Kris Berg – Conductor of Jazz Orchestra and Director of GDYO Jazz

Kris Berg has been performing, arranging and composing jazz music since the age of sixteen. Originally from St. Louis, Kris moved to Denton, Texas where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz studies from the University of North Texas.

A best selling big band composer and arranger for over 20 years, Kris’ charts are published by Warner Brothers, Belwin Jazz, Kendor Music, Doug Beach Music, Walrus Music, J.W. Peppers and www.krisbergjazz.com. Both professional and school bands all over the world frequently perform his charts. He has written arrangements for jazz artists such as Delfeayo Marsalis, John Pizzarelli, Wayne Bergeron, Phil Woods, Kurt Elling and Chris Vadala. His popular bass method book, Bass Lines in Minutes, has helped hundreds of young bass players approach the art of the jazz walking bass line.

Kris’ latest release is his big band CD, “Time Management,” (MAMA Records, MAA 1046) featuring the Metroplexity Big Band with special guests Phil Woods, Wayne Bergeron, Clay Jenkins, Denis DiBlasio and Andy Timmons. “Time Management” is the winner of two Global Music Awards and is the follow up to his highly acclaimed 2012 release, “This Time / Last Year.” Both recordings feature Kris’ unique writing and arranging as well as many of the outstanding musicians in the Dallas area.

An award winning bassist, director and educator, Mr. Berg is endorsed by Yamaha Basses, Bag End Loudspeakers and Acoustic Image Amplifiers and has appeared at jazz festivals and camps throughout the United States. He has been selected as guest director for the IAJE Community College All-Star Jazz Band, as well as All-State Jazz Bands in Montana, Oklahoma, Maine, South Carolina, Nebraska, Arizona, Texas and Wyoming. Kris has appeared or recorded with the likes of Wayne Bergeron, Phil Woods, Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew and many others. He has also been involved in music ministry for over 20 years at Willow Bend Church in Plano.

As an educator, Kris was the Director of Jazz Studies at Collin College near Dallas for over 25 years. Having built the jazz program at Collin, Berg directed ensembles, taught jazz courses and is the founder of both the Collin Jazz Fest and the Texas All-Star Jazz Camp. Under his direction, Collin jazz ensembles performed multiple times at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Jazz Education Network Conference and jazz festivals all over the United States and the Bahamas. Mr. Berg currently resides in north Dallas with his wife Yvette and daughter Kristen and has two grown sons, Michael and Jonathan, who are successful public school educators.