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
"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
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.
DOWNBEAT ARTICLE
IMAGINATION TRUMPS FACT
This article in the June 2016 issue of DOWNBEAT magazine is excerpted from David Berger's book Creative Jazz Composing and Arranging.
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).
NOW AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY!
Creative Jazz Composing and Arranging
by David Berger