The Music of Hal Crook: Set Me Free

Hal Crook, a professor in the Ensemble Department, will perform his compositions with saxophonist Chris Cheek ‘91, pianist Leo Genovese ‘04, Lionel Loueke ‘01, vocalist and bassist Esperenza Spalding ‘05, and other alumni and special guests. The concert will also include Crook’s pop/jazz band, Behind These Eyes. His compositions and arrangements will be heard in traditional, contemporary, free, and pop/jazz styles. Crook is considered one of the most innovative jazz trombonists in history, influencing countless musicians through his performances, recordings, and teaching.

Since 1963, Crook has pursued an active playing career, performing and touring throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has performed with Bob Brookmeyer, Clark Terry, John Medeski, James Brown, and Mick Goodrick, to name a few. Hal has also composed, arranged, and performed for the NBC Tonight Show Orchestra, and has recorded over 40 albums as a leader or sideman, one of which was nominated for a Grammy in 1998.

A world-renowned teacher of jazz improvisation, Crook has authored four books on the subject published by Advance Music (Germany) and has created numerous play-along recordings. The list of ensemble and private students he has coached reads like a who’s who in contemporary jazz improvisation and includes Roy Hargrove, Esperanza Spalding, Antonio Sanchez, Lionel Loueke, and Danilo Perez, among many others.

After teaching at Berklee from 1975–76, Crook founded music schools in Rhode Island and San Diego, California. Before returning to Berklee in 1986 he taught at the University of California in Los Angeles and San Diego. He has been a visiting artist in residence at the Thelonious Monk Institute (1998–present) and the Dave Brubeck Institute (2005). Currently, in addition to teaching at Berklee, he teaches privately at his studio in Attleboro, Massachusetts.