Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Acclaimed Brooklyn-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Chris Bergson creates his own blend of rootsy blues and soul.  The Chris Bergson Band's latest CD, Fall Changes was hailed by MOJO Magazine as the Best Blues Album of 2008.  Bergson has performed with Levon Helm, Hubert Sumlin, Norah Jones, John Hammond, Little Sammy Davis, Ollabelle and Larry Campbell as well as jazz legends Annie Ross and Al Foster.  The Chris Bergson Band has headlined at such top New York City venues Joe's Pub, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Blue Note, The Living Room, and Jazz Standard.  Chris has also performed at the 606 Club (London), B.B. King’s Blues Club (NYC), the Highway 99 Blues Club (Seattle, WA), the Regattabar (Cambridge, MA) and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC).  Bergson has appeared at NYC's River to River Festival, South by Southwest (Austin, TX), Moulin Blues (Ospel, Netherlands), Groningen Rhythm and Blues Night (Netherlands), the Leicester City Blues Festival (UK), the Kaslo Jazz Etc. Summer Music Festival (BC, Canada), the CMJ Festival (NYC), the Cape May Jazz Festival (NJ), and the New York State Blues Festival (Syracuse, NY).  Bergson has opened for Etta James, Levon Helm, John Hammond, Mose Allison, the Average White Band and Dr. Lonnie Smith.  Chris Bergson also serves on the faculty of the 92nd St. Y where he teaches rock guitar.
 
The Chris Bergson Band's latest album, Fall Changes (2 Shirts Records / Bertus) was recorded at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY and features stellar performances from Bergson on guitar and vocals, Jay Collins (Gregg Allman, James Hunter) on tenor sax and backing vocals, Bruce Katz (John Hammond, Ronnie Earl) on piano and B-3 organ, and Tony Leone (Ollabelle) on drums.  Special guests include vocalist Amy Helm and a Stax-styled horn section arranged by Jay Collins featuring Erik Lawrence on baritone sax and Kenny Rampton on trumpet.  As the UK's LEICESTER BANGS writes, "this magnificent collection follows The Band in drawing intuitively and seamlessly from blues, country, folk, funk, soul and jazz.  Bergson has the kind of voice that can be sepia-tinted, whiskey soaked or nicotine stained to fit the requisite style and mood, standing alongside Gregg Allman, Dr. John, Van Morrison and Danko / Helm." 

"Chris Bergson is a serious talent," proclaims LIVING BLUES noting that "Bergson gives early notice to the listener on the album's opening cut, 'Gowanus Heights', of his prowess as both a performer and songwriter.  With a horn section that would do the old Stax crew proud, Bergson lures the listener into his world of jazz influenced blues and doesn't let up until the final cut."

According to Bergson, traveling to Woodstock to record had an air of pilgrimage about it, as he counts Helm and The Band among his biggest influences.  Levon's studio, a renovated barn nestled in the Catskills, has an impressive history with an almost magical list of past clients - The Band, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.  The Fall Changes sessions proved to be magical as well; not only were the eleven CD tracks cut, but it was also here that Helm first heard Bergson play, prompting an invite to join him at his Midnight Ramble concerts.  Listening to Fall Changes, it's easy to hear what caught Levon's ear.  

Click here to watch Chris Bergson's EPK: www.chrisbergson.com/epk or click here to watch it on YouTube

Click here to listen to tracks from Fall Changes: www.chrisbergson.com/music or myspace.com/chrisbergsonband

For more information, please contact:

Chris Bergson has performed and/or recorded with:

Venues played include:

Festivals:

Supported /Shared Bill with:

Etta James
Levon Helm
Mose Allison
John Hammond
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Average White Band

Recording History

Jay Collins – The Songbird and the Pigeon  (Sundown Recordings) 2008
Chris Bergson Band – Fall Changes (2 Shirts Records) 2007
Chris Bergson Band –  Another Day  (2 Shirts Records) 2005
Chris Bergson – Blues   (2 Shirts Records) 2003
Sheryl Bailey – Reunion of Souls  (Pure Music) 2001
Annie Ross  – Cool For Kids  (Juniper Records) 2001
Neal Miner – The Real Neal  (Juniper Records) 2001
Chris Bergson – Wait For Spring  (Juniper Records) 2000
Chris Bergson – Blues For Some Friends of Mine  (Juniper Records) 1997

Selected Bio

Born in Manhattan and raised in Somerville, MA, Bergson came to New York in 1995, playing jazz, and accompanying many great singers like Annie Ross, Dena DeRose, Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson.  Master jazz guitarist Jim Hall hailed Bergson as being “among the best of the young jazz guitarists.”  Bergson recorded two critically acclaimed jazz CDs as a leader for Juniper Records, appeared on many other releases as a sideman, and performed at such top NYC clubs as The Blue Note, Jazz Standard and Smoke.  A particular highlight of this period was a weekend engagement at the Fat Cat playing trio with master drummer and Miles Davis alum, Al Foster.

In 2002, Bergson was appointed a Jazz Ambassador of the United States of America by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. State Department. Chris’ trio toured eight countries in West Africa including Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria and Benin, giving concerts and clinics on the blues for local musicians.

Bergson’s years in the trenches as a jazz musician gave him a mastery of his instrument and a joyous freedom as an improviser that is infectious to the listener.  But as Mick Rainsford of Blues in Britain notes, “Bergson had another love, blues and roots music, offering him the opportunity to expand his musical repertoire and develop the highly personalized blend of blues, jazz and soul that makes ‘Another Day’ such an outstanding set.”

The Chris Bergson Band's critically acclaimed 2005 release, Another Day  (2 Shirts Records) drew on the rich legacy of American Roots music. “Bergson’s vocals are warm and personal. ‘Come and Gone’ simmers; gorgeous ballads ‘Another Day’ and ‘High Above the Morning’ are deep country soul,” wrote Blues Revue.  Guitar Player's Andy Ellis said, “On ‘Another Day’, Chris Bergson makes his thin-line Gibson sound fat and funky in true Big Easy style, pays tribute to Curtis Mayfield with sweet double-stops, and picks angular blues-bop lines like a tightly wound New York hipster. Bergson has tone and vibe to spare."  As Belgium's Rootstime boldy proclaims, "If you like the music of Coltrane, Muddy Waters and The Band, you will definitely like the Chris Bergson Band."