Slideshow: Hal Crook Celebrates 30 Years of Teaching with Alumni Concert
Hal Crook celebrates 30 years of teaching with a retirement concert titled “Set Me Free” on February 18, 2016 at the Berklee Performance Center.
Kelly Davidson
Crook expresses great passion through his instrument while playing with uncompromising technique.
Kelly Davidson
“Hal is a living example of the quintessential no-nonsense, bad 'mofo.' That seems to be the rarest breed of human on the planet these days,” says Grammy Award-winner and former student Esperanza Spalding.
Kelly Davidson
Antonio Sanchez ‘97 drives “Nothing to Lose” with its mix of odd time signatures and constantly changing grooves.
Kelly Davidson
Saxophonist Chris Cheek ‘91 takes a solo.
Kelly Davidson
Pianist Leo Genovese ‘01 is featured in Crook’s piece “Never Again.”
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Guitarist Lionel Loueke ‘04
Kelly Davidson
“Each of them is so amazing, so successful, so famous. I knew them in their musical infancy,” says Crook. “Back then I thought of them as the kids I never had—and never wanted. I kid them a lot, but I love these guys—some more than others,” he adds with a laugh.
Kelly Davidson
The 10-piece R&B ensemble Behind These Eyes, featuring Deborah Pierre ‘13 on vocals, performs nine original songs during the second half of the concert.
Kelly Davidson
“In 1971, Duke Ellington—my hero of heroes—handed me my degree and I stood there awestruck until he spoke those inimitable words of wisdom that I’ve tried to live my life by ever since,” Crook recalls. “He looked me right in the eye and said, ‘Please, keep moving.’ So I moved, and moved, and moved. Years later I ended up back here.”
Kelly Davidson
On February 18, 2016, world-renowned trombonist and Berklee Ensemble Department professor Hal Crook ‘71 celebrated 30 years of teaching with a retirement concert, titled "Set Me Free," featuring some of his most outstanding former students.
In the first half of the concert, Crook welcomed past students back to the Berklee Performance Center stage, including Grammy Award-winners Esperanza Spalding ‘05 on bass and vocals and Antonio Sanchez ‘97 on drums, pianist Leo Genovese ‘01, guitarist Lionel Loueke ‘04, saxophonist Chris Cheek ‘91, and vocalist Deborah Pierre ‘13. The alumni performed five of Crook’s contemporary jazz compositions, each having generous solo time on each piece. The second half of the show featured Crook’s current R&B ensemble, Behind These Eyes, which performed nine original songs.
The juxtaposition of former and current students taking the same stage alongside Crook offered a remarkable look into the influence he has had on his students throughout the past three decades. “Set Me Free” proved to be much more than just a showcase of Crook’s phenomenal abilities to play and compose, but a tribute to Crook’s legacy and impact throughout his time at the college.
Watch selected performances from Hal Crook's "Set Me Free" concert: