David Berkman is an award-winning composer/bandleader (2000 Doris Duke/Chamber Music America New Works Creation and Presentation Grant), a recording artist whose 4 Palmetto recordings have appeared on numerous best records of the year critic's lists (the New York Times, the Village Voice, Downbeat, JazzIz, Jazz Times and others) and an award-winning jazz clinician (the Homer Osborne award 2004 from the Wichita jazz society) who has performed and taught at numerous jazz camps, universities and conservatories around the United States and Europe. He has played in countless bands including those of Cecil McBee, Tom Harrell and the Vanguard Orchestra and has performed and/or recorded and/or arranged for numerous jazz luminaries, including: Sonny Stitt, Billy Hart, Joe Lovano, Ray Drummond, Brian Blade, Dick Oatts, Chris Potter, Scott Wendholt, Lenny White, Craig Handy, Bill Stewart, Dave Stryker, Fathead Newman, Hank Crawford, and Jane Monheit.