Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 13, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY

Death

:

October 18, 2012 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

Borah Bergman was an American jazz pianist and composer who was born on December 13, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in a musical family, with his father playing the violin and his mother singing in a choir. Bergman began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for the instrument. Bergman's early musical influences included classical composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin, as well as jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. He studied music at Brooklyn College and later at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received a degree in composition. In the 1950s, Bergman began performing in jazz clubs in New York City, playing with musicians such as saxophonist Sonny Rollins and drummer Max Roach. He also began to develop his own unique style of playing, which combined elements of free jazz, avant-garde, and classical music. Bergman's first album, "The Human Factor," was released in 1977 and received critical acclaim. He went on to record over 20 albums throughout his career, including collaborations with musicians such as saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and drummer Andrew Cyrille. One of Bergman's most notable performances was at the 1984 Berlin Jazz Festival, where he played a solo piano set that lasted over two hours. The performance was recorded and released as the album "The Berlin Concert." Bergman also received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1994 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vision Festival in 2009. In addition to his work as a musician, Bergman was also a dedicated teacher and mentor. He taught at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City and gave master classes and workshops around the world. Bergman continued to perform and record music until his death on October 18, 2012, at the age of 78. He left behind a legacy as a pioneering musician who pushed the boundaries of jazz and classical music and inspired generations of musicians to come.

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