* En anglais uniquement
Leader of the Jazz Adoption Agency since the early '80s,
Dick Berk was important both as a stimulating drummer and as a talent scout. After attending the Berklee College of Music and playing with bands in Boston in the early '60s, he moved to New York, where he performed with a quintet that included
Ted Curson and
Bill Barron (1962-1964), plus with
Charles Mingus,
Mose Allison,
Freddie Hubbard, and
Walter Bishop, Jr., among others. Relocating to Los Angeles in the late '60s,
Berk worked and recorded with many top musicians including
Milt Jackson,
George Duke,
Cal Tjader,
Jean-Luc Ponty, and
Blue Mitchell.
Berk, who eventually moved to the Pacific Northwest, recorded sets for Discovery, Trend, 9 Winds, and Reservoir; among the sidemen he featured with his Jazz Adoption Agency were trombonists
Andy Martin and
Mike Fahn, baritonist
Nick Brignola, vibraphonist Jon Nagorney, pianists
Keith Saunders and
Tad Weed, and bassist
John Patitucci. ~ Scott Yanow