June 2016 issue of DOWNBEAT magazine is excerpted from David Berger's book Creative Jazz Composing and Arranging.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

LISTEN TO HINDUSTAN

CREATIVE JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING

INTRODUCING OUR NEW ARTIST

CHUCK ISRAELS

Chuck's compositions are both beautiful and challenging. The influence of both Bill and Gil Evans is prominent throughout his writing. His working octet currently has 3 CDs to their credit. We are making available all of the arrangements from his newly released album "Garden of Delights" (Dot Time Records).

CHUCK ISRAELS BIO

CHUCK ISRAELS ARRANGEMENTS