Sounds of Berklee

Ray Greene: Here, There, Everywhere: Boston-based vocalist hits the road with Carlos Santana By Curtis Killian In February, Ray Greene ’96 was selected as one of two lead vocalists to join Carlos Santana’s group. This follows Greene’s productive two--year run as lead vocalist for Tower of Power that included appearances on their forthcoming album and tours alongside Journey and Steve Miller. He at...

In this edition of Inside Berklee, Joy Allen, the new chair of Berklee's Music Therapy Department, talks about the principles behind music therapy, how it can be used to help people, and how Berklee prepares students to be effective therapists.

Saxophonist Mark Zaleski, an associate professor in Berklee's Harmony Department, will perform at the Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival on September 24. Here's his tune "Mark in the Park."

In this episode of Inside Berklee, Wanda Strukus talks about the state of contemporary theater, building a program from its infancy, and how the recent merger with Berklee is already opening up new possibilities for collaboration.

Noémie Legrand '16 talks about her journey to becoming a songwriter, studying songwriting at Berklee, and—with the help of the Berklee Popular Music Institute—getting the chance to perform with her band Noé at the 2016 Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Canada.

Award-winning composer Alison Plante, who has recently been named chair of Berklee's Film Scoring Department, discusses her plans for preparing those interested in careers in scoring for film, TV, video games, and other visual media.

By Curtis Killian | August 9, 2016 Since forming at Berklee in 2009, the relentless outpouring of genre-expanding art from Bent Knee is something to behold, with lush, experimental compositions and vivid performances imbuing elements of rock, electronic, classical and pop. On the heels of signing with independent label Cuneiform Records, guitarist Ben Levin '11 and bassist Jessica Kion '13 dropped...

Canada-born drummer Anthony Fung has spent the past several years at Berklee earning his bachelor's and master's degrees, and now the rising musician is off to further hone his talents at the Thelonious Monk Institute. Fung, who earned his Master of Music in contemporary performance (global jazz concentration) in 2016, has performed with Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, and other jazz leg...

As an original content producer for Spotify, Bryan Grone '08 has the sort of job that most new Berklee graduates would envy. He spends the bulk of his time curating and producing video and audio content that you can't find anywhere else. Artists he has worked with include D’Angelo, Demi Lovato, and others. Learn about the arc of his career, his decision to leave Berklee to tour with a band, why he...

Meet Eirini Tornesaki, the sole vocalist in KURIOS by Cirque du Soleil and a Berklee Online student. Berklee Online grants Tornesaki the flexibility to earn a specialist certificate in songwriting while on the road with the circus.

In this episode of Inside Berklee, Cathy Young talks about the state of dance as an art form; the importance of taking risks as an artist; how her broad background in liberal arts and dance informs her role; and her excitement about the possibilities the Berklee and Boston Conservatory merger has opened up.

In this episode of Inside Berklee, Jeff Dorenfeld and Jeff Apruzzese talk about the genesis and current goings-on of the Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI). Berklee's newest institute, BPMI pairs artists and business students together for gigs at major festivals such as Lollapalooza, Osheaga, and Electric Daisy Carnival.

In this episode of Inside Berklee, Mediterranean Music Institute Artistic Director Javier Limón talks about the MMI's Refugio Del Sonido project, in which Spain's El País newspaper is distributing four MMI CDs that contain music about the refugee experience. Proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders.

David Rosenthal ’81: Music director and keyboardist for the Piano Man for 23 Years and counting By Curtis Killian During a recent artist residency at his alma mater, David Rosenthal ’81, Billy Joel’s music director and keyboardist since 1993, described his prodigious career as “a fun and exciting journey.” He wasn’t exaggerating. On the most recent leg of that odyssey, Rosenthal is booked for inde...

After several years of hiatus, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones are reuniting for a two-week tour starting June 1, 2016 and concluding at this year’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The group includes Fleck, a 14-time Grammy winner often considered the world's greatest living banjo player, and Victor Wooten, a five-time Grammy winner who is, likewise, frequently cited as the world’s best living bassist...

In this episode of Inside Berklee, Rita Moreno '16H, who was recently awarded an honorary doctorate at Berklee's 2016 commencement proceedings, talks about her experiences in a career that spans over seven decades.

Carlos Capacho, who graduates from Berklee in May 2016, is already forging innovative new approaches to his instrument, the four-string Venezuelan cuatro. "I'm almost creating a new language for this instrument," he said in a recent interview. Capacho has performed in Mexico, Cuba, and Africa, and has taken the stage with a long list of greats, including Paquito D'Rivera. This podcast features one...

In this episode of Inside Berklee, Philip talks about the origin of Berklee India Exchange, the creation of the Berklee Indian Ensemble, and the presentation of the first Berklee A.R. Rahman Scholarship.

As part of the 2016 State of Jazz Composition Symposium, Eric Gould, chair of the Jazz Composition Department, sits down with world-renowned Colombian percussionist Samuel Torres.

Born in the Bahamas, bassist, vocalist, and composer Selah Poitier is a new artist with an eclectic musical style influenced by sounds from modern jazz, hip-hop, and blues as well as her traditional Bahamian roots. She lists Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, and Bob Marley among the artists who inspire her. Poitier plans to release her debut album in 2016.

Berklee Ensemble Department and City Music faculty members Chantel Hampton and Alonzo Harris both have a long and multifaceted list of music industry accomplishments. In this interview Hampton and Harris talk about how a Berklee education can help better prepare students for a career in the music industry; the value of being open to be "forever learning;" and how their own professional experiences...

March 29, 2016 | by Curtis Killian Berklee alumnus Taku Hirano '95 is a percussionist, producer and designer who has carved an eclectic career over the past two decades working with Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, Dr. Dre, Bette Midler, John Mayer and Cirque du Soleil, to name a few. He is also the founder of apparel company 3rd Culture and recording group Tao of Sound. Hirano visited his alma mat...

In this episode of Inside Berklee, Melissa Ferrick, an associate professor in Berklee's Songwriting Department, talks about honesty in songwriting, getting students to open up, touring while teaching, and more.

Equinox Music Festival codirector and Berklee Piano Department faculty member Moira Lo Bianco '12, will perform music from her latest release, Imago, in this day-long event on March 21, 2016. Hailing from Italy, Lo Bianco studied at conservatories in her home country before graduating from Berklee. She has performed at several major festivals, earned a Boston Music Award nomination, launched a wor...

Grammy-winning pianist, composer, and bandleader Danilo Pérez founded the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) six years ago, with a focus on teaching his students about the potential of music as an instrument for social change. In this interview at the Berklee Internet Radio Network (BIRN) studios, Pérez talked about a range of topics, including the influence of mentors such as Dizzy Gillespie, W...