JustSheetMusic
Portrait of Hal Crook

Composer

Hal Crook

American jazz musician

b. 1950

39 works in the index

Born
1950
Birthplace
Providence
Citizenship / historical state
United States
Period (estimated from birth year)
Contemporary

Biography

Hal Crook (born 28 July 1950 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a jazz trombonist. He has a degree from the Berklee College of Music and is considered to be a leading teacher and author in the field of jazz improvisation.

Hal was a professor at Berklee College of Music for 30 years, and has played on over 40 recordings. Some of his notable students include Esperanza Spalding, Leo Genovese, Ryan Shore, Antonio Sanchez, Lionel Loueke, and Chris Cheek. Hal's composing and arranging credits include music for The Tonight Show Band, WDR Radio Band (Cologne), Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Herb Pomeroy, Louis Bellson, Artie Shaw, Duke Belaire, Dick Johnson, Nick Brignola, the New England Emmy Awards, and the San Diego Pops.

In Jazz 'Bones, Kurt Dietrich writes:

Following the course of Hal Crook's improvisations is a fascinating peek into an exceptional improvisational mind, not to mention an amazing trombonist. His playing is filled with technical marvels, but clearly not just for show. He works with modern techniques of building improvisations on various intervals, the development of motives, the use of pentatonic scales, and working in the outer reaches of harmony. His speed, range, fluency, sound and remarkable technique put him at the top echelon of players.

He is the author of seven textbooks on jazz improvisation, a novel (A Brief Madness), and a collection of short stories (Windborne Tales).

Though retired from Berklee, he continues to teach privately.

Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.

Source revision used for this excerpt

Life and musical career

Occupations
music educator; jazz musician; university teacher; composer; trombonist
Education
Berklee College of Music
Career institutions / employers
Berklee College of Music; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, San Diego
Instruments played
trombone
Genres
jazz
VIAF ID
46948261
ISNI
0000000079941735
GND ID
134722051
Library of Congress ID
n85098427
MusicBrainz ID
48f54247-1eb7-498d-bad9-427a15e6b22b

Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments
Guitar
Works with composition dates
0 of 39

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
1. Only Human — —— Guitar— 2
17. Show — —— Guitar— 2
8. Prince of Parma — —— Guitar— 2
5. Golden Palace — —— Guitar— 2
6. Twilight Hour — —— Guitar— 2
SECTION 1: Swing, 4/4 — —— Guitar— 1
2. Hidden Meaning — —— Guitar— 1
3. Wart Hog — —— Guitar— 1
4. Wall Gazing — —— Guitar— 1
5. Ixtlan — —— Guitar— 1
6. The Babysitter — —— Guitar— 1
7. Opportunity — —— Guitar— 1
8. Thought Stream — —— Guitar— 1
9. Doctor G — —— Guitar— 1
10. Keepin' Up The Image — —— Guitar— 1
11. Border Line — —— Guitar— 1
12. TMI — —— Guitar— 1
13. Money — —— Guitar— 1
14. The Great Divide — —— Guitar— 1
15. Asia Minor — —— Guitar— 1
16. The Key Master — —— Guitar— 1
18. Player's Paradise — —— Guitar— 1
SECTION 2: Even, 4/4 — —— Guitar— 1
1. Brookmeyer — —— Guitar— 1
2. Sita's Dance — —— Guitar— 1
3. Caipirinha — —— Guitar— 1
4. Episode — —— Guitar— 1
5. Solitary Bird — —— Guitar— 1
6. Getting Clear — —— Guitar— 1
7. Domestic Violets — —— Guitar— 1
SECTION 3: Swing, 3/4 — —— Guitar— 1
1. A Wing And A Prayer — —— Guitar— 1
2. Life — —— Guitar— 1
3. A Simpler Time — —— Guitar— 1
4. Strangled Strain — —— Guitar— 1
SECTION 4: Even, 3/4 — —— Guitar— 1
1. Things In The Dark — —— Guitar— 1
2. Mr. Goodchord — —— Guitar— 1
3. La-La Land — —— Guitar— 1

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 46948261.