Home » Jazz Musicians » Joey Berkley

Joey Berkley

Tenor Saxophone
Composer
Arranger
Recording Artist
Educator…

…migrating south from Toronto, Canada in 1978, Joey Berkley immersed himself in the competitive New York City jazz scene. The musician benefited from his experiences in Manhattan, and maintains that these early years of struggling were not only necessary, but also crucial to his musical development. In fact, his CD that was released in 1999 and marks his debut as the bandleader of the Joey Berkley Quartet, is aptly titled Made in NYC. The disc, which features many of Joey’s original compositions, came out on A- Records.

Both as a freelance musician on the NYC music scene or with his own groups including The Joey Berkley Quartet, Joey has performed in many of the prestigious venues past and present- Birdland, The Village Gate, The Apollo, Radio City Music Hall and the Bottom Line.

In 2002 Joey co-founded the Westchester Jazz Orchestra (WJO). As a member of this renowned line up of musicians from 2002 to 2007 Joey also served as its Artistic and Educational Director.

Mouthpiecemusic LLC was formed by Joey in 2005 incorporating all of Mr. Berkley’s musical activities. Whether sharing his knowledge with a student, recording his music or frequenting the club and concert circuit with his various groups, Joey’s talent has warranted fabulous reviews from The Jazz Times to The New York Times.

Also in 2005 Joey created the exciting group Funkasaurus Rex a nine piece jazz-funk band made up of some of the best known and talented NY players. The band has two CD releases Etched in Stone and I Hear Voices.

In 2015 a new band/recording project came to life. Joey Berkley's Bandits was created to absorb all of Joey's musical influences from jazz to pop as a composer/arranger and saxophonist. Last year the band released it's first recording, the self-titled CD Joey Berkley's Bandits. With a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks, the big "sound" borrows from many genres, or for purists, "steals" musical styles to create original songs that groove hard. The writing demands a very high level of musicianship making this a band that features great playing and creative arrangements. Along with a top-notch horn section that executes with precision this is a group that follows Duke's words..."there are only two kinds of music, good and the other kind"

The Joey Berkley Quartet, Funkasaurus Rex and Joey Berkley's Bandits are the premier performing groups contained within Mouthpiecemusic LLC. Under the leadership of saxophonist Joey Berkley they perform a wide variety of musical styles from jazz to funk to pop with unmatched precision and style. From club to concert hall to recording, each band also serves as an instrument for teaching by conducting master-classes and providing students with the highest level of expertise and dedication to conveying all music as an art form.

Joey Berkley Band: Moving Forward

Read "Moving Forward" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
August 4, 2019

A saxophonist with a penchant for exploring multiple genres, Joey Berkley has a foundational love of straight-ahead jazz, as exemplified on his More n' Four (Self-released, 2009) and his work as director of the Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music in Yonkers. But his other projects allow him to explore his avid passions for R&B, funk and fusion, as these are also key ingredients in shaping his musical identity. On his latest outing, Moving Forward, Berkley brings all these ...

264

Album Review

Joey Berkley: More 'n Four

Read "More 'n Four" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
January 1, 2010

A single listen to the pop/jazz standard “Nature Boy" is proof that saxophonist Joey Berkley's tenor is as robust and accomplished as they come. Living in New York since the late 1970s, the Canadian expat has survived and thrived in the “City That Never Sleeps"--performing with top musicians, running his own music company and teaching, while maintaining a couple of bands including the nine-piece jazz/funk Band, Funkasaurus Rex. More 'n Four is a straight-ahead release--a continuation and ...

287

Multiple Reviews

Joey Berkley & Funkasaurus Rex: More 'n Four / Etched in Stone

by Woodrow Wilkins
November 25, 2009

Some jazz musicians have a knack for variety. There are those who specialize in a specific genre, but there are others who prefer to come at the listener from different directions. Saxophonist Joey Berkley is among the latter. Berkley hails from Toronto but has made his home in New York City. In NYC, he has worked a variety of venues including The Apollo Theatre, Birdland and Radio City Music Hall. He works as a sideman, but also leads ...

101

Performance / Tour

Joey Berkley Quartet hosts Monday Night Jam in NYC

Source: Joey Berkley
August 19, 2011

120

Performance / Tour

An Evening of Jazz with The Joey Berkley Quartet

Source: All About Jazz
July 26, 2002

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

I am an honour's graduate from the Jazz Performance program at Humber College in Toronto Canada. After graduation in 1979 I moved to NYC to study with Joe Allard and Eddie Daniels. At the same time I also enrolled in the toughest school of all- the New York City "music scene". Now in 2017, I am still trying to graduate!

“As a teacher I believe in trying to develop a discipline in each musician that focuses on mastering the fundamentals. From beginner to advanced, the musician maintains this endeavor in the overall pursuit of excellence-which is never-ending. I feel that the mastery of good technique – tone, finger execution, reading and theory – and the search of always trying to find ways to improve are essential to expressing artistry whether the music is classical, jazz or rock ‘n roll.”

PRIVATE TEACHING

Embouchure: This development is CRUCIAL. It affects everything- timbre, intonation, rhythm etc.
Fingers: Fast or slow, moving from note to note(s) it has to be precise-in any style of music.
Reading: In order to become a good independent reader you must understand the mathematical relationships in music i.e. counting, sub- dividing, beat/bar recognition, time signatures etc. This applies to all music-Classical, Jazz, Funk, Latin etc.
Theory: All musicians must have knowledge of music theory. What you are playing sounds better if you understand why.
Jazz Improvisation: A balance of theory- based fundamentals and listening. This includes transcribing and how to apply it. Also, interpretation of melody and stylistic differences in jazz.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

I am an honour's graduate from the Jazz Performance program at Humber College in Toronto Canada. After graduation in 1979 I moved to NYC to study with Joe Allard and Eddie Daniels. At the same time I also enrolled in the toughest school of all- the New York City "music scene". Now in 2017, I am still trying to graduate!

“As a teacher I believe in trying to develop a discipline in each musician that focuses on mastering the fundamentals. From beginner to advanced, the musician maintains this endeavor in the overall pursuit of excellence-which is never-ending. I feel that the mastery of good technique – tone, finger execution, reading and theory – and the search of always trying to find ways to improve are essential to expressing artistry whether the music is classical, jazz or rock ‘n roll.”

PRIVATE TEACHING

Embouchure: This development is CRUCIAL. It affects everything- timbre, intonation, rhythm etc.
Fingers: Fast or slow, moving from note to note(s) it has to be precise-in any style of music.
Reading: In order to become a good independent reader you must understand the mathematical relationships in music i.e. counting, sub- dividing, beat/bar recognition, time signatures etc. This applies to all music-Classical, Jazz, Funk, Latin etc.
Theory: All musicians must have knowledge of music theory. What you are playing sounds better if you understand why.
Jazz Improvisation: A balance of theory- based fundamentals and listening. This includes transcribing and how to apply it. Also, interpretation of melody and stylistic differences in jazz.

Clinic/Workshop Information

GROUP TEACHING

Musicians teaching Musicians…

The role of Mouthpiecemusic LLC is to integrate performance and education. Rather than the traditional student-teacher relationship we relate to students as fellow musicians at various levels of development. Students are musicians and musicians are students.

Mouthpiecemusic is based on the premise that performing and teaching are mutually beneficial. By coming off the stage into the classroom each band is able to first inspire students, challenge them as musicians and then give each a sense of empowerment. Teaching by demonstrating is the most effective way to reach a student as much as motivate the professional musician to continue growing.

The Joey Berkley Quartet and Joey Berkley's Bandits These performing groups are effective instruments for teaching too by conducting workshops:

Ensemble precision
Jazz Improvisation and Interpretation
The Rhythm Section

As teachers we must be able to do what we instruct on any level whether it’s one on one, in a sectional or a full band “lesson”. During my tenure as the Artistic and Educational Director of WJO, when we were invited to work with a student jazz ensemble or run a jazz band festival WJO offered itself as a model to guide the students and demonstrate how a first-rate band performs- from the ensemble precision to an exciting solo. The groups contained within Mouthpiecemusic offer this up- close approach inspiring the students first, making the teaching more meaningful.

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“As a music educator, Joey has multiple strengths. He is comfortable with rehearsing a woodwind class, giving an individual lesson, coaching students in jazz improvisation or leading a big band rehearsal.”

“Joey is an outstanding artist/educator who offers his knowledge of jazz, woodwind pedagogy and a love of teaching to the students of Fox Lane High School.”

Dr.Paul Tooker, Director of Arts at Bedford Central SD

“Mr. Berkley has the ability to instruct in an enjoyable way while managing to teach all of the crucial elements of making music”

D.Carroll, music-graduate, Boston College