Bengt Berger (born August 31, 1942, in Stockholm; died May 15, 2026) was a Swedish percussionist, composer, and producer of world jazz.

Berger attended his first jazz concert in 1956—a *Jazz at the Philharmonic* tour featuring Gene Krupa. He did not begin playing the drums until the age of 20, at which point he practiced extensively and was heavily influenced by Elvin Jones. During the late 1960s, he studied classical Indian music (from both North and South India) under Taranath Rama Rao and Vidwan P.S. Devarajan, learning to play the percussion instruments *tabla* and *mridangam*. In the 1970s, he immersed himself in African musical traditions—specifically West African xylophone playing and the percussion styles of the Ewe, Brong-Ahafo, and Lo-Birifor traditions in Ghana.

After returning to Sweden, Bengt Berger initially played with the band Arbete & Fritid—releasing an album with them on the Sonet label in 1970—and with Rena Rama, a group he co-founded with Bobo Stenson and Palle Danielsson, which was later joined by Lennart Åberg and Leroy Lowe. Additionally, he was a member of Don Cherry’s band, contributing to Cherry’s albums *Organic Music Society* (1972) and *Eternal Now* (1973), and later joined the group Spjärnsvallet. In the early 1980s, he founded the band Bitter Funeral Beer; in 1982, he recorded the eponymous album with the group—featuring Don Cherry—for the jazz label ECM. That same year, he performed with the band at the German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt. Later in his career, he played with Chapter 7, performed with Lena Willemark in the group enteli, played in Old School, and was active (as of 2008) with Grand Slam and BENT.

Throughout his career, Berger has contributed to recordings by numerous artists, including Don Cherry, Palle Danielsson, Nisse Sandström, Bernt Rosengren, Jan Wallgren, Torkel Rasmussen, Per Tjernberg, and Jonas Knutsson. Together with Berger-Knutsson-Spering—and featuring Neneh and Eagle Eye Cherry—he recorded the tribute album *See You in a Minute*, which features the music of Don Cherry.

Berger also served as a producer for the record label Country & Eastern, which released numerous albums spanning African folk music, Indian classical music, as well as jazz, folk, and improvised music. He also composed music for theater and dance productions.

His son, Simon J. Berger, is an actor, while his second son, Jöns Jönsson, is a director. In 2002, Berger married the actress Ann Petrén.

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengt_Berger
https://www.youtube.com/@BengtBerger

BFBB w Cherry & Sridhar: Live in Frankfurt-1. Introduction

Berger Knutsson Spering: Jungle

Bengt Berger Dies at 83 | Swedish Jazz Legend Full Life Story & Lega

 

A life well lived, the drums well played - he was loved, admired and respected. Now he will also be missed. Rest In Groove big brother.