The Music of Hal Crook: Set Me Free

February 18, 2016
Berklee Performance Center

BERKLEE SIGNATURE SERIES

Produced by Rob Rose and Tom Riley

Thoughts for the Day:
Those who can, do. Those who think others can also, teach.

—John King

My high school band director once called me into his office and said, “Sal, Herbie Shalic has the flu
and you have to play the solo trombone parts in the concert.” | felt sick. “But Mister Hearn,” | said,
“I'm Hal not Sal—and what about all the high notes?” He frowned, “Well, you'll just have to practice
them.” And | said, “But Mister Hearn, how can | practice them if | can't play them?”

Hal Crook ‘71
Trombonist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Lyricist, Author, Educator, Body Surfer

Hal Crook is considered one of the most innovative jazz trombonists in history,
influencing countless musicians through his performances, recordings, and teaching.
Sometimes, even in a good way. By diversifying his teaching methods with rigorous
training in jazz theory and personalized performance exercises, he has helped many

 

of the world'’s best-known jazz improvisers to discover their own voice and style. In
addition to Grammy Award-winners Esperanza Spalding ‘05, Roy Hargrove ‘89, Antonio Sanchez ‘97,
and Danilo Perez ‘88, he has taught acclaimed musicians Lionel Loueke ‘01, Leo Genovese ‘04, Chris
Cheek ‘91, Geoff Keezer ‘89, Ingrid Jensen ‘89, Mark Turner ‘90, Melissa Aldana ‘09, Miguel Zenon
'98, Matt Garrison ‘92, Kendrick Scott ‘03, Julian Lage ‘08, Gretchen Parlato, Walter Smith '02,

Jim Black ‘90, and many others.

Upon graduating from Berklee in 1971, he established an active playing career throughout
the United States, Europe, and Asia, performing with Clark Terry, the Phil Woods Quintet, Bob
Brookmeyer, James Brown, Tony Bennett, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Paul Motian, Mick
Goodrick, and others. He composed, arranged, and performed for the NBC Tonight Show Orchestra.
More than 40 albums list Hal Crook as a leader or sideman, including Phil Woods's 1997 Grammy-
nominated album Celebration.

Hal joined the faculty at Berklee in 1986. His four books on jazz improvisation and his numerous
play-along recordings are distributed throughout the world and continue to guide thousands of
players. He founded music schools in Rhode Island and San Diego, and taught at the University of
California in Los Angles and San Diego. He has been a visiting artist in residence at the Thelonious
Monk Institute and at the Dave Brubeck Institute. Upon retiring from Berklee, he plans to continue
teaching privately at his studio in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and double up his efforts to get the
high notes. Some of the lower ones, anyway.