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Kris Berg
Top selling composer /arranger for Belwin Jazz. Artist for Yamaha and Bag End Cabinets. Clinician / educator.
About Me
Kris Berg is a best-selling big band composer and arranger for Belwin Jazz, a Division of
Alfred Publishing and is especially know for his funk charts and his love of chickens! He has
written charts for many artists, including Kurt Elling, Delfeayo Marsalis and Chris Vadala,
for honors bands in Texas, Oklahoma, Montana and Missouri and for colleges and public
school bands across the country. His charts have been performed and recorded all over the
world. Kris is the author of the popular bass method book, BASS LINES IN MINUTES,
published by Hal Leonard and also has big band charts published with Warner Brothers
Music, Doug Beach Music, Bakers Jazz & More, and Walrus Music.
Mr. Berg has been the Director of Jazz Studies at Collin College near Dallas for 20 years. At
Collin, he teaches jazz classes, directs ensembles and is the founder of both the Collin
Jazz Fest and the Texas All-Star Jazz Camp. Under his direction, Collin jazz ensembles
have performed numerous times at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, appeared in
Nassau, Bahamas and at jazz festivals all over the United States. Kris received his Masters
and Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas where he
directed jazz ensembles and taught big band arranging.
An award winning bassist, director and educator, Kris has appeared or recorded with the
likes of Wayne Bergeron, Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bob
Mintzer, Bobby Shew, Tom “Bones” Malone, Jimmy Heath, Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, John
Fedchock, Gregg Bissonette, Chris Vadala, Kevin Mahogany, Marvin Stamm, Dennis
DiBlasio, Frank Mantooth, Matt Harris, Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond and many others.
Currently active as an artist / clinician for Yamaha Corporation of America, Mr. Berg has
appeared at jazz festivals and camps throughout the United States and is endorsed by Bag
End Loudspeakers and Walter Woods Amplifiers. He has been selected as guest director for
the IAJE Community College All-Star Jazz Band, the Montana, Oklahoma, Maine and
Wyoming All-State Jazz Bands, the Texas Collegiate All-State Jazz Ensemble and the Texas
Private School All-State Jazz Band.
Kris’ most current project is his newly released CD, “This Time, Last Year”, on the MAMA
record label. The CD features some of the outstanding musicians in the Dallas area, Kris’
unique big band writing and arranging, and special guests, Wayne Bergeron, Delfeayo
Marsalis, Chris Vadala and Clay Jenkins.