Berks Jazz Fest

S
axophonist Gerald Albright is going to be a busy
man during the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, but
that’s nothing new for him. And he’s certainly no
stranger to the fest -- this is his eighth year performing at Berks.
The five-time
Grammy nominee
reading eagle correspondent is hosting his own
show, Gerald
Albright and Friends: The Man and His Music, with
an all-star lineup, including Rick Braun, Larry Braggs,
daughter Selina Albright and the Berks Jazz Fest
Horns. This show, featuring a hot segment dedicated
to R&B legend James Brown, is slated for Friday,
April 1, at 7 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
However, he’ll begin his stay here this year with
Guitars and Saxes on Sunday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at
the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, joining Kirk
Whalum, Peter White, Jeff Golub, Jeff Lorber and Eric
Marienthal.
He doesn’t stop there. He’ll be playing all week,
with Chuck Loeb & Friends for The BeBop Sessions,
Wednesday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base; and in the Berks All-Star Jazz Jam,
Thursday, March 31, at 8 p.m. in the Crowne Plaza
Reading ballroom.
“I’m really happy about that,” Albright said. “I get a
by tracy rasmussen
chance to play all different types of music and with
people I don’t get to play with all that often. I’m looking forward to it.”
Albright is no stranger to multi-tasking. He started
playing piano when he was about 8 and then added
the saxophone a year later.
“I was a child,” he said. “And I wasn’t really interested
in the piano. I wanted to be out playing with my friends
in the neighborhood. But then my teacher George
Turpeau had an old saxophone that he’d played in the
army and he thought he’d surprise me with it.”
Albright said he remembers the teacher opening
the case and the instantaneous connection he had
with the instrument.
“You could just smell the history in the case,”
Albright said. “And then out popped this silver saxophone. You could tell it had stories to tell. He put the
reed on the mouthpiece and let me play a note.”
The result was hardly indicative of Albright’s future
virtuosity on the instrument, but it was enough to
hook him on the instrument for life.
“For me it was really more of just a squeak,” he
said. “But the rest is history.”
That history included a trip in 1978 to a Brothers
Johnson concert during which he found an additional
musical calling.
“I was just floored with the improvisations that Louis
Johnson was doing on the bass,” he said. “After the
show I thought I’d just borrow a bass and figured I
would at least learn a scale. But shortly thereafter it
became an integral part of what I do.”
As much as he loves the sax, Albright said the
bass gave him entrance to the rhythm section in
ways the saxophone never could.
“The rhythm section is the meat of any show that
you do or any record you record,” he said. “I wanted
to groove that way. It was a nice contrast fo me
because I’ve been playing the saxophone for so long.”
In fact, if you listen to his records, you may also
hear Albright playing any of the saxes, the flute, and
the EWI (electronic wind instrument). He’s also been
known to still sit down at the keyboard, too, since
songwriting is often easier on that instrument.
“I still play that to structure the music when I’m
writing,” he said.
Albright’s history also includes work as a session
musician with artists including Anita Baker, Ray
Parker, Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, Olivia Newton-John,
the Temptations and Maurice White. He’s also been
on tour with Les McCann, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie,
the Winans, Marlena Shaw, Quincy Jones and Whitney
Houston.
frank scott award / 3
artist profiles / begin
on 6
10-day schedule of
events / 10, 11
guitar masters / 16
randy brecker: artistin-residence / 17
the vista all-stars,
the jazz cruise / 18
fest merchandise / 19
ALBRIGHT, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
21ST ANNUAL FESTIVAL GUIDE PUBLISHED BY
READING EAGLE
ALBRIGHT, FROM PAGE 1
He’s recorded more than a dozen CDs,
including the 2010 Grammy-nominated
Push the Envelope, which came out last
year.
Albright plays several instruments on his
CDs and makes sure to write some of the
music, too. Songwriting isn’t easy for him,
but he’s usually touched by the result.
“I’m not like Stevie Wonder sitting down
and writing all those hit tunes,” he said. “I
have to be in the mood for writing, but once
I get in the mood I can stay in the studio for
months. The fascination for me is to take a
fragment of something and then broaden
it into a four- or five-part melody that
becomes a complete composition.”
Albright is looking forward to his time at
Berks Jazz Fest, where he’ll be playing with
lots of his friends including Brian Culbertson,
Rick Braun, Larry Braggs, Peter White, Kirk
Whalum and Jeff Golub.
“I like to switch around,” Albright said.
“There’s no limitation to music. I’ll be playing
everything from funk to love ballads to
straight-ahead jazz. I like to see the different
sides of what I do and my passions for
different types of music.”
And he’ll also be performing with his
daughter Selina Albright.
“I started listening to her sing when
“There’s no limitation to music. I’ll be playing everything
from funk to love ballads to straight-ahead jazz. I like to
see the different sides of what I do and my passions for
different types of music.”
SELINA ALBRIGHT
she was four or five years old,” Albright
said, “and thought, ‘Wow, she’s really got
a gift.’ But it took her a while before she
got serious about it. I’m so proud of her,
and performing with her is going to be a
wonderful thing. I’m in my comfort zone. We
write music together too, and she’s a great
lyricist and I’m good at composing the music. We know each other so well, she can
almost tell what I’m thinking. It’s nice to have
that kind of closeness with your daughter.”
Experience all that Greater Reading has to offer
albright at the fest...
sunday, march 27
Guitars and Saxes featuring Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum,
Peter White, Jeff Golub plus special guests Jeff Lorber
and Eric Marienthal
Sovereign Performing Arts Center • 7 p.m. • $49
wednesday, march 30
The Bebop Sessions featuring Chuck Loeb, RIck Braun,
Randy Brecker, Brian Bromberg, Gerald Albright, Ada Rovatti,
Philippe Saisse and more
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading
7 p.m. • $35
thursday, march 31
Berks All-Star Jazz Jam featuring Rick Braun, Randy Brecker,
Chuck Loeb, Chieli Minucci, Gerald Veasley, Brian Bromberg,
Gerald Albright, Euge Groove, Philippe Saisse, Selina Albright,
Ada Rovatti, Frank Vignola and more
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom • 8 p.m. • $45
friday, april 1
H
ello jazz fans and welcome to the 21st
annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest!
This festival is full of variety, excitement
and artistic energy, and is host to some of
the world’s top-ranking jazz musicians.
There are many events and experiences
to be a part of while you are here in Greater
Reading attending one of the most exciting
jazz festivals in the nation!
We have a number of unique shops, historic sites and activities you will want to experience during your stay, from the Pagoda
atop Mount Penn, which celebrated its 100th
birthday in 2009, to the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, which is one of the largest
arts centers of its kind in the United States.
There is no shortage of adventures here in
Berks County!
Make sure you visit www.PennCorridor.
com to view all of the activities and possibilities. Also be sure to stop and shop at
Boscov’s department stores on your way to
any of the jazz fest concerts. Boscov’s has
graciously made this year’s festival possible
with their continued support and efforts in
elevating the arts in Berks County.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all
of our corporate sponsors for their tremendous investments in this outstanding event.
I want to give a big thank you to the Berks
Arts Council Board of Directors for their leadership in continuing to strive to create highquality interactive arts and entertainment
experiences here in Greater Reading. I also
would like to extend a special thank you to
the 300+ volunteers of the Berks Jazz Fest,
without whom this festival would not be possible. Your dedication and passion for this
event is truly inspiring and appreciated.
The Berks Arts Council is not just the
Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. We have been
promoting the arts in Berks County since
1969, when a group of local volunteer artists
and arts patrons decided to create an organization dedicated to arts advocacy.
It is the vision of the Berks Arts Council to
inspire, advocate and
Berks Arts
Council
promote diversified
receives
arts and entertainment
state arts
forms in the community;
funding support through
excitement about learna grant
ing; social causes that
from the
address life’s realities and Pennsylvania Council
on the Arts, a state
economic stimulation.
funded by the
If you enjoy the festival, agency
Commonwealth of
please consider showing
Pennsylvania and the
National Endowment
your support by joining
for the Arts, a federal
the Berks Arts Council.
agency.
We have membership
information available at all
of the Jazz Fest venues.
Have a great time at the Boscov’s Berks
Jazz Fest!
Chris Cannon
Executive Director, Berks Arts Council
Gerald Albright and Friends featuring Brian Culbertson
Rick Braun, Larry Braggs, Selina Albright and the Berks
Jazz Fest Horns
Scottish Rite Cathedral • 7 p.m. • $49
WFMZ Channel 69 to broadcast
Gerald Veasley’s Sounds of Philly
GERALD VEASLEY
NICK COLIONNE
WALTER
BEASLEY
WILL
DOWNING
CAROL
RIDDICK
CONTEMPORARY BOUTIQUE
nce again,
Channel
69 WFMZ-TV
is teaming up
with Boscov’s
Berks Jazz Fest to bring a live,
commercial-free concert to its
viewers.
On Saturday, March 26,
Channel 69 will broadcast Gerald Veasley’s Sounds of Philly,
featuring Will Downing, Nick
Colionne, Walter Beasley and
Carol Riddick, from the Crowne
Plaza Reading ballroom at
10:30 p.m.
“69 News Berks Edition and
wfmz.com are proud to support
Berks Jazz Fest,” said WFMZ-TV
marketing manager Vern Anderson, “It is big part of our overall
commitment to Berks County
and the community we serve
O
every day”.
Veasley’s
unique concept for the
show stems
from his great love of the Philly
soul music scene. He handpicked the musicians for this
show based on their great sensibility to the genre.
A hometown favorite and
Philly native, Veasley said, “I’ve
always loved soul music. I am
always looking for something
new and fresh to tackle, but
now and then, it’s also good
to go back and tap into your
roots.”
Channel 69 is on Comcast
Reading’s Channel 9. For Channel 69’s complete cable and
satellite listings, please visit
www.wfmz.com/cable.
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Marty Mellinger to receive
2011 Frank Scott Award
BY DANA L. HOFFMAN
T
“In my opinion, we have
an amazing assortment
of superb musicians here
in Berks County, some
of the very best in the
country, and we need to
nurture them. Because
in the very long run, a
community without the
arts is a community that
will not survive.”
PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS
he Berks Arts Council presents its annual
Frank Scott Award during the Boscov’s Berks
Jazz Festival to honor the late jazz legend’s contribution to the local jazz heritage.
The Jerlyn Foundation is the founder and sponsor of the award.
This year’s recipient is Marty Mellinger,
keyboardist/pianist and owner of Cross Keys
Recording, a studio in which he produces and records for both local and international jazz artists.
He will be presented with the award prior to the
Ladies of Jazz concert, Saturday, April 2, 2 p.m.,
in the Abraham Lincoln Hotel ballroom.
Mellinger has studied with Edna Golandsky,
founder of the Golandsky Institute in New York;
the late Dennis Sandole in Philadelphia; Malvina
Leshock of Temple University; and Adele Marcus
of Julliard. He was recruited by Bruce Springsteen in 1972 to be the original keyboardist for
the E Street Band, which was being put together
at the time, but he declined because he was a
junior in college.
Among the local bands he’s played in are Faith,
Uncle Drew and Marty and the Mangoes.
“I used to run jazz at the Sheraton on Tuesday
nights, and that’s when I first started working
2005 / Doc Mulligan
2006 / Toni Lynne
2007 / Al Seifarth
2008 / Mike Eben
2009 / Erwin Chandler
2010 / Chris Heslop
with Frank Scott on a regular basis,” Mellinger
said. “We would have sessions with Frank on sax,
Dominic Fiore on bass, Joe Danowski on drums,
Al Grey on trombone, and lots of players would
come in and jam.
“You can’t find that very easily anymore in
this town,” he continued. “The ‘art’ of the jam
session has been pretty well lost. The biggest
shame about that is that the young players have
no place to go to learn how to jam, and as a
result, jazz, with a continually shrinking base of
young supporters, is gradually dying away.”
Last year, Mellinger produced a record with
saxophonist Dave Liebman, 2011 recipient of
the National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master
Award. Mellinger said the record, Turnaround,
released on a German label, received the equivalent of a German Grammy Award for Best New
Jazz Recording for 2010.
In addition to jazz, Mellinger also produces
classical, rock, pop and country records.
He said he sees a problem for local musicians
when organizations want live music to make their
fund-raising events a success, but hope the musicians will donate their services for the charity
event. He said that these groups may not realize
these events are the “bread and butter” for local
musicians.
“Until this community recognizes the need to
financially support the level of artists we have
here by paying them well to do what they do,
jazz and live music will be in a life-and-death
struggle to survive,” he said. “There are some
great young players coming up through the
‘Celebrate Jazz’
ABOUT THIS SECTION. . .
This section is a product of the Marketing/Promotions Department of
Reading Eagle Company, publisher of the Reading Eagle.
Lisa N. Johnson designed and organized the section. Dana L. Hoffman
edited and coordinated the section. Both are of the Marketing/Promotions
Department.
R. Andrew Lepley provided photography. Also contributing to the
section were Jonathan Widran, Tracy Rasmussen, Jerry Duckett and
Berks Arts Council staff.
z
z
a
j
ADITION
WITH A TR lace to be
vy P
and a Groo ring & after
before, du t Concerts
s
the Jazz Fe
Saturday,
March 26th
@ 12:30PM
Friday,
March 25th @ 11:30AM
The Premier Jazz Fest Event
Harold B. Leifer Memorial Kickoff Lunch
THE GROOVEMASTERS
BERKS HIGH
SCHOOL ALL-STAR
JAM
Wednesday,
March 30th
@ 6:00PM
Jazz Dinner
KEN GEHRET’S
BRAZILIANCE
Reading’s Dining Landmark
Off-Street Parking
For reservations call 610-376-8500
featuring
BENNIE SIMS &
CLIFF STARKEY
Friday,
April 1st
Happy Hour 5:30-7:30
THE GROOVEMASTERS
featuring
BENNIE SIMS &
CLIFF STARKEY
Berks County’s most famous Restaurant/Bar for over 87 years.
Serving casual to gourmet foods for lunch, dinner & late supper.
Minutes from all venues.
Featured on the Travel Channel’s Food Paradise • www.peanutbar.com
ranks, though it is tougher than ever for them to
find work.”
“My most fervent hope is that the Berks
community will continue to renew its efforts to
promote and support jazz and the local artists
who work so hard to provide it,” he said. “In
my opinion, we have an amazing assortment of
superb musicians here in Berks County, some
of the very best in the country, and we need to
nurture them. Because in the very long run, a
community without the arts is a community that
will not survive.”
at annual memorial art show
E
ach year, the Berks Arts Council hosts an
open juried show, The Frank Scott Memorial
Art Show: “The Art of Jazz,” in conjunction with
the annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. This year’s
show takes place through March 28 in the Rolf
and Renate Schmidt Gallery in the GoggleWorks
Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St.,
Reading.
The 2011 show juror is Valetta. She lives in
West Chester, studied at Kutztown University
and runs an organization called Regional Center
for Women in the arts (RCWA), which promotes
local women in the arts.
“The vision of the Berks Arts Council is to promote and uplift local art organizations and artists
in the community,” says Executive Director Chris
Cannon. “The Art of Jazz is an excellent example
of how the jazz fest supports this effort. I am
very excited about the show this year and the
quality of pieces we have received.”
This unique art show is open to fine artists in
all media, and all works must reflect the theme
“Celebrate Jazz.” Three cash prizes, generously
provided annually by the Jerlyn Foundation, were
awarded: $500 for first place for Carole Anne
Geiser’s “Everyone Feels the Blues,” $200 for
second place for Mary Lou Creyts’ “Ol’ Fiddler,”
and $100 for third place for Rich Houck’s “Architecture Improv.” Honorable mentions were
awarded at the judge’s discretion.
The gallery is free of charge and open during
GoggleWorks operating hours, Monday through
“Jazz’d” by Michelle Byrne
oil in linen
“It’s All That” by Maria Ruoff
mixed media
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.
to 7 p.m. For more information about this show,
call 610-898-1930 or e-mail [email protected].
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Education, outreach
remain missions of fest
BY DANA L. HOFFMAN
e all hear so often today how music programs are suffering in our schools. Budgets
are out of control and often the music program
is among the first to feel the effects. Each year,
the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest reaches out to musicians to host clinics, jams and workshops for
today’s budding jazz musicians.
This year, a variety of workshops, clinics, free
concerts and jams are helping to spread the
good word about jazz, and the importance of live
music as a whole.
Prior to the festival, Reading Eagle Voices and
the Reading Musical Foundation, through Project
Penske, sponsored a special Berks Jazz Jam on
March 9 at the Miller Center for the Arts, featuring a special screening of the Clint Eastwood-produced documentary, “Dave Brubeck: In His Own
Sweet Way,” created to celebrate the music legend’s 90th birthday back in December. The jam,
hosted by Mike Eben, followed the screening and
featured guest musicians Larry McKenna, Tony
Miceli, Kevin MacConnell and Dan Monaghan.
Open to all ages, the Berks Jazz Jam was one in
a monthly series. More information can be found
at berksjazzjam.com.
Get JazzED, a daylong interactive festival for
high school bands, is in its third year and has
grown to include 11 participating bands. Held
on Saturday, April 2, at Reading High School
this year, the festival will feature guest clinician
and renowned trombonist Wycliffe Gordon as
well as professional musicians from Reading and
Philadelphia, including Robert “Doc” Mulligan,
and Kevin Kjos and Scott Lee from Kutztown. In
addition to attending workshops, each band will
have the opportunity to perform and watch the
other bands, and be critiqued positively by the
clinicians. The day will close with a concert performed by the guest artists. The daylong fest is
funded by the Reading Musical Foundation.
Chris Heslop, local music educator and BJF
education committee chairperson, has been
instrumental in the Get JazzED program, and has
enjoyed watching its continued success.
“To see it grow has been exciting,” he said. “To
start from nothing and grow to this -- nine worldclass musicians and 200-plus kids...and the
teachers learn something, too.”
The Reading Musical Foundation plays an instrumental role in many of the educational activities offered during the Berks Jazz Fest, including
sponsorship of the Homemade Jamz Blues Band
W
public concert on Tuesday, March 29, at 7 p.m.
at the Miller Center for the Arts. Earlier that day,
the RMF is funding a Homemade Jamz Blues
Band performance for city public and parochial
school students as part of their community
outreach.
The RMF also helps fund workshops and
clinics, including GAMUT on March 26.
“The Reading Musical Foundation is proud to
play such an important part in the education
programs offered by Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest,”
said Keri M. Shultz, RMF executive director. “RMF
has noticed a surge in students participating
in jazz programs. That is not surprising, given
young people’s need for constant interaction.
Jazz offers this, as listening and reaction is
crucial for each performer.
“To quote Wynton Marsalis, ‘Jazz music
teaches us the respect, patience and attentiveness that is required to participate in today’s
worldwide conversation. It enables us to understand and enjoy the individuality of every person
and encourages us to listen to one another with
empathy.’ “
The impact of the RMF is felt not only during
Berks Jazz Fest, but throughout the entire year.
“Over 80 years old, RMF is a public charity that
provides financial support for music presenters
in Berks County, music scholarships by audition
and in response to financial need, and extensive
music outreach, including programs in most of
Berks County’s public and parochial schools,”
Shultz said. “Just last week, RMF awarded 84
awards totaling over $21,000 to local precollege musicians at its first round of scholarship
auditions. College tuition and other high school
scholarships will be awarded later this month,
followed by summer camp scholarship awards
in May.
“RMF will spend an estimated $100,000 in
scholarship awards this year alone. The Foundation also supports numerous local music and
education organizations including the Reading
Symphony Orchestra, Berks Classical Children’s
Chorus, Berks Opera Workshop, Berks Summer
Band Institute, Yocum Institute for Arts Education
and Olivet Boys and Girls Club to name a few.”
The Berks Jazz Fest and RMF work hand in
hand every year to ensure music education
doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.
Check out the accompanying list of workshops, free community concerts and clinics, and
get educated on jazz!
’11BERKS HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR JAZZ BAND
Alto saxophones:
Seth Ebersole (Gov. Mifflin)
Kelli Hess (Boyertown Jr.
High East)
Trumpets:
David Quarmley (Kutztown)
Pat Wise (Kutztown)
Riley Monasmith (Reading)
Matt Lupacckino (Kutztown)
Piano: Amanda Miller (Kutztown)
Bass: Nicholas Shaw (Muhlenberg)
Drums:
Jeremy Sarna (Reading)
Paul Esposito (Kutztown)
Tenor saxophones:
Greg Wilson (Muhlenberg) Trombones:
Vibes: Adam Rabenold (Kutztown)
Sean Moran (Tulpehocken) Harry Trexler (Wilson)
Karl Kemmerer (Oley Valley) Vocalist: Melissa Gump (Kutztown)
Baritone saxophones:
Cody
Hudzik (Wilson)
Melanie Bickert (Kutztown)
Nicolas Ercoli (Fleetwood)
Guest Conductor: Chuck Dressler
Philadelphia saxophone master Larry McKenna “jams” with saxophonist Greg
Wilson of Muhlenberg and trumpeter Jeff McNeill of Muhlenberg during the Berks
Jazz Jam event held March 9 at the Miller Center for the Arts.
Berks Jazz Jam, funded by the Reading Musical Foundation and coordinated by
Mike Eben, is a monthly opportunity for students to play jazz in a live setting, while
honing their improvisation skills in a supportive environment.
Berks Jazz Jam is held the second Wednesday of every month. For more information, check out www.berksjazzjam.com
EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
• Tim Price “Adventures
in Jazz”
Noon; Boscov’s East
Auditorium
Free admission; no
registration required.
Students only; bring your
horns!
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
• Improve…isation:
Reading Between the Lines
1:30 p.m.; Reading Public
Museum Auditorium
An interactive workshop on
jazz improv, presented by
the quintet Gamut, headed by
Erwin Chandler
Free admission; open to
musicians of all ages and
instruments
Contact Keri Shultz at
610-376-3395 or kshultz@
readingmusicalfoundation.org
to reserve your spot.
MONDAY, MARCH 28
TUESDAY, MARCH 29
• Free community concert:
The Berks High School
All-Star Jazz Band is
opening for the United
States Air Force Rhythm
in Blue Jazz Ensemble,
featuring special guest
Randy Brecker
• Free community concert:
The Berks High School
All-Star Jazz Band is
opening for the United
States Air Force Rhythm
in Blue Jazz Ensemble,
featuring special guest
Ernie Watts
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Boyertown Junior High West
380 S. Madison St.
Boyertown, PA 19512
Crowne Plaza Reading
Ballroom
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
• String Training
Noon to 2 p.m.; Crowne Plaza Reading
In this third year of String Training, Chuck Loeb teams up with fellow
guitarists Chieli Minucci and Frank Vignola to present the interactive
guitar workshop/seminar for musicians of all ages and levels that want
to learn the many facets of guitar playing.
Fee: $20
To register: Visit CD Exchange, Stabon Pond Plaza, 360 E. Wyomissing
Ave., Mohnton; or register online at www.berksjazzfest.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
• Steve Smith Drum Clinic
Noon to 2 p.m.; Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base, Crowne Plaza Reading
Hall of Fame drummer Steve Smith is hosting a special clinic.
Attendees get a $10 discount on tickets for one of Steve Smith’s Vital
Information: New York Edition shows April 2 at the Base.
To register, visit: www.berksjazzfest.com.
County Coordinator: Doug Matz, Kutztown Area High School
BOSCOV’S BERKS JAZZ FEST TEAM
• FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT: John Ernesto, general manager; Chris Cannon executive
director; Theodore Bassano, BAC board president
• TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Mark Burford, John Greene, Jr., Joseph Rodriguez
• BERKS ARTS COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Theodore Bassano, president; Craig
Rosenfeld, vice president of programs; Lisa Tiger, vice president of administration; Carol
Zechman secretary; Matthew T. Golden, treasurer; Ralia Vardaxis, past president; Ronald
Bair; Karen Baxter; Alvin Booth; Margarita Caicedo; David Campbell; Gloria Day; Marilyn Fox;
Bernard Gerber; Melvyn Jacobson; William G. Koch, CPA; Chris Kraras; Dr. Julia Matthews;
Sandra McCarthy; Thomas McMahon; Dr. Robert Metzger; Regina Gouger Miller; Lee Olsen;
Rev. Dr. Harry Serio; Josée Vachon; Dawn Valyo
• EMTs: Janet Koontz, Dale Berta, Pamela Berta, Clifford Tracy, Deb Greusel
• BAC STAFF: Chris Cannon executive director; Steven Wright, Director of Development;
Gary Spencer, production manager; Robert Coleman, controller; Beth Krumholz, artists
services; Karen Haver, PPA Coordinator; Jared Galvin, intern Alvernia University; Adam
Przybylski, intern Albright College
• FESTIVAL PRODUCTION: Gary Spencer, Karen Haver
• STAGE MANAGERS: Stan Danner, Mark Rentschler, Bruce Morton, Mitchell Grove,
Joanne Philipczak, Lee Reiniger, Steve Haver, Matt Cullen, Dave Kurzweg, Steve Philipczak,
Michael Anderson, Randy Lockhart, Brett Buckwalter, Roger Levesque
• PRODUCTION CREW: Connie Andrews, Joan Antosy, Pat Antosy, Christopher Bashore,
Nina Beverly, Wilson Black, Tom Brown, Tony Clayter, Glenn Curtier, Cat Davis, Jimmy Diana,
Susie Ernesto, Dave Gemmell, Gregory Goodwin, Bob Grinnage, Lawrence Hartman, Ray
Heffner, James Klopp, Debbie Landrigan, Jim Landrigan, Roger Levesque, Randy Lockhart,
Sherry Lockhart, Joe Malone, Kay Nixon, Walter Nixon, Jeff Oxenford, Ken Perod, Michael Piscitelli, Lee Reiniger, Ty Roberts, MaryBeth Salla, Bill Sandel, George Schmidt, Lisa Schmidt,
Kyle Smith, Ruby Smith, Lenny Stinson, Art Stricek, Leslie Stricek, Chip Strunk, Gregory
Walker, Lyn Walker, James Winfield, Laurie Flowers, Tish Davis, Geoff Miller, Lynn Gemmell,
Julia DeVos, Bobby Palko, Debra Stinson, John Becker, Ralph Scott, Ron Nolen, Ty Schaeffer,
Michael Butler, Deb Hallacher, Mark Hallacher, Kris Bucher, Scott Rhoads
• PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Karen Haver
• PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT: Reading Buccaneers
• GRANTS: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Reading Musical Foundation, County of Berks,
PA Dept. of Tourism
• SPONSOR DEVELOPMENT: Chris Cannon, Steven Wright, Craig Rosenfeld, John
Ernesto, Jim Landrigan
• TITLE SPONSOR: Boscov’s
• MAJOR SPONSORS: Reading Eagle Company; VF Outlet; Quaker Maid Meats; Penske
Truck Leasing; Toyota; LAND Displays; Alcon; FirstEnergy Foundation; Lasting Image Promotional Products; WFMZ TV/Channel 69; Metro Bank; Sweet Streets Desserts; Vision Audi;
Berks County Bar Association; Reading Musical Foundation; JerLyn Foundation; Connors
Investor Services, Inc.; National Penn Bank; Bell Tower; Penn National Gaming; VIST Financial; Reese Advertising; All Star Distributing/Blue Moon; Reading Movies 11 & IMAX; Smooth
Jazz Cruise 2012; The Jazz Cruise; The Anderson Group; Keystone Instant Printing; Prime
Steak & Wine/Crowne Plaza Reading; The Water Guy; Coca-Cola; Reading Phillies; Zeswitz:
A Division of Rayburn Music; Michael’s Classic Limousine; Weidenhammer Systems Corp.;
Reading Royals; Capital Wine & Spirits; Fraser Advanced Information Systems; Leisawitz,
Heller, Abramowitch, Phillips
Reading Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Courtyard by Marriott
• HOSPITALITY: Marvanne Kouvaros, Janet Danner, Awilda Goodwin, Rita Miller, Jessica
Chadwick, Connie Sweigart
• VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Gary Spencer, Karen Haver
• HOUSE MANAGERS: Karen Baxter, David Campbell, Jared Galvin, Steven Wright, Bob
Coleman
• HOUSE CAPTAINS & ASSISTANT HOUSE CAPTAINS: Pauline Heckman, Ray Heffner,
David Pepper, David Templin, Mark Shearer, Doug Tothero, Jim Towles, and Gloria Urban
• JAZZ FEST MARKETING/PUBLICITY: Dana Hoffman, publicity manager; Lisa Johnson,
graphic artist
• LOGO 2011 DESIGN: Original art by Todd Walk
• TICKETING: Megan Nuding, Bernice Colon, Michelle Lamonica, Hope Parkin, Katie Quinn,
Hope Waldvogel, Carissa Krenitsky
• VIP RECEPTION: Heather Soltysik
• MERCHANDISE: Lasting Image, Bob Coleman
• MUSIC PROGRAMMING: John Ernesto, Gary Spencer, John Graff
• FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY: R. Andrew Lepley
• PROMOTIONAL SPONSORS: Reading Eagle; WFMZ TV/Channel 69 News/Berks
Edition; Smooth Jazz 92.7; Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising; WEEU 830 AM; WRTI-FM;
WHUR 96.3FM/Washington (DC); WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM/New York; WDIY-FM; KU Radio
88.3 FM; Berks County Living Magazine; Smooth Jazz News; JazzTimes; ijazzglobal.com;
smoothjazz.com; Recreation News Media Group; Elmore Magazine; Diane Dayton’s Cool
Jazz Cafe; Ken “Spyder” Webb/Internet Radio; Heads Up Records; CD Exchange
• WEB SITE/DATABASE: Kevin Lawrence, Patty Mahlon, Dave Kauffman
• HOTEL SPONSORS: Crowne Plaza Reading, The Inn at Reading, The Abraham Lincoln
Hotel, Hampton Inn, Country Inn and Suites, Candlewood Suites, Days Inn Wyomissing,
Comfort Inn Reading, Econo Lodge Wyomissing, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Best Western
• WORKSHOPS/YOUTH ACTIVITIES: Chris Heslop, Doug Matz, Carl Zeplin, Mike Eben,
Shannon Sunday, Charlie DiCarne, Rick Dietrich/Rayburn Music, Michael Jordan, Doug
Pietsch, Andrea Stover
• SECURITY COORDINATOR: William Katinowsky, Desmond Kelley
• TRANSPORTATION: Chuck Koch, Transportation Coordinator; John Graff; Mary Eileen
Ormsby; Peg Bainbridge; Frank Gutekunst; Randall Miller; Nancy O’Neill; Paul Pawelski; Kevin
McQuaite; Robert Miller; David DeWalt; Ramona Turpin
PKR-31327-02
HUCD3161
HUI-31976-02
Concord Music Group Artists
at the Berks Jazz Fest!
HUI-32030-02
Norman Brown: Sending My Love intensifies
an already much-beloved recipe of sound, with ten tracks
that flow easily from steamy R&B to guitar lashed flights
of instrumental fantasy, all the while keeping things right
in the pocket. From the first track – the easy breezy, horn
laden, “Come Go With Me” – to the sexy groove of the R&B
track “I’m Pouring My Heart Out” to the gentle acoustic
guitar melody of “One Last Goodbye,” Brown shows off the
stylistic diversity that has gained him a loyal following.
Stanley Clarke: Winner of this year’s Best Contemporary
Jazz Album, The Stanley Clarke Band makes a
triumphant return as bass guitar’s true innovator. In addition
to exciting new originals, it features a new arrangement
of Return to Forever songs such as Chick Corea’s “No
Mystery.” Hiromi, Ruslan, & Ronald Bruner, Jr. are the
youthful top shelf crew of players accompanying Clarke.
HUI-32031-02
TEL-32835-2
Gerald Albright: Jazz and R&B icon Gerald Albright is
considered to be one of the most innovative and successful
artists of the last twenty-five years. Now his super cool
side is back. With its polished soul/jazz vibe, Pushing
The Envelope is a showcase for Albright’s remarkably
fine balance of songcraft and musicianship, and features
special guest appearances by Fred Wesley on trombone,
Earl Klugh on acoustic guitar and George Duke on acoustic
piano.
PKR-31006-02
George Duke: Keyboardist/composer/producer George
Duke has always been about looking ahead, breaking
new ground and seeking ways to reinvent himself and his
sound. The scope of his imprint on jazz, funk and pop music
over the past forty years is almost impossible to calculate.
Déjà Vu, his newest recording, is an album that revisits
the synthesizer sound that characterized some of his most
memorable recordings from the golden age of funk, soul
and jazz.
Fourplay: Another great combination of straight-ahead
jazz and contemporary jazz music from Fourplay – the
supergroup of keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East
and drummer Harvey Mason are joined by new member
Chuck Loeb on guitar. Let’s Touch The Sky creates
an opportunity to bring an even newer level of energy and
inspiration into a band that is already known for taking
chances and pushing the limits of contemporary jazz.
The album also includes stirring performances by guest
vocalists Anita Baker and Ruben Studdard.
PKR-32580-02
HUI-32029-02
Al Di Meola: A bona fide guitar hero, perennial pollwinner and virtuoso of the highest order, Al Di Meola has
also been recognized over the past 30 years as a prolific
composer and respected artist with over 20 recordings as
a leader. Following 2008’s triumphant 25-year reunion tour
by Return To Forever, the trailblazing guitarist gets back to
playing his own music on his newest record Pursuit of
Radical Rhapsody.
Jeff Lorber: More than three decades after his earliest
recordings, keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber has
come full circle. His new recording, Now Is The
Time, delves back into his early catalog and reinvents
some of the most compelling compositions from the Jeff
Lorber Fusion heyday. As a result, the artist once again
makes a bold statement in the evolution of jazz.
The Rippingtons: Fans that have followed Russ
Freeman and The Rippingtons for any stretch of time over
the past quarter century know the versatile award winning
and Grammy nominated guitarist/composer, and producer
has long had a penchant for naming songs and albums
after exotic places (“Aruba,” “Kenya,” “Morocco,”
Weekend in Monaco, Sahara, et al). But The Ripps’
latest recording Cote D’Azur – inspired by Freeman’s
passion for the French people and the storied region of the
French Riviera—is more than simply the latest stamp on
Freeman’s well traveled passport.
Peter White: For nearly twenty years, Peter White has
made the acoustic guitar a dynamic and expressive voice
in the overall sound scape of contemporary jazz. Since
his first recordings, he has infused pop standards and
his own original material with a sense of innovation and
energy that rivals the abilities of many of his electric guitar
counterparts. It all comes to the surface on Good Day,
a collection of original songs recorded in his own time and
way, without any outside influence or interference.
Available at
Amazon, Amazon.com and the Amazon.com logo are
registered trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
artist profiles / major concerts
TIM PRICE, RYAN ANSELMI’S SOULFUL TENOR MADNESS
Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m., Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at
Crowne Plaza Reading
Assuredly, Tim Price, Ryan Anselmi’s Soulful
Tenor Madness is 100-percent old-school jazz
and blues, with a heavy dose of soul jazz.
Tim’s deep roots in organ group jazz point
back to his road time paying his dues playing
the chiltin’-circuit with well known jazz organists
through the United States.
Tim is no stranger to Berks Jazz Fest – he
lives locally but plays globally.
Tim teaches at the prestigious New School TIM PRICE
University Jazz Department, as well as New
York Jazz Workshop School Of Music, and Long
Island University- Jazz Dept-Brooklyn Campus.
Tim also teaches saxophones and woodwinds locally in his home studio in Exeter, Pa.,
and at Michiko Studios in New York City. He is
one of the most popular Selmer Saxophone
and Rico Reeds clinicians, and is published
by Hal Leonard. He travels the globe with his
music.
RYAN ANSELMI
This band is a working unit, playing on a
regular basis in jazz clubs New York City.
Ryan Anselmi is originally from Kansas City where he worked with jazz
legend Jay McShann (Jay McShann was also known as Hootie, and in
the golden age of jazz McShann featured a young Charlie Parker) before
coming East to attend The New School University Jazz program where
he met Tim Price as one of his teachers there. The rapport was instant.
Ryan is also a part of jazz legend Junior Mance’s Quintet and has toured
Europe recently with Junior and James Moody.
The band includes Tim, Ryan and Tom Abbott on tenor saxes,
Kim Garey on drums and Brad Whiteley on organ. Tom Abbott, Brad
Whiteley and Kim Garey are all prominent and highly skilled working jazz
musicians.
It is a rare artist that can explore more than one kind of music with
true fluency and sincerity. Saxophonist Tim Price can, and he proves it
with Soulful Tenor Madness – a powerful New York City band with the
best up and coming jazz musicians on today’s scene.
JOEY DEFRANCESCO TRIO
Friday, March 25, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at Crowne Plaza Reading
An important force over the past two
decades in the revival of the Hammond B-3
organ as a viable jazz instrument, Joey DeFrancesco runs the gamut from soul jazz and
bluesy grooves a la Jimmy Smith to hard bop
and more advance modal stylings.
He is the son of Philly-area jazz organist
Papa John DeFrancesco and the grandson of
multi-instrumentalist Joe DeFrancesco, who
worked with the Dorsey Brothers. He began
JOEY DEFRANCESCO
sitting in with his dad at age six and by 10 was
performing on the weekends and sitting in with jazz musicians like Jack
McDuff and Groove Holmes.
The first recipient of the Philadelphia Jazz Society’s McCoy Tyner
Scholarship and a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Piano
Competition, DeFrancesco was invited to tour with Miles Davis following
his high school graduation. His later recordings as a leader, first with
Columbia, and later with labels such as Muse and Big Mo, established
what fellow musician Chris Parker has referred to as “his importance as
one of the most virtuosic torch-bearers of contemporary organ jazz.”
In recent years, the organist’s recordings have paid homage to many
of his favorite musicians: The Philadelphia Connection: A Tribute to Don
Patterson (2002); Plays Sinatra His Way (2004); Finger Poppin: Celebrating The Music of Horace Silver (2009) and Never Can Say Goodbye: The
Music of Michael Jackson (2010).
Another major influence was Jimmy Smith, whom DeFrancesco paid
homage to on his 1999 High Note recording The Champ. In 2000, he
recorded Incredible! with Smith, and he also paired with the B-3 great on
Smith’s final album Legacy, finished days before Smith’s death in 2005.
THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET
Friday, March 25, 7:30 p.m., Sovereign Performing Arts Center
Dave Brubeck is a member of that charmed
circle of improvising artists whose popularity
is commensurate with his musical accomplishments.
The first jazz figure ever to make the cover
of Time, the 90-year-old Dave Brubeck has for
nearly half a century been a major figure as
pianist, composer and leader of perhaps the
most widely known and well-traveled quartet in
the history of jazz.
DAVE BRUBECK
This was the foursome that was together
from 1958 to 1967, featuring the elegantly floating alto saxophone of
Paul Desmond and driven by the rock-solid bassist Eugene Wright and
drummer Joe Morello.
The quartet’s “Take Five” (whose haunting, bluesy melody was written
by Desmond) was their crossover breakthrough, leading to gold records
featuring a host of exciting pieces in odd time signatures, like “Blue
Rondo a la Turk.”
After graduating from the University of the Pacific in 1942, Brubeck
was drafted into the army and served overseas in George Patton’s Third
Army during the Battle of the Bulge.
He played in a band, quickly integrating it and gaining both popularity
and deference; his 2004 Telarc solo piano album Private Brubeck
Remembers pays loving homage to the music of this era.
In 1951, he formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond
on saxophone. They took up a long residency at San Francisco’s Black
Hawk nightclub and gained great popularity touring college campuses.
In 1954, he was featured on the cover of Time Magazine, the first jazz
musician to be so honored.
In 1959, the Dave Brubeck Quartet released Time Out, which quickly
went platinum. The quartet followed its success with several more
albums in the same vein, including Time Further Out, Time in Outer
Space and Time Changes.
In recent years, Brubeck has received many honorary awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy and induction into
the California Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was a Kennedy Center Honoree
by jonathan widran
and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee
College of Music. In 2010, he received a similar honor from George
Washington University and the Miles Davis Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Brubeck’s most recent recordings are Indian Summer (2007) and Live
At The Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-2007 (2008).
DANCE HALL DOCS FEATURING VOCALIST BRENT CARTER
Friday, March 25, 9 p.m., Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom
Dance Hall Docs and special guest vocalist
Brent Carter will celebrate Tower of Power’s
continuing legacy with a high-energy tribute
concert.
Brent Carter is a former lead singer of
Tower of Power. For over 40 years, TOP has
been creating their own kind of soul music.
Like TOP, the Dance Hall Docs’ rhythm
section lays down a groove like no other band.
The band’s horn-driven sound is solid.
BRENT CARTER
Combine all of that with an outstanding
guest lead vocalist in Brent Carter, and you have the makings of a great
show.
The Dance Hall Docs is an 11-piece band playing funk, pop, jazz, R&B
and soul. The horns are led by Mike Anderson (Berks Jazz Fest Horns)
on sax and vocals, John Loos on trombone, Bob Stoyko on trumpet, and
Rob Diener on trumpet and vocals.
The rhythm section includes Pete Rogosky on guitar, Ron Stabinsky
on keyboards, Paul Gallello on drums, percussion and vocals, and Rob
Cochran on bass and vocals.
Chandler Mogel is the lead vocalist. Freddy Moreadith, on drums,
percussion and vocals, is the leader of the band.
Brent Carter was lead singer of Tower of Power for nearly six years,
during which time TOP recorded three albums, Souled Out, Rhythm &
Business, and Soul Vaccination: Tower of Power Live. When not in the
studio, Carter toured the world with TOP, performing in virtually every
corner of the globe to sold-out audiences.
A crooning balladeer and a gutsy vocalist, the strength, depth and
range of Carter’s voice have allowed him to tour with BeBe & CeCe
Winans, B.B. King and Regina Belle, and provide background vocals for
Phil Perry, Chris Walker and Malira.
NORMAN BROWN AND RICHARD ELLIOT
Friday, March 25, 10 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading
Make plans to head to the Crowne Plaza
Reading Friday, March 25, for the inspired
pairing of two more of contemporary jazz’s
guitar and sax greats – Norman Brown and
Richard Elliot.
Hot off his latest CD Sending My Love,
Brown will perform many of the popular airplay
hits that have made him an icon of urban jazz
since 1992’s Just Between Us.
Since winning the “Best Pop Instrumental
NORMAN BROWN
Recording” Grammy for his 2002 date Just
Chillin’, the charismatic, multi-talented performer – whose style hearkens
BROWN/ELLIOT, CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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artist profiles / major concerts
BROWN/ELLIOT, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
back to the classic vibes of Wes Montgomery
and George Benson -- has been in career
overdrive.
Stay With Me, his 2007 debut CD, became
Brown’s first CD to hit the top of Billboard’s
Contemporary Jazz chart, It also debuted at
No. 1 and spawned the No. 1 Radio &
Records airplay hit “Let’s Take A Ride.”
Sending My Love includes a cover of Kenny
Loggins’ “Celebrate Me Home,” which the
RICHARD ELLIOT
guitarist dedicates to our troops and his eldest
daughter who is serving in Iraq. Joining him on vocals is the legendary
soul/gospel group Sounds of Blackness.
With a best-selling discography of over 15 recordings since 1986’s
Initial Approach, thousands of live dates spanning two decades and one
of the largest and most loyal fan bases in contemporary urban jazz, it’s
incredible to hear Richard Elliot declare of his 2009 Artistry debut Rock
Steady: “What I’m doing now, enjoying this upward trend in my career, is
seriously the most fun I have ever had.”
RnR, his 2007 dual album with his longtime friend and collaborator,
trumpet great Rick Braun, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz
Chart; its catchy first single, the title track they co-wrote with guitari
Chris Standring, was also an instant smash, staying at No. 1 on Radio &
Records Smooth Jazz airplay chart for over two months.
Prior to joining forces on their new dual album, both Elliot and Braun
— who performed at the 2009 Berks Jazz Fest with Jonathan Butler
as part of Jazz Attack -- Elliot scored a major radio hit with the Braunproduced “People Make The World Go Round” from Metro Blue.
STANLEY CLARKE BAND AND THE VICTOR WOOTEN BAND
Saturday, March 26, 2 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
Calling all bass fans -- Saturday, March 26
is your day!
At 2 p.m. in the ballroom at the Crowne
Plaza Reading, Berks Jazz Fest proudly
presents an incredible double show by two
of contemporary jazz’s most influential bass
legends, the Stanley Clarke Band and the
Victor Wooten Band.
As if Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten
didn’t have enough Grammy Awards to last a
STANLEY CLARKE
hard-groovin’ lifetime, they joined fellow bass
god Marcus Miller in 2008 to create S.M.V.
and record Thunder, a remarkably inventive
all-star trio pairing of low frequencies.
On their own, Clarke and Wooten have
spent the last three decades completely
redefining the potential of the electric bass;
they’ve been part of our collective jazz, R&B
and fusion consciousness for so long that we
almost forget that Clarke was jamming with
Return to Forever when Wooten was just 8!
VICTOR WOOTEN
Clarke is nothing short of a living legend,
having liberated the bass in much the same way that Louis Armstrong
and Charlie Parker liberated their instruments decades earlier. The Philly
born musician quickly made his mark on the New York jazz scene
gigging with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson and Horace Silver before joining
Corea to form Return To Forever in 1972.
Taking issue with the narrow perception of the bass as a support
rather than solo instrument, Clarke released a string of solo albums,
beginning with Children Forever in 1973. The watershed recording,
School Days, came three years later, with a title track that served as the
first bona fide bass anthem.
Having solidified his solo career, Clarke moved on to more acclaimed
pairings, including the Clarke/Duke Project (with keyboardist George
Duke), the New Barbarians (with Keith Richards and Ron Wood),
appearances on two Paul McCartney albums, Animal Logic (with Police
drummer Stewart Copeland) and Rite of Strings (with Jean-Luc Ponty
and Al Di Meola).
He later began a remarkable career as a film composer, working
on renowned films such as “Boyz N’ The Hood,” “Passenger 57” and
“What’s Love Got To Do With It.” He made his Heads Up debut in 2010
with the self-itled The Stanley Clarke Band.
Like Marcus, “Victor” is the lone name among bass fans that signals
the last great hero of the instrument, Victor Wooten. In 1988, Wooten
moved to Nashville, where he worked with vocalist Jonell Mosser and
met New Grass Revival banjo ace Béla Fleck. Within a year, Fleck,
Wooten, Wooten’s brother Roy (a.k.a. Futureman) and Howard Levy
formed the Flecktones, and were on their way to their first of three
GRAMMYs to date. Wooten continued his bass focus, first forming Bass
Extremes with fretless 6-string savant Steve Bailey, and then releasing
the shot heard ’round the bass world: his remarkable 1996 solo debut,
A Show of Hands.
Wooten’s recording and/or touring credentials quickly expanded to
include a range of artists like Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Bruce
Hornsby, Prince, Mark O’Connor, Gov’t Mule, Susan Tedeschi, Bill Evans,
Vital Tech Tones (with Scott Henderson and Steve Smith), the Jaco
Pastorius Word Of Mouth Big Band and India.Arie. His latest CD on
Heads Up is Palmystery (2008).
JEFF LORBER FUSION FEATURING ERIC MARIENTHAL,
JIMMY HASLIP, SONNY EMORY AND RANDY BRECKER
by jonathan widran
come full circle. His 2010 Heads Up release
Now Is the Time delves back into his early
catalog and reinvents some of the most
compelling compositions from the Jeff Lorber
Fusion heyday. As a result, the artist once again
makes a bold statement in the evolution of jazz.
This new incarnation of the group includes
luminaries like bassist Jimmy Haslip (who
co-produced with Lorber and Bobby Colomby),
saxophonist Eric Marienthal, trumpeter Randy ERIC MARIENTHAL
Brecker, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., and
drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl.
Marienthal, a veteran solo recording artist who first rose to prominence in the Chick
Corea Elektric Band in the mid-1980s and
Haslip, a founding member of the Grammywinning fusion band Yellowjackets, join Lorber
live for his show at BJF.
Sonny Emory is best known for his groundbreaking drumming with Earth, Wind, and Fire.
He also has performed with a virtual “who’s JIMMY HASLIP
who” in pop and jazz music, including David
Sanborn, Bette Midler, Al Jarreau, Paula Abdul,
Lee Ritenour, and Boz Scaggs.
As high-charting, pop-jazz oriented releases
like West Side Stories (1994), State of Grace
(1996) and Midnight (1998) were establishing
him as one of contemporary jazz’s top artists,
Lorber also became an in-demand producer,
working with everyone from Albright to Marienthal, Richard Elliot and David Benoit. He
SONNY EMORY
co-produced his critically acclaimed, heavily
eclectic Blue Note debut He Had a Hat with Chris Botti’s producer Bobby
Colomby. His 2008 Peak Records debut Heard That’s first single was a
bluesy-brass twist on Amy Winehouse’s Grammy winning “Rehab.”
AL JARREAU AND THE GEORGE DUKE TRIO
Saturday, March 26, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Gerald Veasley’s Jazz
Base at Crowne Plaza Reading
In recent years, contemporary jazz elder
statesman, keyboardist and composer Jeff
Lorber has been part of some high-profile
all-star tours.
This year, he leads Jeff Lorber Fusion with
saxophonist Eric Marienthal, bassist Jimmy
Haslip and drummer Sonny Emory.
By the late 1970s, Lorber had become a
prominent figure in the new movement known
as jazz fusion – a marriage of traditional jazz JEFF LORBER
with elements of rock, R&B, funk and other
electrified sounds.
Jeff Lorber Fusion first honed their craft in the Portland, Ore., club
scene and rapidly expanded their reach to a national and international
audience via a combination of complex harmonies, unconventional time
signatures and compelling rhythms.
More than three decades after his earliest recordings, Lorber has
Saturday, March 26, 7 p.m., Sovereign Performing Arts Center
Berks Jazz Fest is proud to present two
Grammy Award-winning jazz/R&B legends,
singer extraordinaire Al Jarreau and keyboardist/composer George Duke, together in a
special performance.
While the two have millions of fans worldwide,
boast individual recording histories that date
back to the 1960s and 1970s and are two of
the most influential artists in multiple genres,
it’s quite possible that many don’t realize that AL JARREAU
Jarreau and Duke first worked together in a
similar setting in the late 1960s, when the keyboardist joined the singer in
forming the house band at the popular San Francisco club the Half Note.
Duke also played with Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon in other Bay
Area clubs around the same time.
The only vocalist in history ever to win Grammy Awards in jazz, pop and
R&B, Jarreau hit another unique milestone in 2007 when he extended his
JARREAU/DUKE, CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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A Week of Cool Jazz & Soul at Sea!
October
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23-3
-30, 2011
2011
Concerts Parties Jam Sessions Comedy Workshops
Contests Fun & Games ...and more!
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artist profiles / major concerts
GUITAR MASTERS: BUCKY PIZZARELLI, FRANK VIGNOLA,
HOWARD ALDEN, GENE BERTONCINI
Saturday, March 26, 7:30 p.m., Miller Center Center for the Arts
Frank Vignola has put together a special
evening of music for the Berks Jazz Fest,
featuring the masters of the guitar, including
the legendary Bucky Pizzarelli.
While perhaps best known to the current
generation of jazz performers and fans as the
father of guitar and vocal great John Pizzarelli,
John Paul “Bucky” Pizzarelli has also had an
extraordinary career as a jazz guitarist and
banjo player.
BUCKY PIZZARELLI
During his career, Bucky has worked with
Les Paul, Stephane Grappelli and Benny Goodman, and his work in television included stints
with Dick Cavett and Bobby Rosengarden.
Acknowledging Django Reinhardt, Freddie
Green and George Van Eps as his chief influences, Pizzarelli’s extensive work as a leader
includes numerous tributes to musicians of the
1930s era.
At last year’s Berks Jazz Fest, Vignola celebrating the 100th anniversary of Reinhardt’s FRANK VIGNOLA
birth with a performance with his band, Frank
Vignola’s Hot Club. A monster player, composer
and improviser, Vignola plays proficiently in
every genre, from jazz to bluegrass.
Whether he is featured on a Donald Fagen
recording, a jam with David Grisman, as Les
Paul’s right-hand man or leading his own groups
throughout the years, he has proven himself to
be in the elite, creating his own unique sound.
He has toured with everyone from Madonna to HOWARD ALDEN
Leon Redbone and Ringo Starr, and came into
his own as a leader with his famed Hot Club
of France tribute, which was hailed in the NY
Times as one of the top 10 acts in 1988, and
forged the way for the many Django Hot Club
groups that followed.
After recording a long series of albums
for Concord Records, Howard Alden released
his own Reinhardt tribute album, I Remember
Django, with Anat Cohen and Warren Vache.
His extensive credits include four albums with GENE BERTONCINI
seven-string guitar innovator George Van Eps
and dubbing Sean Penn’s guitar parts as “Emmett Ray” in the 1999
Woody Allen film “Sweet and Lowdown.”
During his storied career, Gene Bertoncini has included playing with
Benny Goodman, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws, Paul Desmond, Tony
Bennett, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Vic Damone and Eydie Gorme, as
well as performing in a long-running duo with bassist Michael Moore and
working in the orchestras on “The Merv Griffin Show” and “The Tonight
Show.”
THE ROYAL SCAM’S TRIBUTE TO STEELY DAN
Saturday, March 26, 10 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
Berks Jazz Fest is rich with tradition.
One such tradition is the live broadcast of
a concert on WFMZ-TV Channel 69 from the
Crowne Plaza Reading venue.
Gerald Veasley’s The Sounds of Philly all-star
show, spotlighting his love of the Philadelphia
soul music scene, will be enjoyed by concertgoers and home viewers alike.
“I’ve always loved soul music,” Veasley said.
“I am always looking for something new and
GERALD VEASLEY
fresh to tackle, but now and then, it’s also
good to go back and tap into your roots.”
Veasley, a hometown favorite and Philly
native, said he put a lot of thought into choosing artists with a great sensibility to that type
of music.
Walter Beasley had recorded music by some
of these artists, like Blue Magic and the Stylistics. Will Downing also has some soul roots.
Veasley said he wanted to have them recreate the music they have an affinity for, as well WILL DOWNING
as play some things Veasley wants to hear
them play.
Guitarist Nick Colionne and Veasley are
kindred spirits of sorts, and Carol Riddick is
one of Veasley’s favorite singers.
One of the most inventive bassists of the
current generation and founder of Gerald
Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading, Veasley joined Grover Washington Jr.’s
band in 1986 and two years later moved on
CAROL RIDDICK
to the Zawinul Syndicate, led by fusion pioneer
Joe Zawinul, co-founder of Weather Report.
Veasley’s résumé also includes sessions and/
or tour gigs with Special EFX, Pieces of a
Dream, McCoy Tyner, Gerald Levert, Teddy
Pendergrass, Nnenna Freelon, Philip Bailey, the
Dixie Hummingbirds, Phil Perry, labelmate Joe
McBride and John Blake. His 18-year discography includes the live recording At The Jazz
Base!, which was recorded at the club in 2004.
His latest album is Your Move (2008).
NICK COLIONNE
The title of Nick Colionne’s 2008 Koch
Records debut says it all about the charismatic
Chicago-based guitarist’s sizzling mix of jazz,
R&B, funk, blues and seductive vocals.
In his hard grooving, supremely soulful world
where he’s always, to quote the title of his hit
2006 album, Keepin’ It Cool, there are truly No
Limits. Since blasting out of “The Big Windy”
onto the national contemporary jazz scene in
2003, Colionne’s career has perfectly embodWALTER BEASLEY
ied the nonstop energy of his breakthrough
single “High Flyin,’ “ which hit No. 2 on the
Radio & Records airplay chart and was one of the genre’s Top-10 songs
of the year.
Long one of Philly’s best-kept secrets, Carol Riddick — who began
her career touring with Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff — recently released
her solo debut album Moments Like This. Over the years, she has been
featured on albums by Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, Norman Brown and
Kindred.
Known for his rich baritone vocals and interpretations of R&B and pop
classics, Will Downing tells the eternal tale of romance, passion, joy and
heartbreak on his latest album Lust, Love and Lies (An Audio Novel).
Downing’s nearly 20-album career since the late 1980s has been
challenged since 2006, when the singer began suffering from a muscle
disorder called polymyositis. He is also a prominent spokesman for the
American Stroke Association.
Known for his sensuous melodies and picture perfect urban jazz/R&B
grooves, saxophonist Walter Beasley has a long and distinguished dual
career as a recording artist and professor of music at Berklee College
of Music. His latest Shanachie release is Backatcha!
SMOOTH JAZZ 92.7 SUNDAY BRUNCH
front of thousands of people while regularly
touring with legendary crooner Bobby Caldwell,
Andrew Neu is one of today’s most versatile
saxophonists.
Try Something Neu, his cleverly titled most
recent album on nuGroove Records, features
performances by some of contemporary
jazz’s biggest artists, including Caldwell, Brian
Bromberg, Chuck Loeb, Brian Culbertson and
Gerald Veasley.
ANDREW NEU
Regularly touring with Caldwell, Neu has
shared the stage with Sir Elton John, Patti Labelle, Mellissa Manchester,
Mel Torme, Diane Schurr, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Four Tops, and
The Temptations, among others. He has also recorded as a soloist with
Sister Sledge, Manhattan Transfer, and jazz legend Buddy DeFranco.
Fueled by the success of his first album, Inspire (2000), Andrew
released his second CD, In Clear View (2007), produced by bassist
Brian Bromberg. It features performances by Jeff Lorber, Dave Weckl,
Vinnie Colaiuta, Gerald Veasley and the Bright and Tight Horns.
As a longtime member of the Brian Pastor Big Band, he has been
featured as a soloist and an arranger. More recently, the Dave Stahl
Band has been showcasing Andrew’s skills.
PIECES OF A DREAM WITH SPECIAL GUEST PHIL PERRY
Sunday, March 27, 2 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
Smooth Jazz 92.7 will host one of its annual
Smooth Jazz 92.7 Days in the Crowne Plaza
Reading Ballroom with a show featuring the
popular veteran R&B/jazz ensemble Pieces of a
Dream and famed R&B/jazz vocalist Phil Perry.
Since being discovered as teenagers in
the late ‘70s by the late sax legend Grover
Washington Jr., Pieces of a Dream -- pianist
James Lloyd, drummer Curtis Harmon, along
with numerous other musicians over the years PIECES OF A DREAM
-- have evolved into one of the most popular
and enduring recording and touring bands in
contemporary jazz.
In 2001, Pieces of a Dream signed with
Heads Up International and celebrated their
25th anniversary with Acquainted with the
Night. Their 16th and most recent album is
2009’s grooving yet ultra-romantic Soul Intent.
About their name: When Lloyd, Harmon
and former Pieces bassist Cedric Napoleon
decided to turn pro and go for the big time in PHIL PERRY
the late 1970s, they named their band after a
collective vision of music and hope. On some early gigs, they played a
Stanley Turrentine bossa nova number called “Pieces of Dreams” and
the name fit perfectly.
In 2009, singer Phil Perry was featured at Berks Jazz Fest as part of
Greg Adams’ East Bay Soul, many of whose original lyrics are crafted
by the veteran singer/songwriter. One of the finest R&B/urban jazz
vocalists in contemporary music, Perry — who launched his career in
the early 1970s as a member of the soul group The Montclairs — won
Soul Tracks’ Male Vocalist of the Year in 2007. His 20-year discography
includes four albums on Shanachie, including his most recent releases
Ready For Love (2008) and The Gift of Love (2009).
GUITARS & SAXES FEATURING GERALD ALBRIGHT, KIRK WHALUM,
PETER WHITE AND JEFF GOLUB WITH SPECIAL GUESTS JEFF LORBER
AND ERIC MARIENTHAL
Sunday, March 27, 7 p.m., Sovereign Performing Arts Center
The Sovereign Performing Arts Center will play host to the granddaddy of all smooth jazz all-star tours, Guitars & Saxes, a popular live
GUITARS & SAXES, CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
JAZZ WORSHIP
SHIP
at Christ Church UCC
C
KUTZTOWN RD. & EUCLID AVE. TEMPLE
E
Sunday, April 3 at 10 AM
featuring
ERWIN CHANDLER
GAMUT
with Ken Blekicki • Bob Livingood • Gene Bujnovsky • John Rossum
and
ANDREW NEU
Sunday, March 27, 10 a.m., Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom
From his appearances with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Brian
Pastor Big Band and Philadelphia Orchestra to his live performances in
Jazz Fest
Open at 4:30 Mon. thru Sat.
to accommodate your
pre-concert dining.
U
Saturday, March 26, 9 p.m., Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom
The Royal Scam is the world’s premier
Steely Dan tribute band. Playing more than 40
of Steely Dan’s masterpieces, The Royal Scam
has helped to keep the compositions of Donald
Fagen and Walter Becker, the spirit of rock/
jazz, and the enthusiasm of fine musicianship
alive in small clubs and concert venues in the
NY metropolitan area.
Royal Scam is Joe Montini, saxes; Wendi
Gordy, vocals; Gino Amato, keyboards and
THE ROYAL SCAM
synth programming; Carla Culkin, vocals;
Michael Caputo, lead vocals; Phil Long, drums; and Al Egizi, guitar.
Royal Scam has been part of the festival many times, wowing packed
houses with their amazing performances of the iconic Steely Dan songs.
GERALD VEASLEY’S SOUNDS OF PHILLY FEATURING WILL DOWNING,
CAROL RIDDICK, NICK COLIONNE AND WALTER BEASLEY
V
JARREAU/DUKE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
Grammy streak to four different decades
(1970-2000) by winning in the Best Traditional
R&B Vocal Performance category for his recording of “God Bless The Child” with Jill Scott.
The multi-talented dynamo followed Givin’ It
Up, his first ever dual collaboration album with
fellow multi-genre superstar George Benson,
with a collection of Love Songs and his first
ever holiday album, Christmas, in 2008.
Early on, Duke experimented with jazz and GEORGE DUKE
fusion by collaborating and performing with
artists as diverse as Jean Luc-Ponty, Frank Zappa, Cannonball Adderley,
Nancy Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Cobham and Stanley Clarke.
Duke launched his solo recording career at age 20, and shortly
thereafter began cutting LPs for the MPS label in the 1970s. When Duke
made a return trip to the heyday of funk on his 2008 recording Dukey
Treats, he reminded his fans and the music press of exactly what made
the good old stuff so good.
DownBeat called it “a wild and crazy album, especially if you’re
nostalgic about the guitar-scratching, double-clutching rhythms of James
Brown and George Clinton and the bedroom ballads of Stevie Wonder
and Aaron Neville.” The Philadephia Enquirer called it simply “a valentine
to funk.” He kept the retro vibe going on his latest CD Déjà vu.
by jonathan widran
610-374-5733
146 Tulpehocken Ave., West Reading
The Muhlenberg Middle School Jazz Ensemble
For Information Call
610-929-2020 • www.ucctemple.org
Jazz Under
the Stars
An out-of-this-world-class experience
on Friday, April 1 from 4 – 6 p.m.
Join us for a late afternoon party “under
the stars,” with the stars. It’s a great
prelude to one of the many concerts
held later that evening as part of the
21st Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.
Start your weekend in an unmatched
environment — right across the street
from the Scottish Rite Cathedral, and
near major hotels and Downtown
Reading. Why not begin your evening here?
Listen to the music of the Dave Posmontier Trio while enjoying
wine and light refreshments, and the visually stunning images on
the dome above. Our Planetarium theatre and large foyer will be
set up party-style, with tables (seated and standing), auditoriumstyle chairs, and plenty of room to mingle.
Special Guest “Star” 2010 Grammy
Award Nominee Philippe Saisse
Internationally famous keyboardist, producer and
arranger Philippe Saise will be dropping by to play a few songs with
the Dave Posmontier Trio. And with all the musicians in town this
week, who knows who else might stop by?
SUPPORT THE ARTS!
JOIN THE
BERKS ARTS COUNCIL
610-898-1930
berksarts.org
Tickets are $30 each. Registration
form available at Web address
below. Questions? Contact
lauren.mccarroll@
readingpublicmuseum.org
or call 610-371-5850 x264.
500 Museum Road s Reading, PA
www.readingpublicmuseum.org/events/jazz_under_the_stars.php
artist profiles / major concerts
GUITARS & SAXES, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
staple of the genre since the mid-1990s.
Each of this year’s participants, Gerald
Albright, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and Jeff Golub, have performed at Berks numerous times.
In 2009, Albright and Whalum performed a
dual show and in 2010, White shared a bill with
Mindi Abair.
Golub’s recent festival appearances include
2009 as part of Soul Summit II and last year
as part of Jason Miles’ all-star tribute to Grover GERALD ALBRIGHT
Washington Jr. The key to the success of the
Guitars & Saxes tour is the idea of ever-rotating
lineups, which keeps the music fresh each year
as the four participants bring their own unique
vibe and musicianship to the new ensemble.
A few years removed from celebrating the
funky soul legacy of the great Memphis soul
label on Sax For Stax, Albright continues to
pay homage to the music that’s inspired his
own nearly quarter-century solo career.
His latest release Pushing The Envelope is KIRK WHALUM
a lively, rewarding set that tracks many special
places in the saxman’s heart — and includes
odes to James Brown, Michael Jackson, Willie
Bobo and Earl Klugh, as well as touches of
world music and a musical prayer for Haiti.
The titles of his final two GRP albums before
signing with Peak, Groovology (2002) and
Kickin’ It Up (2004), epitomize his energized,
forward-thinking approach to music.
Whalum, who previously honored Washing- PETER WHITE
ton with the cleverly titled “Groverworked and
Underpaid” on his 2000 album Unconditional,
never officially performed with his hero, but
both were signed to Sony Music for years.
After a few years of on-and-off touring with
BWB alongside former labelmates Rick Braun
and Norman Brown — and several projects exploring his first love, gospel music — Whalum
has enjoyed performing the music of two other
great R&B influences, the late Luther Vandross
JEFF GOLUB
and songwriter/artist Babyface.
On his latest album Everything Is Everything, he pays tribute to another great performer and personal influence, Donny Hathaway.
White, whose most recent release is the Billboard Contemporary Jazz
Top 10 hit Good Day, has participated regularly over the years in the
annual all-star Guitars & Saxes tours, and in 2005 and 2007 was part of
Jazz Attack with Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Jonathan Butler.
In 2003, he and Abair launched their first annual holiday tour, and
with Rick Braun joining them a year later, have created one of the
genre’s most popular annual Christmastime events. Since the release of
his debut reveillez-vous in 1990, Peter White’s distinctive R&B, jazz and
pop instrumental albums and staggering 14 No. 1 radio singles have set
both artistic and commercial standards for the genre.
Jeff Golub has been part of so many G&S tours over the years he
loses count – but it’s just possible that he may be the all-time record
holder in number of years as a participant! His unique brand of funky,
blues-drenched smooth jazz has long been a mainstay in the genre, but
he always had a blast throwing a few winks to the 1960s and 1970s
jazz and soul that shaped his musical vision. His latest CD, the explosive,
harder-edged Blues For You (2009), explores his first musical love with
the help of vocalists Marc Cohn, John Waite, Peter Wolf and Billy Squier.
AL DI MEOLA’S WORLD SINFONIA
• Sunday, March 27, 7:30 p.m., Miller Center for the Arts
A bona fide guitar hero, perennial poll-winner
and virtuoso of the highest order, Al Di Meola
has also been recognized over the past 30
years as a prolific composer and respected
artist with over 20 recordings as a leader.
Di Meola’s creative output to date is staggering, whether it’s with his current World
Sinfonia band or past musical endeavors like
his electric Tour de Force group with Jan Hammer, Anthony Jackson, Steve Gadd and Mingo
AL DI MEOLA
Lewis; the internationally acclaimed Trio with
fellow guitar superstars John McLaughlin and
Paco de Lucia; the Rite of Strings trio with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc
Ponty; or the 1970s fusion supergroup Return To Forever with Chick
Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White.
While his dazzling technique on both acoustic and electric guitars has
afforded him regal status among the hordes of fretboard aficionados
who regularly flock to his concerts, the depth of Di Meola’s writing along
with the soulfulness and his inherent lyricism of his expression have won
him legions of fans worldwide beyond the six-string set.
Coming off of 2008’s triumphant 25-year reunion tour by Return To
Forever, which produced the live two-CD set Returns and the concert
DVD Live at Montreux, Di Meola began rehearsing new music with his
New World Sinfonia band in preparation for a coast-to-coast tour. Di Meola calls his bandmates in the New World Sinfonia -- Fausto Beccalossi on
accordian, Peo Afonsi on acoustic guitar, Peter Kaszas on percussion,
Gumbi Ortiz on percussion, Victor Miranda on bass -- “the best group of
musicians so far in my career.”
Di Meola’s ongoing fascination with complex rhythmic syncopation
combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony
has been at the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that
has earned him critical accolades, three gold albums and more than six
million in record sales worldwide. He has been particularly enamored
over the past 20 years by the tango music of the late Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, whose compositions he has interpreted over time,
beginning with 1990’s Di Meola Plays Piazzolla and including Heart of
the Immigrants (1993), Flesh on Flesh (2002) and Diabolic Inventions
and Seduction for Solo Guitar (2007).
U.S. AIR FORCE RHYTHM IN BLUE JAZZ ENSEMBLE
FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST RANDY BRECKER PLUS THE BERKS
HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR JAZZ BAND
Monday, March 28, 7 p.m., Boyertown Junior High West
The always-popular U.S. Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble, part
of the USAF Heritage of America Band led by MSgt. John Cisar, returns
The Abraham Lincoln will be swinging to the sounds
of Chris Heslop’s Nasty 9 during this special DID MidDay
Jazz Café.
Hesse’s N9 will be the centerpiece of this New
Orleans-style party — complete with Mardi Gras beads.
Great food! Great fun!
by jonathan widran
for two shows this year.
RIB is a highly entertaining and versatile 12piece ensemble which performs the American
musical art forms of jazz, blues and funk.
The band features repertoire from the great
jazz masters, such as Oscar Peterson, Miles
Davis, Chick Corea, The Yellowjackets, Charlie
Parker and Herbie Hancock.
The ensemble also pays tribute to the Big
Band leaders of the swing era, such as Duke U.S. AIR FORCE
RHYTHM IN BLUE
Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and
Glenn Miller. In addition, their fabulous vocalist
entertains with musical gems from jazz divas such as Ella Fitzgerald,
Sarah Vaughn and Diane Schuur.
Trumpeter and flugelhorn great Randy Brecker is joining the RIB
ensemble as a special guest.
Brecker has been shaping the sound of Jazz, R&B and Rock for more
than four decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have
graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor,
Bruce Springsteen and Parliament-Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely
Dan, David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius, Horace Silver and Frank Zappa.
The Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band will open for the free community concert sponsored by Reading Eagle Company and Boscov’s.
U.S. AIR FORCE RHYTHM IN BLUE JAZZ ENSEMBLE
FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST ERNIE WATTS PLUS THE BERKS
HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR JAZZ BAND
• Tuesday, March 29, 7 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
This second community concert, featuring the USAF Rhythm in Blue
Jazz Ensemble and sponsored by Reading
Eagle Company, will include special guest
Ernie Watts.
Two-time Grammy Award winner Ernie Watts
is one of the most versatile and prolific saxophone players on the music scene. In a diverse
career that has spanned more than 40 years,
he has been featured on over 500 recordings
by artists ranging from Cannonball Adderley
to Frank Zappa, always exhibiting his unforget- ERNIE WATTS
table trademark sound.
After 15 solo records for a variety of labels, large and small, Watts
started Flying Dolphin Records, a company he runs with his wife Patricia.
Flying Dolphin (distributed by Burnside Distribution Corp.) is a new chapter for the artist’s creative expression.
The Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band will open for the free community concert sponsored by Reading Eagle Company and Boscov’s.
HOMEMADE JAMZ BLUES BAND
• Tuesday, March 29, 7:30 p.m., Miller Center for the Arts
The Homemade Jamz Blues Band is a fresh, young blues band made
up of three siblings: singer and guitarist Ryan Perry, 18; bassist Kyle,
16; and drummer Taya, 12.
HJBB began in Germany when father Renaud returned from military
service in Korea. Young Ryan found a Stratocaster copy among dad’s
HOMEMADE, CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
21st annual boscov’s
major concerts
thursday, march 24
7:00 p.m.
tim price, ryan anselmi’s soulful tenor madness
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $15 at the door
friday, march 25
DAVE BRUBECK
FOURPLAY
BRIAN
BROMBERG
7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
joey defrancesco trio
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $32
Sponsored by Weidenhammer Systems Corp.
7:30 p.m.
the dave brubeck quartet
Sovereign Performing Arts Center: $49
Sponsored by Reading Eagle Company and Boscov’s
9:00 p.m.
dance hall docs featuring vocalist brent carter
The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom: $20
Sponsored by The Anderson Group
10:00 p.m.
norman brown & richard elliot
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $40
Sponsored by Fraser and Keystone Instant Printing
saturday, march 26
2:00 p.m.
stanley clarke band and the victor wooten band
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $45
Sponsored by VIST Financial and KU Radio
7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
jeff lorber fusion featuring jeff lorber, eric marienthal,
jimmy haslip, sonny emory plus special guest randy brecker
TROMBONE
SHORTY
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $38
Sponsored by All Star Distributing/Blue Moon
7:00 p.m.
al jarreau and the george duke trio
JEFF
LORBER
plus opening act berks high school all-star jazz chorus
Sovereign Performing Arts Center: $49
Sponsored by Sweet Street Desserts and Berks County Bar Association
7:30 p.m.
guitar masters: bucky pizzarelli, frank vignola,
gene bertoncini, howard alden
Miller Center for the Arts: $35
Sponsored by Bell Tower Salon and Spa
9:00 p.m.
royal scam: tribute to steely dan
The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom: $20
Sponsored by Toyota
10:00 p.m.
gerald veasley’s sounds of philly featuring will downing,
NICK
COLIONNE
nick colionne, walter beasley and carol riddick
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $40
Sponsored by 69-WFMZ-TV
sunday, march 27
10:00 a.m.: Smooth Jazz 92.7 Sunday Brunch
andrew neu
Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom: $36, includes buffet
Sponsored by Smooth Jazz 92.7
2:00 p.m.
pieces of a dream and phil perry
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $40
Sponsored by Capital Wine & Spirits
7:00 p.m.
guitars and saxes featuring gerald albright, kirk whalum,
peter white, jeff golub plus special guests jeff lorber and
eric marienthal
THE RIPPINGTONS
FEATURING RUSS FREEMAN
Sovereign Performing Arts Center: $49
Sponsored by Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 and Lasting Image
7:30 p.m.
CHUCK
LOEB
al di meola world sinfonia
Miller Center for the Arts: $40
Sponsored by Reading Movies 11 & IMAX
NORMAN
BROWN
monday, march 28
7:00 p.m.
united states air force rhythm in blue jazz ensemble
featuring special guest randy brecker plus the berks high
school all-star jazz band
Boyertown Junior High West: FREE (ticket required)
Sponsored by Reading Eagle Company and Boscov’s
thursday, march 31
7:00 p.m.
bones of contention featuring doc mulligan, chuck
dressler, rob stoneback plus special guest larry mckenna
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $15
Sponsored by The Water Guy
8:00 p.m.
berks all-star jazz jam featuring rick braun, randy brecker,
chuck loeb, chieli minucci, gerald veasley, brian bromberg,
gerald albright, euge groove, philippe saisse, selina albright,
lionel cordew, karen briggs, frank vignola and more
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $45
Sponsored by Alcon and Reese Advertising
7:30 p.m.
ku presents: chris brubeck’s triple play
Ursa Minor’s Café at Kutztown University; for ticket info, call 610-683-4092
friday, april 1
7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
brian bromberg band with special guest randy brecker
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $32
Sponsored by smoothjazz.com
7:00 p.m.
gerald albright & friends featuring brian culbertson,
rick braun, larry braggs, selina albright and the berks jazz
fest horns
Scottish Rite Cathedral: $49
Sponsored by VF Outlet
7:30 p.m.
steve tyrell
Miller Center for the Arts: $42
Sponsored by Metro Bank
7:30 p.m.
walter trout plus opening act gina sicilia
The Inn at Reading Ballroom: $36
Sponsored by Land Displays
7:30 p.m.
chieli minucci & special efx with special guests
karen briggs, lao tizer
The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom: $40
Sponsored by National Penn Bank
10:00 p.m.
euge groove
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $40
Sponsored by Smooth Jazz 92.7
Midnight
round midnight jam hosted by gerald veasley
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $15 at the door
Sponsored by Smooth Jazz 92.7
saturday, april 2
2:00 p.m.
the rippingtons featuring russ freeman plus opening act
philippe saisse trio
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $40
Sponsored by Quaker Maid Meats
2:00 p.m.
the last big band and the ladies of jazz featuring
sharon bailey, toni lynne, suzie ernesto
The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom: $23
Sponsored by JerLyn Foundation “In Memory of Frank Scott”
and Breast Cancert Support Services of Berks County
7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
steve smith & vital information: nyc edition featuring
steve smith, vinny valentino, mark soskin, andy fusco,
baron browne
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $38
Sponsored by Penn National Gaming
7:00 p.m.
fourplay featuring bob james, nathan east, harvey mason,
chuck loeb
Scottish Rite Cathedral: $49
Sponsored by Penske Truck Leasing
7:30 p.m.
the vista all-stars featuring houston person,
wycliffe gordon, ken peplowski, shelly berg, david finck,
ernie adams, dee daniels
Miller Center for the Arts: $40
Sponsored by Quaker Maid Meats and The Jazz Cruise
7:30 p.m.
mark hummels’ blues harmonica blowout featuring
lazy lester, jerry portnoy, mark wenner and the blues
survivors
The Inn at Reading Ballroom: $36
Sponsored by Reading Phillies
10:00 p.m.
the original jazz crusaders featuring joe sample,
wilton felder, wayne henderson
tuesday, march 29
7:00 p.m.
united states air force rhythm in blue jazz ensemble
featuring special guest ernie watts plus opening act berks
AL
DI MEOLA
high school all-star jazz band
WALTER
TROUT
CHIELI MINUCCI
AND SPECIAL EFX
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: FREE (ticket required)
Sponsored by Reading Eagle Company and Boscov’s
7:30 p.m.
homemade jamz blues band
Miller Center for the Arts: $15
Sponsored by Reading Musical Foundation
wednesday, march 30
7:00 p.m.
the bebop sessions featuring chuck loeb, rick braun,
randy brecker, brian bromberg, gerald albright, ada rovatti,
philippe saisse and more
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $35
Sponsored by Prime Steak & Wine
7:30 p.m.
trombone shorty & orleans avenue
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $30
Sponsored by Toyota
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $40
Sponsored by Zeswitz: A Division of Rayburn Music
Midnight
round midnight jam hosted by gerald veasley
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading: $15 at the door
Sponsored by Smooth Jazz 92.7
sunday, april 3
10:00 a.m. and 1 p.m.: Smooth Jazz 92.7 Sunday Brunch
nick colionne, brian simpson & jeff kashiwa
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom: $36, includes buffet
Sponsored by Smooth Jazz 92.7
11:00 a.m.: Sunday Blues Brunch
clarence spady band
Inn at Reading Ballroom: $36, includes buffet
Sponsored by WEEU 830 AM
3:00 p.m.
rick braun and the reading pops orchestra
Miller Center for the Arts: $40
Sponsored by Connors Investors Services Inc.
7:00 p.m.
brian culbertson with special guest kenny lattimore
Scottish Rite Cathedral: $49
Sponsored by Vision Audi
berks jazz fest
festival sponsor
local events
sponsors
presented by
*
friday, march 25
monday, march 28
11:30 a.m.: Harold B. Leifer Kickoff Lunch
The Groovemasters featuring Bennie Sims and Cliff Starkey
The Peanut Bar Restaurant
610-376-8500; peanutbar.com
11:30 a.m.: Jazz Lunch
Danny Steuber Combo
judy’s...on cherry
610-374-8511; judysoncherry.com
7:30 p.m.: Neil Wright with Roger Harris & Diana Dupre’
Gracie’s 21st Century Café
610-323-4004; gracies21stcentury.com
7:30 p.m.: Jazz Saxophone
Seth Mellon
The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub & Alehouse
610-374-8511; speckledhenpub.com
9:30 p.m.: John King & Collard Greens
Blind Hartman’s Tavern
610-370-7180; blindhartmanstavern.com
6:30 p.m.: Deanna Reuben & Marty Mellinger
Dans Restaurant
610-373-2075; dansrestaurant.com
saturday, march 26
11 a.m.: Jazz Brunch
Bev Conklin Combo
judy’s...on cherry
610-374-8511; judysoncherry.com
Noon: Reading High School Castleaires and the Reading High
School Chamber Singers
Reading Public Library Main Branch
610-655-6365; reading.lib.pa.us
12:30 p.m.: Berks Student Jazz Jam
The Peanut Bar Restaurant
610-376-8500; peanutbar.com
6:30 p.m.: Wilson High Jazz Fest
John Vanore and the Abstract Truth
Wilson High School
610-670-0180 ext. 5147
7:30 p.m.: Jim Meck
The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub & Alehouse
610-374-8511; speckledhenpub.com
8 p.m.: Skip Moyer & the Swinging Foxes featuring Amber Rae
Klinger’s on Carsonia
610-985-0652; klingersoncarsonia.com
9:30 p.m.: Uncle Thirsty
Blind Hartman’s Tavern
610-370-7180; blindhartmanstavern.com
sunday, march 27
10 a.m.: Bagels, Bach & Beyond
GAMUT
Reading Public Museum
610-371-5850; readingpublicmuseum.org
10:30 a.m.: Jazz Worship Service
Rev. Ed Neiderhiser, trumpet
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
610-375-3961; readinggrace.org
Noon: Connie Rainis with Randy Sarles & Friend
Gracie’s 21st Century Café
610-323-4004; gracies21stcentury.com
Noon: Green Valley Jazz Brunch
The Uptown Jazzup featuring Erich Cawalla & Jenifer Kinder
Green Valley Country Club
610-678-8811; thegreenvalleycountryclub.com
2 p.m.: By Request
Evergreen Country Club
610-944-7501; evergreenclub.org
3 p.m.: Joyful Jazz 3 featuring Beverly McDevitt and
Michael Trach
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
610-373-3135; stpaulreading.org
4 p.m.: Vesper Service
Maria Damore Quintet featuring Andy Roberts
First Baptist Church
610-375-2211; firstbaptistreading.org
7 p.m.: Chris Heslop & Friends
Atonement Lutheran Church
610-375-3512
7:30 p.m.: Skip Moyer & The Swinging Foxes with Andy Buraz
Gracie’s 21st Century Café
610-323-4004; gracies21stcentury.com
7:30 p.m.: Seth Mellon
The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub & Alehouse
610-374-8511; speckledhenpub.com
8 p.m.: Pretzel City Dixieland Jazz Band
Evergreen Country Club
610-944-7501; evergreenclub.org
9 p.m.: The Uptown Band featuring Erich Cawalla & Jenifer Kinder
Galen Hall Country Club
610-678-5424; galenhallgc.com
9:30 p.m.: Bobby Newton
Blind Hartman’s Tavern
610-370-7180; blindhartmanstavern.com
tuesday, march 29
11:30 a.m.: Mike Eben’s From The Hip
Boscov’s East Greenery Restaurant
610-779-2000; boscovs.com
5:30 p.m.: Jill Haley & David Cullen
Bensi Restaurant Italiano
610-375-3222; bensirestaurants.com
6:30 p.m.: Neil Wright & Diana Dupre’
Dans Restaurant
610-373-2075; dansrestaurant.com
7:30 p.m.: Jimmy Z’s Bone Tom Jazz Band
Holy Cross United Methodist Church
610-373-7260; memholycross.org
saturday, april 2
wednesday, march 30
11:30 a.m.: Erwin Chandler’s GAMUT
Boscov’s East Greenery Restaurant
610-779-2000; boscovs.com
Noon: DID MidDay Jazz Café
Chris Heslop’s Nasty 9
The Abraham Lincoln Hotel
610-372-3700
6 p.m.: Ken Gehret’s Braziliance
The Peanut Bar Restaurant
610-376-8500; peanutbar.com
7 p.m.: Skip Moyer Quartet featuring Alan Gaumer
Reading Liederkranz
610-373-3982; readingliederkranz.com
7 p.m.: Jazz Dinner
Neil Wright
Cousin’s Pub
610-562-5202; cousins-pub.com
7:30 p.m.: Tracy Silverman
Perkins Student Center Penn State Campus
610-396-6076; FREE with limited seating
thursday, march 31
11:30 a.m.: Jimmy Z’s Bone Tom Jazz Band
Boscov’s North Greenery Restaurant
610-779-2000; boscovs.com
1 p.m.: Skip Moyer & The Swinging Foxes with Toni Lynne
Manor at Market Square
610-373-0800; manoratms.com
5:30 p.m.: Jill Haley & Mark Oppenlander
Bensi Restaurant Italiano
610-375-3222; bensirestaurants.com
6 p.m.: Dave Mell Blues Band Duo
Klinger’s on Carsonia
610-985-0652; klingersoncarsonia.com
friday, april 1
11:30 a.m.: Skip Moyer & The Swinging Foxes
Boscov’s North Greenery Restaurant
610-779-2000; boscovs.com
4 p.m.: Jazz Under the Stars
Dave Postmontier Trio plus special guest Philippe Saisse
Reading Public Museum Planetarium
610-371-5850; readingpublicmuseum.org
5:30 p.m.: Jazz Happy Hour
The Groovemasters
The Peanut Bar Restaurant
610-376-8500; peanutbar.com
7 p.m.: Tapas & Jazz
Neil Wright Band
Green Valley Country Club
610-678-8811; thegreenvalleycountryclub.com
7 p.m.: Rockman Blues
Canal Street Pub & Restaurant
610-376-4009; canalstreetpub.com
7 p.m.: Jazz with Jim Meck
Cousins Pub
610-562-5202; cousins-pub.com
Noon: Pretzel City Dixieland Jazz Band
VF Outlet Food Court
vfoutletcenter.com
Noon: Josh Taylor & Trey LaRue
Reading Public Library Main Branch
610-655-6365; reading.lib.pa.us
2 p.m.: Exeter Community Band
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
610-582-8773
7:30 p.m.: Bev Conklin
The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub & Alehouse
610-374-8511; speckledhenpub.com
8 p.m.: Braziliance
Berks County YR Club
610-376-1303; berksyrclub.com
8 p.m.: Wave with Roger Harris, John Christopher,
Craig Rankin, Rick Ranaglia
Pappy T’s Pub
717-269-7667; pappyts.com
8 p.m.: D-3 & Company: Soulful Jazz
Klinger’s on Carsonia
610-985-0652; klingersoncarsonia.com
8 p.m.: Rockman Blues Band
Cousins Pub
610-562-5202; cousins-pub.com
9 p.m.: Rob Diener and Anomaly
Canal Street Pub & Restaurant
610-376-4009; canalstreetpub.com
9:30 p.m.: Lil’ Ragu
Blind Hartman’s Tavern
610-370-7180; blindhartmanstavern.com
sunday, april 3
10 a.m.: Jazz Worship Service
St. John’s Jazz Band, Kutztown Middle School Jazz Band
and special guest jazz guitarist Carl Zeplin
St. John’s United Church of Christ, Kutztown
610-683-8531; stjohns-ucc.org
10 a.m.: Jazz Worship
Erwin Chandler and GAMUT plus Muhlenberg Middle School
Jazz Band
Christ Church United Church of Christ
610-929-2020; ucctemple.org
10:40 a.m.: Get Jazzed for Jesus
Sam Powell
St. James Church
610-372-2034; stjameswr.org
Noon: Jimmy Z’s Bone Tom Jazz Band
VF Outlet Food Court
vfoutletcenter.com
1 p.m.: Seth Mellon & Andy Roberts
Gracie’s 21st Century Café
610-323-4004; gracies21stcentury.com
4 p.m.: Stephanie Grace
Blind Hartman’s Tavern
610-370-7180; blindhartmanstavern.com
5 p.m.: Jane Hagness
Dans Restaurant
610-373-2075; dansrestaurant.com
hotels
*cover or music charge may apply
AL JARREAU
CLARENCE
SPADY
BRIAN
CULBERTSON
STEVE
TYRELL
RICK
BRAUN
GEORGE
DUKE
RICHARD
ELLIOT
THE JAZZ
CRUSADERS
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS
berksjazzfest.com
Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com
Sovereign Center Box Office,
Seventh and Penn streets, Reading, PA 19602
artist profiles / major concerts
HOMEMADE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
bags and wanted it. A week later, Ryan had
composed a short instrumental tune (which
he’d play at his school talent show) and was
playing along to commercials. When the family
relocated to Tupelo, the passion stayed with
him. Returning home, Ryan dove head first into
the blues.
His brother, Kyle eventually joined him,
followed by their sister, Taya.
HJBB was the youngest band ever to
HOMEMADE JAMZ
compete in the International Blues Challenge
BLUES BAND
(2007), taking second in a field of 157 bands.
Fred Litwin, president of esteemed label NorthernBlues Music, was a
judge for the event. Litwin called HJBB and announced he was keen to
make them the youngest blues band to sign with a major record label.
“Mister Fred,” as the Perrys call him, made it happen. True to their
name, the band recorded Pay Me No Mind at home, over three days in
January 2008.
Rife with powerful, puissant songs (lyrics by Renaud, music by HJBB)
that lyrically and musically epitomize the blues, Pay Me No Mind blends
Chicago and Mississippi juke joint blues, copping the gritty slickness of the
former and the dirty soul of the latter—never betraying its authors’ age.
THE BEBOP SESSIONS FEATURING CHUCK LOEB, RICK BRAUN,
RANDY BRECKER, BRIAN BROMBERG, GERALD ALBRIGHT,
ADA ROVATTI, PHILIPPE SAISSE AND MORE
• Wednesday, March 30, 7 p.m., Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at
Crowne Plaza Reading
There are several names that come to mind
when you think of Berks Jazz Fest, and Chuck
Loeb is certainly one of them.
Loeb is putting a different spin on his Berks
show this year, and is bringing together some
big-name talent to pull it off.
This year’s show is dubbed The BeBop
Sessions, and helping Loeb add some Be to
the Bop will be trumpet greats Rick Braun
and Randy Brecker, bassist extraordinaire Brian
CHUCK LOEB
Bromberg, sax masters Gerald Albright and Ada
Rovatti, and keyboardist Philippe Saisse.
More than a jazz guitar player, Loeb is the
consummate musician. In a career that spans
four decades, he has proven himself to be a
versatile composer, arranger and producer in
a wide range of musical styles and contexts.
In addition to crafting a fine discography of
his own and producing albums for a number of
other high-profile artists, his resume also
RICK BRAUN
includes music for commercial jingles and a
variety of television programs and motion pictures. Whatever your personal tastes in music,
media, entertainment or popular culture, chances are good that you’ve had at least a passing
acquaintance with the work of Chuck Loeb.
All of Loeb’s friends are well known at Berks
Jazz Fest, and they are all performing in other
capacities during this year’s fest, including the
perennial favorite Berks All-Star Jazz Jam on
Thursday, March 31 at 8 p.m. at the Crowne
ADA ROVATTI
Plaza Reading ballroom.
Allentown native and Berks favorite Rick Braun will be joining the
Reading Pops Orchestra on Sunday, April 3, at the Miller Center for the
Arts. Randy Brecker will perform with Brian Bromberg and his band
on Friday, April 1 at Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base in the Crowne Plaza
Reading. Brecker also will be a featured guest with Jeff Lorber Fusion,
Saturday, March 26, and with the U.S. Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz
Ensemble on Monday, March 28.
Gerald Albright will host his own show, Gerald Albright & Friends, on
Friday, April 1, at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, with Braun, Larry Braggs,
Selina Albright and the Berks Jazz Fest Horns.
Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti studied at Berklee College of Music
before launching her career in Paris; she later established herself in
New York, where she has performed with everyone from Les Paul and
John McLaughlin to Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Victory Bailey, Miroslav
Vitous and Joanne Brackeen. Her 2006 recording Airbop was nominated
as one of All About Jazz’s Top Ten CDs of the Year. Her most recent
by jonathan widran
album is a Celtic-influenced work called Green Factor. She also
appeared in the film “Mona Lisa Smile” with Julia Roberts.
Philippe Saisse will be a busy man during this year’s festival. His trio
will be opening for The Rippingtons on Saturday, April 2, at the Crowne
Plaza Reading Ballroom; and is the musical director for Rick Braun’s
April 3 show with the Reading Pops.
Mulligan, Dressler and Stoneback will be joined by Marty Mellinger,
keyboards; Keith Mohler, bass; and Dave Lazorcik, drums.
Philadelphia resident and saxophonist Larry McKenna is an instructor
of jazz theory, harmony, and saxophone at the Community College of
Philadelphia. His latest release, It Might As Well Be Spring, is available
from DreamBox Media.
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
• Wednesday, March 30, 7:30 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
It’s rare to find an artist with the virtuosity
to draw the unqualified respect of some of the
most iconic legends in jazz and the ability to
deliver a high-energy funk rock show capable
of mesmerizing international rock stars — but
trombonist/trumpeter Troy “Trombone Shorty”
Andrews is a one of a kind artist who does all
that with ease.
A product of New Orleans’ culturally rich
Treme neighborhood, Trombone Shorty was a
bandleader by the age of six. While navigating TROMBONE SHORTY
The Big Easy with his band in tow, he was also
absorbing lessons from his older brother James, a dynamic musical
performer known as “Satchmo of the Ghetto.” By the time Trombone
Shorty was 12, he had a Ph.D. in the ways of the streets, which you can
still hear in his music.
Now at 25, Trombone Shorty has grown into a performer who commands the stage while emanating an elegance and class gleaned from
his successful studies at the prestigious New Orleans Center for the
Creative Arts.
Shorty has attracted many such legends to his high-profile fanbase,
and the diverse and notable names he has performed and soloed with
include Norah Jones at Jazzfest 2007, Diana Krall at Madison Square
Garden in 2005, and chart-topping rapper Juvenile at VoodooFest 2008.
In 2005, he was tapped by Lenny Kravitz to be a featured member of
his horn section for the 63-date Electric Church world tour that in North
America supported Aerosmith’s Rockin’ the Joint tour.
In London in 2006, Trombone Shorty worked with producer Bob Ezrin
and U2 at Abbey Road Studios. This association led to a performance
with U2 and Green Day during the New Orleans Superdome’s postKatrina re-opening spectacular during Monday Night Football.
The seeds of Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue’s “SupaFunkRock”
sound were sown at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, and
the group has since evolved into a seven-piece touring phenomenon.
With Mike Ballard on bass, Pete Murano on guitar, Joey Peebles on
drums, Dwayne Williams on percussion, Dan Oestreicher on baritone sax,
and Clarence Slaughter on tenor sax, their performances transcend the
boundaries of generation and classification.
21ST ANNUAL BERKS ALL-STAR JAZZ JAM
FEATURING CHUCK LOEB, RICK BRAUN, GERALD VEASLEY,
BRIAN BROMBERG, GERALD ALBRIGHT, EUGE GROOVE,
CHIELI MINUCCI, PHILIPPE SAISSE, SELINA ALBRIGHT,
KAREN BRIGGS, LIONEL COREDOW, FRANK VIGNOLA AND MORE
• Thursday, March 31, 8 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
One of the most highly anticipated shows of any Berks Jazz Fest is
the annual Berks All-Star Jazz Jam, which transforms the Crowne Plaza
Reading hotel ballroom into a funky, grooving, jamming jazz fusion
paradise where fun, spontaneity and improvisations rule for hours.
Continuing a joyous tradition, all of the participants are headlining or
performing in other settings at the festival, typifying the wonderful diversity of talent hitting the stage for this annual high-energy extravaganza.
Berks favorite and guitar great Chuck Loeb will be performing as
part of the contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay (which includes Bob
James, Nathan East and Harvey Mason) at the Scottish Rite Cathedral;
last year, Loeb took over the guitar chair in the group after Larry
Carlton’s departure. Continuing in his tradition of doing more traditional
jazz oriented shows at Berks to complement his high-energy pop-R&B
driven performances, trumpeter Rick Braun will be joined by keyboardist
Philippe Saisse and the Reading Pops Orchestra at Miller Center for a
Sunday with the Pops show called Rick Braun’s American Songbook.
Gerald Veasley is not only the namesake of one of the Berks Jazz
Fest’s most intimate venue, Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base, he is headlining
two all-star shows this year -- Sounds of Philly (a WFMZ Live Broadcast)
and the Round Midnight Jam. Berks’ other favorite Gerald, saxman Gerald Albright, appears in two other exciting settings: as part of Guitars
& Saxes and as headliner of a special evening at the Scottish Rite
Cathedral titled “The Man and His Music” with special guests including
his vocalist daughter Selina Albright.
Euge Groove is headlining his own show on Friday night, April 1,
in the same ballroom, while violin master Karen Briggs will be joining
guitarist Chieli Minucci and Special EFX at the Abraham Lincoln earlier
the same evening.
BONES OF CONTENTION
FEATURING DOC MULLIGAN, CHUCK DRESSLER,
ROB STONEBACK PLUS SPECIAL GUEST LARRY MCKENNA
• Thursday, March 31, 7 p.m., Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at
Crowne Plaza Reading
Bones of Contention features Doc Mulligan,
Chuck Dressler, Rob Stoneback. Bob “Doc”
Mulligan, the well-respected trombonist,
arranger, and composer, is the architect of
this special project.
Joining Mulligan will be trombone mates
Chuck Dressler and Rob Stoneback.
Mulligan’s musical career has spanned 65
years. He has played in orchestras and bands
that have backed Sammy Kaye, Billy Eckstine, BONES OF CONTENTION
Al Martino, Jack Jones and Frankie Avalon.
Mulligan’s latest arrangement efforts can be
found on the Ronnie Milsap’s CD Just for You.
Dressler is the former director of bands
at Pottstown High. Dressler’s performance
credits include working with the Tommy Dorsey
Orchestra, Harry James Orchestra, Al Grey,
Dave Stahl, The Manhattan Transfer, The
Temptations, Perry Como, Natalie Cole, Wayne
Newton and Johnny Mathis.
LARRY MCKENNA
Dressler is a member of the Rob Stoneback
Big Band from the Lehigh Valley area and The Next Generation Big Band
from Philadelphia. Stoneback is a well-known big band leader from the
Lehigh Valley area is considered one of the best jazz trombonists in the
business.
BRIAN BROMBERG BAND WITH SPECIAL GUEST RANDY BRECKER
• Friday, April 1, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base
at Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel
A nearly annual fixture at the festival, electric and acoustic bassist Brian Bromberg has
appeared in numerous settings and venues
over the years.
This year, Bromberg is performing three
times, including headling his own show with his
band and special guest Randy Brecker at the
Jazz Base.
Bromberg is in town to promote his latest
offering, Bromberg Plays Hendrix, which
BRIAN BROMBERG
previously was only available in Japan.
The CD is an homage from one virtuoso to
another.
Brian’s take on classic Hendrix tunes is
nothing short of astounding. He makes the
songs his own while keeping with the spirit
and raw emotion of the originals.
In addition to a thriving solo recording
career, Bromberg has performed with a
virtual who’s who of smooth, straight ahead
RANDY BRECKER
and Latin jazz (Arturo Sandoval, Herbie Hancock, Boney James) and as a producer has
scored eight top-10 (and two No. 1) smooth jazz hits.
Bromberg’s production credits include Chris Botti, Kim Waters, Jeff
Kashiwa and Turning Point.
Following his Grammy nominated album Downright Upright and
backed by a killer horn section, Bromberg got loose and funky on
2009’s It Is What It Is, which includes his unique spin on the B52’s dance
classic “Love Shack” and Quincy Jones’ theme from “Sanford and Son.”
His most recent recording is Bromberg Plays Hendrix (2010).
Trumpeter and flugelhorn great Randy Brecker has long been a highly
sought after performer in jazz, rock and R&B. His expansive recording
BROMBERG/BRECKER, CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
artist profiles / major concerts
BROMBERG/BRECKER, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
and performing credits include Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce
Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat
& Tears, Horace Silver, Frank Zappa, Parliament-Funkadelic, Chris Parker,
Jaco Pastorius, Dire Straits, Todd Rundgren, Blue Öyster Cult, Spyro
Gyra and many others.
Brecker played on the first Blood, Sweat & Tears album Child Is
Father to the Man, and was a charter member of Larry Coryell’s The
Eleventh House. He was also part of The Brecker Brothers, a popular
funk and fusion band also featuring his brother, the late saxophonist
Michael Brecker. Brecker’s 2008 album Randy in Brasil earned a
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
GERALD ALBRIGHT & FRIENDS
FEATURING BRIAN CULBERTSON, RICK BRAUN, LARRY BRAGGS,
SELINA ALBRIGHT AND THE BERKS JAZZ FEST HORNS
Friday, April 1, 7 p.m., Scottish Rite Cathedral
A week after being part of the Guitars &
Saxes show that opens the 2011 Berks Jazz
Fest, saxophonist Gerald Albright takes center
stage for a unique evening titled “The Man and
his Music,” featuring special guests Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, Tower of Power lead vocalist Larry Braggs, his daughter, Selina Albright,
and the Berks Jazz Fest Horns.
One of the biggest stars of R&B, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz, Gerald Albright
GERALD ALBRIGHT
has earned his reputation as a “musician’s
musician.”
During the 1980s, Albright became a highly
requested session musician, playing on albums
by a wide variety of artists -- including Anita
Baker, Ray Parker, Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr,
Olivia Newton-John, the Temptations and
Maurice White.
Albright also toured extensively with Les
McCann, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, the Winans,
SELINA ALBRIGHT
Marlena Shaw, Quincy Jones, and Whitney
Houston, among many others.
Albright’s recent albums include the 2008
Grammy nominated New Beginnings, and
the 2009 Grammy nominated, Sax for Stax;
both in the category of Best Pop Instrumental
Album. His latest album is Pushing The Envelope, which ventures from urban jazz to classic
funk and world music.
The voice of Tower of Power for the past
seven years, Chicago native Larry Braggs
LARRY BRAGGS
has toured Europe, Asia, Indonesia and South
Africa and has shared the stage with Al Green,
James Brown, Tom Jones, B.B. King, Incognito,
Dave Koz and Tony Bennett.
Gerald Albright’s talented vocalist daughter
Selina Albright launched her professional career
at 14 with an educational project released in
Japan by Sony, and later appeared as a backing vocalist on two of her dad’s classic albums,
Live To Love (1997) and Sax For Stax (2008). BERKS JAZZ FEST HORNS
She toured with him and Kirk Whalum throughout 2009.
Brian Culbertson joined the lineup as a guest, in addition to his own
show Sunday, April 3. This dynamic keyboardist/instrumentalist consistently tops the charts.
Since 2002, the Berks Jazz Fest Horns (Mike Anderson on sax,
Rob Diener on trumpet and John Loos on trombone) have been adding
another dimension to many of the acts at the Berks Jazz Fest, including
Gerald Veasley, Chuck Loeb, Jeff Kashiwa, Gregg Karukas, Chieli Minucci & Special EFX, Heads Up Super Band, LA Chillharmonic, Soul Summit
II, Rick Braun and others.
WALTER TROUT PLUS OPENING ACT GINA SICILIA
Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m., The Inn at Reading
Walter Trout’’s 20th album is called Common
Ground, but for the visionary roots singer, songwriter and guitarist that’s more than a title.
It’s where Trout’s compelling music resides
— in a territory that unites the worlds of blues,
rock and pure sonic adventurism, where inspiration and technique meet to create a unique,
soulful language.
In a sense, the title also describes Walter
Trout’s personal geography. Although Walter
WALTER TROUT
Presents
Pre
es
October 12 to 16, 2011
For more info please go to
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Trout lives in California, he spends much of his
life on the road bridging the U.S. and Europe,
where he’s so well-known and respected that
the United Kingdom’s BBC Radio One placed
the Stratocaster master at No. 6 on their list
of the top-20 guitarists of all time. Legendary
BBC disc jockey, Bob Harris in his book “The
Whispering Years,” calls Trout: “The world’s
greatest rock guitarist.”
But the title track of Trout’s new release is GINA SICILIA
also a prayer. “If there’s a place where the truth
can still be found,’ he sings, “Lord, lead us to the common ground.”
Trout enjoyed a more earthy kind of inspiration while making Common
Ground, thanks to his supporting cast of drum great Kenny Aronoff (John
Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Elton John, etc.), bassist Hutch Hutchinson
and pianist Jon Cleary (both of Bonnie Raitt’s band), and famed producer
John Porter, whose credits span from Brit-pop legends the Smiths to
John Lee Hooker and B.B. King to Santana.
Trout played in local bands after getting his first guitar, but truly
became steeped in blues after moving to Los Angeles in 1973. He
supported legends like John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Finis
Tasby, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Percy Mayfield and Joe Tex,
assimilating a wide variety of blues.
In 1981, Trout joined the remaining members of the formative ‘60s
blues-rock group Canned Heat. But the real turning point in his career
was his five-year tenure with British blues giant John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
The affable Mayall — who has a well-deserved reputation for springboarding the careers of great guitarists going back to the 1960s apprenticeships of Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor in his group
— drafted Trout in 1984 and paired him with fellow six-string virtuoso
Coco Montoya. Their twinned attack and Mayall’s leadership provided
the Bluesbreakers a renaissance that took the group and its members
to the apex of the international blues touring circuit.
More than just a throwback to the great blues & soul vocalists of the
1950s and 1960s, Gina Sicilia uniquely separates herself from the pack
of current vocalists with a style that is distinctive, magnetic and anything
but cliché.
Now an internationally touring artist, Gina’s ability to evolve as a
vocalist and songwriter is boundless. This is only the beginning for Gina
Sicilia, as she will undoubtedly continue to make her mark among the
new generation of musical artists.
CHIELI MINUCCI & SPECIAL EFX
FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS KAREN BRIGGS AND LAO TIZER
Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m., Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom
Celebrating his 25th year of touring as both
a solo artist and part of the evolving, world
music-influenced, contemporary jazz group
Special EFX, Chieli Minucci recently released
Without You, which is also his debut on his own
independent label, Chieli Music.
The collection contains 20 new tracks, including new arrangements of familiar Special
EFX favorites: the featured vocal work of
longtime band member Philip Hamilton, as
CHIELI MINUCCI
well as guest vocalist Will Brock, plus a tribute
to Minucci’s late, great partner, percussionist
George Jinda, the co-founder of the group who
passed away in 2001.
Exploring more contemporary world jazzfusion sounds than ever, the always eclectic,
multi-talented composer and musician works
with several renowned outside artists as well,
including keyboardist Jeff Lorber, NYC guitarist
Alan Grubner, violinist Karen Briggs (ex-Yanni
group member) and West Coast pianist Lao
KAREN BRIGGS
Tizer, whom Minucci has collaborated with for
over 10 years. Briggs and Tizer join Minucci
and Special EFX for their show at Berks Jazz
Fest.
In addition to his work with Special EFX,
Minucci has scored successes as a composer
and guitarist in many styles. His diverse career
includes playing on the recordings of such
major R&B/pop stars as Celine Dion, Jewel,
The Backstreet Boys, Mark Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, recording numerous smooth jazz LAO TIZER
radio hits and composing Emmy Award-winning
music for television shows and big stage productions such as Dora The
Explorer and Thomas & Friends Live.
Briggs is best known to contemporary music audiences as the violinist for Yanni, with whom she toured and recorded for 13 years, beginning in 1991. She appears on his bestselling live performance music
videos, including Yanni Live at the Acropolis, Yanni Live at Royal Albert
Hall and Tribute, which was performed at the Taj Mahal and in the Forbidden City, China. Briggs made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1994, performing with pianist Dave Grusin. She has also worked with everyone from
Stanley Clarke and Chaka Khan to Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Loggins.
Her most recent solo release is Soulchestral Groove (2009).
While Tizer was a Best New Jazz Artist nominee in 2002 and his
album Diversify spent many weeks on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz
chart, his band (also named Tizer) doesn’t see itself strictly as a jazz
ensemble. Their diverse resume includes opening slots over the years
for Zappa Plays Zappa, Jethro Tull, Isaac Hayes, Al Jarreau, Spyro Gyra,
George Benson, Bruce Hornsby and Robin Thicke. Their latest CD Tizer
Live features Minucci and Briggs.
Th market may be soft,
The
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Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Confirmed Artists:
Fourplay
Gerald Albright
Rick Braun
Peter White
Brian Simpson
Nick Colionne
Jeff Golub
Mindi Abair
Paul Taylor
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Friday, March 25 • 10-1
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Saturday, March 26 • 10-1
JAGGED SKY
Sunday, March 27 • 4-6
DAVE CULLEN &
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STEVE TYRELL
Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m., Miller Center for the Arts
Grammy Award-winning vocalist Steve Tyrell
is truly a renaissance man. In his four-and-ahalf decades in the music business, he has
achieved great success as an artist, producer,
songwriter, music supervisor, and performer.
With his breakthrough vocal performances
in “Father of the Bride” and “Father of the
Bride II,” the multi-talented performer reinvented and re-popularized classic pop standards
for a modern-day audience. With the grit and
STEVE TYRELL
soul of a lifetime of experiences, producing
hits for Grammy-winning Artists ranging from Linda Ronstadt and Aaron
Neville to Rod Stewart and Diana Ross, Steve himself has sold hundreds
of thousands of albums and gained a passionate following all over the
world.
His hits “The Way You Look Tonight,” “The Simple Life,” “Crush On
You” and “The Sunny Side of The Street” have launched thousands of
weddings and millions of romances. He’s held top positions at Standards, Swing, and Big Band outlets with a devoted following at key Adult
Contemporary Radio.
Although Steve tours mainly with his band, he also enjoys playing with
some of the most renowned orchestras in the U.S. and has appeared
with The Boston Pops, twice with The New York Pops, The Nashville
Symphony and The Houston Symphony on several occasions. At the
request of the Sinatra family and Quincy Jones, Steve was the featured
performer with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at their season-opening
concert in which Frank Sinatra was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl
Hall of Fame.
Launching his career producing with legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach — whom he paid homage to on his 2008 album Back to Bacharach
— Tyrell has worked behind the scenes with everyone from Ray Charles,
Smokey Robinson and Chris Botti to Dave Koz, Dolly Parton, Bonnie
Raitt and Stevie Wonder. His songs have been recorded by Ray Charles,
Diana Ross, LL Cool J and Elvis Presley, and “How Do You Talk To An
Angel” was a No. 1 pop hit in 1992.
EUGE GROOVE
Friday, April 1, 10 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
For the second year in a row, the irrepressibly funky and entertaining saxman Euge
Groove will be keeping hundreds of fans up
‘round midnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel
Ballroom.
Always innovative as a player, Groove
followed his regular 2009 Shanachie Records
debut Sunday Morning with an exciting interactive album called Groove On This! featuring rerecorded versions of his top songs specifically
EUGE GROOVE
reworked for the Beamz Player interactive
music system.
The album is delivered on data DVD in a format that includes Beamz
Player music software to allow listeners to play each song on their
computer and begin interacting with it by pulling in various sounds and
instruments as they see fit.
The DVD includes 10 re-mixed songs in mp3 format and 10 in interactive format. Groove performed and demonstrated these songs at J&R
Music World in NYC during their MusicFest in August 2010.
Born 2 Groove, the title of Euge Groove’s 2007 recording for Blue
Note Records, was more than simply a clever twist on the popular saxophonist’s funky stage name. True to the soulful, uplifting spirit of the collection — his first-ever recorded in High Definition Audio — it reflected
Euge’s belief that everyone comes into this world with unique abilities
and special gifts. Contemporary jazz listeners obviously like the way he’s
been doing just that.
Born 2 Groove was not only his first No. 1 album ever on Billboard’s
Contemporary Jazz Chart, but it debuted in that spot when it was
released in June 2007. The album was in the Top Five for the first 11
weeks of release, and its first single, the title track, was a mainstay in
the Top Five for months on Radio & Records’ smooth jazz airplay chart.
It was his fastest rising single ever.
Even before he was a genre superstar, Euge’s talents, combined with
years of hard work, took him around the world as a longtime veteran
member of Tower of Power (1988-92) and sideman for pop icons like
Richard Marx, Joe Cocker and Tina Turner.
Sunday Morning, Groove’s sixth recording as a leader, teamed him
yet again with acclaimed producer Paul Brown (George Benson, Luther
Vandross, Patti Austin). The album was written was written during a fourmonth European tour with Turner, whose band he returned to — and had
a blast with — after many years.
ROUND MIDNIGHT JAM/GERALD VEASLEY & FRIENDS
Friday, April 1 and 2, midnight, Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at
Crowne Plaza Reading
Everyone who’s ever attended the Berks Jazz Fest knows that — no
matter how cool the all-star lineups at the formally announced shows
are — some of the most exciting and spontaneous moments happen after hours at the intimate Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base club at the Crowne
Plaza Reading.
It’s an intimate space that gets crowded quickly, but if you’re one of
the lucky ones who experiences one of the late night jams, it’s a guarantee you’ll be talking about it the rest of your time at the Fest.
The Round Midnight Jam at Midnight will be led by the club’s namesake, bass great Gerald Veasley, who appears every year at Berks in
a variety of settings. It’s anyone’s guess who will show up to play, but
chances are, if they’re in the building, they’ll be picking up their instruments sooner or later.
THE RIPPINGTONS FEATURING RUSS FREEMAN
PLUS OPENING ACT PHILIPPE SAISSE TRIO
Saturday, April 2, 2 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
Smooth Jazz 92.7 presents another Smooth Jazz 92.7 Day with The
Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman — one of the genre’s great seminal
bands whose emergence in the mid-’80s helped give rise to the radio
RIPPINGTONS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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artist profiles / major concerts
RIPPINGTONS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
format that eventually became known as
“smooth jazz.”
The band’s most recent recording is Cote
D’Azur, released in February. Modern Art
(2009) was nominated for a Grammy Award in
the “Best Pop Instrumental Album Category.”
The Rippingtons spent the summer of 2006
and much of the next two years celebrating
with what Freeman jokingly calls “the longest
and greatest 20th Anniversary tour in history.” THE RIPPINGTONS
They embarked on the extended journey upon
the release of The Rippingtons 20th Anniversary, the remarkable 2006 CD/DVD package
featuring a retrospective DVD, new music and a
medley of their most popular airplay hits since
the release of their debut album Moonlighting
in 1986.
While the demand for more shows means
that Ripps enthusiasts had to wait longer than
usual (2-1/2 years) for the band’s followup, the
PHILIPPE SAISSE
extra time and ongoing slate of live concerts
allowed Freeman and his explosive new lineup
(including powerful new bassist Rico Belled and special guest, returning
saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa) the extraordinary opportunity to work out the
new material on Modern Art and let the songs evolve in front of the audiences’ eyes. The album marked the return of Jeff Kashiwa to the fold.
The saxman, whose original stint with the band was from 1990-99, is
now a full-time touring member again.
Over the course of the past 25 years, one of the most fun-filled parts
of the journey The Rippingtons have taken with their devoted fans has
been Freeman’s unique way of opening them up to his extra-musical passions with each recording. With the concept of a rotating collective approach under Freeman’s guidance and vision paving the way, The Ripps
— whose first lineup included future contemporary jazz superstars Dave
Koz, Kenny G and David Benoit — dominated the instrumental and urban
jazz landscape from the late ‘80s on with their often exotically titled hit
recordings, including Kilimanjaro, Tourist in Paradise, Welcome to the St.
James Club, Weekend In Monaco, Live in L.A., Sahara, Brave New World,
Live Across America, Let It Ripp!, Topaz and Black Diamond.
Songwriter, producer and keyboardist Philippe Saisse has recorded,
written and/or produced with such notables as The Rolling Stones, Kirk
Whalum, Richard Elliott, Rick Braun, Warren Hill, Dave Koz, Paul Brown
and Marc Antoine, among others.
In 2006, his hit album of pop cover songs, The Body And Soul
Sessions, featured an immensely popular version of Steely Dan’s “Do It
Again.”
One of the most ubiquitous airplay hits of the year, the song featuring the French-born keyboardist’s longtime trio of bassist David Finck
and drummer Scooter Warner spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Radio &
Records airplay chart and was No. 1 for five consecutive weeks at www.
smoothjazz.com, 20 weeks in R&R’s Top Ten and was the No. 6 most
played track in the format for the year. Rather than stick to the vibe that
broke him through to the mainstream, on his 2009 Koch Records debut
At World’s Edge, Saisse goes much deeper and weaves together a rich
melodic tapestry of progressive, impressionistic, and global threads.
With guests Angelique Kidjo, Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun and Jeff Golub, At
World’s Edge plays easy on the ear but deep into the imagination.
THE LAST BIG BAND AND THE LADIES OF JAZZ FEATURING
SHARON BAILEY, TONI LYNNE, SUZIE ERNESTO
Saturday, April 2, 2 p.m., Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom
The Ladies of Jazz are back!
Performing together for the first time since
in nearly five years, this trio -- Sharon Bailey,
Toni Lynne and Suzie Ernesto -- will team up
with The Last Big Band for a special afternoon
of standards from the great American Songbook. The show is supported by the Breast
Cancer Support Services of Berks County.
Lynne is a musical icon in Berks County,
LADIES OF JAZZ
performing for more than 40 years with a
litany of musicians. She was the recipient of
the 2006 Frank Scott Award, presented by the Berks Arts Council.
Bailey leads several of her own ensembles. Her most recent CD, It
Never Entered My Mind, was released in 2005 and has been getting
great reviews.
Before venturing into jazz singing, Ernesto spent many years harmo-
nizing with a barbershop chorus and a quartet. Suzie and her cousin,
guitarist Ed McCartan, formed Relatively Speaking and released a CD
titled Relatively Speaking & Friends, which includes bassist Gerald
Veasley as a special guest.
The Last Big Band is a perennial favorite at Gerald Veasley’s Jazz
Base. Trombonist Jim Zoller and trumpeter Roger Morgan have assembled some of the area’s top musicians for this first-rate jazz big band.
Lee Southall is the musical director.
STEVE SMITH & VITAL INFORMATION: NYC EDITION
FEATURING STEVE SMITH, ANDY FUSCO, BARON BROWNE,
MARK SOSKIN AND VINNY VALENTINO
Saturday, April 2, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Gerald Veasley’s Jazz
Base at Crowne Plaza Reading
For the second time in three years, Steve
Smith & Vital Information are performing at
the Berks Jazz Festival.
When they take the stage at Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base, they will have a revamped
“NYC Edition” lineup featuring Andy Fusco and
Mark Soskin.
Currently celebrating their 27th year as a
unit since their 1983 self-titled debut, Steve
Smith and Vital Information have become a
STEVE SMITH
formidable jazz/fusion juggernaut whose
longevity surpasses all of the major fusion groups.
The all-star lineup featuring Baron Browne (bass), Vinny Valentino
(guitar), Mark Soskin (piano), Andy Fusco (saxophone) and Steve Smith
(drums) serves up a wide and dynamic variety of innovative sounds,
from slamming funk and syncopated second line grooves to seriously
swinging,South Indian Carnatic-inspired jams, and sizzling fuzoid romps.
The group’s founder and drummer Steve Smith has a resume that
stretches from Ahmad Jamal, Zakir Hussain, The Buddy Rich Big Band
and Steps Ahead to Andrea Bocelli and Journey. His many years of accolades include Modern Drummer magazine’s “#1 All Around Drummer”
award five years in a row and being voted one of the “Top 25 Drummers
of All Time” in a recent Modern Drummer reader’s poll. In 2002, Smith
was voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.
In addition to his stellar grooving with Vital Information, Baron Browne
has ensembled Gary Burton, Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty, Steps Ahead
and Tom Jones. New York City-based alto saxophonist Andy Fusco first
earned notice for his 1978-1983 stint with the Buddy Rich Big Band and
later toured with Gerry Mulligan and Mel Lewis. Pianist Mark Soskin has
recorded and performed with numerous legends of jazz — Sonny Rollins,
Joe Henderson, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham, Stanley Turrentine, Herbie
Mann, John Abercrombie, Gato Barbieri, David “Fathead” Newman, Pete
Escovedo and Sheila E. His TV performance credits include HBO’s “Sex
And The City.”
Vinny Valentino, the newest full-time member of Vital Information, has
shared the stage or recording studio with such jazz greats as Gary
Bartz, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, John Pattitucci, Richard Bona, Bob
Moses, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers, Jimmy McGriff and his mentor
George Benson.
Vital Information’s most recent release is Vitalization, which features
guest performances by saxophonist Bill Evans and world class percussionists Pete Lockett, Gilad and Juan Carlos Melian.
FOURPLAY FEATURING BOB JAMES, NATHAN EAST,
HARVEY MASON AND CHUCK LOEB
Saturday, April 2, 7 p.m., Scottish Rite Cathedral
Berks Jazz Fest welcomes the new lineup
of the contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay,
featuring one of the festival’s favorite, frequently appearing artists — guitar great Chuck Loeb.
Heading into their third decade of making
multi-faceted recordings that perfectly blend
poppy accessibility, rhythmic R&B and colorful
“real jazz” improvisations, Fourplay recently issued a high fallutin’ challenge to their listeners
on their second Heads Up date: Let’s Touch
FOURPLAY
The Sky.
Following in the formidable footsteps of founding guitarist Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton (who departs after 12 years) is cool new co-pilot
Loeb, whose expansive acoustic and electric guitar resume includes
everyone from Stan Getz to Steps Ahead and a lengthy solo catalog.
Loeb completes the four-man crew that also includes the band’s
founding members: keyboardist Bob James, bassist/vocalist Nathan
East and drummer/percussionist Harvey Mason.
For two decades, the quartet has enjoyed consistent artistic and
commercial success by grafting elements of R&B, pop and a variety of
other sounds to their unwavering jazz foundations. In the course of a
dozen recordings -- six of which have climbed to the top of Billboard’s
Contemporary Jazz Album charts -- the supergroup has continued to
explore the limitless dimensions and permutations of jazz while at the
same time appealing to a broad mainstream audience.
In 1990, James reunited with his old friend, session drummer, producer, composer and recording artist Harvey Mason (Herbie Hancock,
Barbra Streisand, Notorious BIG), during the recording of James’ Grand
Piano Canyon album. Also involved in the project were guitarist Lee
Ritenour (Sergio Mendes) and bassist/vocalist Nathan East (Barry White,
Eric Clapton, Phil Collins).
The Grand Piano Canyon sessions marked the genesis of the group
that eventually came to be known as Fourplay. Their self-titled debut
album was released in 1991, and included a blend of jazz, R&B and pop.
The original lineup of James/Ritenour/East/Mason stayed together for
three successive albums, including Elixir (1994).
THE JAZZ CRUISE NIGHT
VISTA ALL-STARS FEATURING WYCLIFFE GORDON, HOUSTON
PERSON, KEN PEPLOWSKI, SHELLY BERG, DAVID FINCK,
ERNIE ADAMS AND DEE DANIELS
Saturday, April 2, 7:30 p.m., Miller Center for the Arts
Straight-ahead
jazz fans will get
to experience (on
land at the Berks
Jazz Fest) the heart
of The Jazz Cruise
2011 with The
Vista All-Stars — a
group of dynamic
musicians who are WYCLIFFE GORDON
HOUSTON PERSON
mainstays of that
annual incredible
musical experience
at sea.
Wycliffe Gordon
tours the world
performing hardswinging, straightahead jazz for
audiences ranging
KEN PEPLOSKI
SHELLY BERG
from heads of
state to elementary
school students.
Gordon received
the Jazz Journalists
Association 2008,
2007, 2006, 2002
and 2001 Award
for Trombonist of
the Year, and the
Jazz Journalists
DAVID FINCK
ERNIE ADAMS
Association 2000
Critics’ Choice Award for Best Trombone.
Perhaps best known for his 30-year
association with the late Etta Jones, tenor
saxophonist Houston Person’s passionate
performances and engaging personality have
made him one of the most popular
figures on The Jazz Cruise.
A master of both the clarinet and the
saxophone, Ken Peplowski has been hailed as
the torch bearer of Benny Goodman. From his DEE DANIELS
beginnings with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
to his current worldwide tour schedule, Ken has played with the very
best. In 1980, Ken moved to New York City, and was soon playing
everything from Dixieland to avant-garde jazz.
Peplowski signed with Concord Records under the tutelage of Carl
Jefferson, the founder and president, and recorded close to 20 albums
as a leader. Beginning with The Jazz Cruise 2008, Ken assumed the
duties of music director for the cruise and has handled that task with
great skill and talent.
A veteran of many cruises, pianist Shelly Berg is a familiar name to
guests of The Jazz Cruise. Currently the Dean of Jazz Music at the
Blues and Jazz
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT
Blues night
May 12 (two shows)
7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
JIMMY THACKERY
CANDY DULFER
April 14 7 p.m.
Music charge at door: $20
by jonathan widran
Tickets in advance or at door: $36*
*For tickets: Order online at www.geraldveasleysjazzbase.com
Or visit: CD Exchange, 360 E. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, PA 610-777-2310
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading, 1741 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, PA
VISTA ALL-STARS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
artist profiles / major concerts
VISTA ALL-STARS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
University of Miami, Berg is also a composer and an arranger thereby
bringing a considerable array of talents to the contemporary music
scene.
Bassist David Finck, also a producer, arranger and songwriter,
studied with several of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s double bassists
before he began college at the prestigious Eastman School of Music
in Rochester, New York. After graduation, he settled in New York City.
He’d barely unpacked when he left the city to tour with Woody Herman
and his Thundering Herd. Over the years, David has played with those
above-mentioned and many more; his discography lists more than 100
recordings including Platinum and Gold selling records with Rod Stewart,
Natalie Cole, and Elton John.
Ernie Adams is a high-profile all-styles drummer, who has performed
and recorded with Ramsey Lewis, Al DiMiola, Joe Williams, Billy Dickens,
Arturo Sandoval, Steve Cole, Dianne Reeves, Stanley Turrentine, Ahmad
Jamal, Richie Cole, James Moody, Joe Zawinul, Slide Hampton, Clark
Terry, Orbert Davis, the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, etc.
Versatile vocalist Dee Daniels’ international career includes performances in 12 African countries, Australia, South America, the United
Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, throughout North America, and many
countries within Europe. She has performed and recorded with many
Toots Thielemans, Houston Person, Clark Terry, Lionel Hampton, Ed
Thigpen, Monty Alexander, John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton, Hank Jones,
Bill Charlap and Russell Malone.
MARK HUMMEL’S BLUES HARMONICA BLOWOUT
FEATURING LAZY LESTER, JERRY PORTNOY, MARK WENNER
AND THE BLUES SURVIVORS
Saturday, April 2, 7:30 p.m., The Inn at Reading
The past decade has seen the emergence
of young harmonica-led blues bands.
In California, groups that draw their inspiration from the Chicago school but add elements
of jump blues and rock ‘n’ roll into the mix have
come up with an exciting new style of West
Coast blues.
In Oakland, the northern capital of California
blues, resides the incredibly powerful harmonica player and vocalist Mark Hummel, leader
MARK HUMMEL
of The Blues Survivors, who has been
a major force in shaping and defining this
musical genre.
Mark Hummel is a road warrior – a true
blues survivor. Along the way, he has crafted
his own trademark harmonica sound – a subtle
combination of tone, phrasing and attack combined with a strong sense of swing.
Since 1991, Hummel has been both producing and performing at his Blues Harmonica
LAZY LESTER
Blowout series. These shows have grown to
be a much heralded event and continue to
draw sellout crowds wherever they appear.
The list of participants over the years reads
like is a Who’s Who of Blues harp history: John
Mayall, John Hammond, Norton Buffalo, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Huey Lewis,
Curtis Salgado, Kim Wilson, Watermelon Slim,
Sugar Ray Norcia, Kenny Neal, James Harman,
Fingers Taylor, Snooky Pryor, Dave Earl, Rod
Piazza, Magic Dick, William Clarke, Rick Estrin, JERRY PORTNOY
Paul DeLay, Billy Branch, Lazy Lester, Carey
Bell, Little Sonny, Paul Osher, Lee Oskar,
Cephas and Wiggins, Gary Primich, Paul
Rischell and Annie Raines, Carlos Del Junco,
Sam Myers and many more.
Mayall once said of the series: “These
shows are like family gatherings … we all get
our own time on stage, but end the night all
jamming together.”
For the Berks Jazz Fest show at the Inn at
Reading, Hummel will be joined by harmonica MARK WENNER
greats Jerry Portnoy, who has toured with Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton; Lazy Lester, whose songs are standards for
blues bands worldwide; and Mark Wenner, founder and harmonica player
for the famed roots rock group The Nighthawks.
THE ORIGINAL JAZZ CRUSADERS FEATURING JOE SAMPLE,
WILTON FELDER AND WAYNE HENDERSON
Saturday, April 2, 10 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
In April 2010, legendary jazz pianist Joe Sample announced a reunion
tour with trombonist Wayne Henderson and saxophonist Wilton Felder –
the first reunion of these founding members of the Jazz Crusaders since
1974.
Berks Jazz Fest is pleased to welcome this seminal jazz trio to the
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom.
Known for their amalgamated jazz, pop and soul sound, the Jazz
Crusaders — also known for many of their years as The Crusaders —
have, since 1961, released more than 40 albums, including various live
recordings and compilations.
In 1960, following the demise of a few
short-lived Houston-based groups called The
Swingsters and the Nite Hawks, Sample,
Felder, Henderson and founding drummer Stix
Hooper relocated to Los Angeles, Calif.
After changing their name to “The Jazz
Crusaders,” the group signed with Pacific Jazz
Records, where they would remain throughout
the 1960s. Employing a two-manned front-line JAZZ CRUSADERS
horn section (trombone and tenor saxophone),
the group’s sound was rooted in hard bop, with an emphasis on R&B
and soul.
The group shortened their name to “The Crusaders” in 1971 and
adopted a jazz-funk style. They also incorporated the electric bass and
electric guitar into their music. Bass guitarist Robert “Pops” Popwell and
guitarist Larry Carlton joined the band, and are featured on the group’s
albums throughout most of the 1970s.
The height of the group’s commercial success came with 1979’s
Street Life, which peaked at No. 18 on the pop album charts and the
title track from the album (featuring vocals by Randy Crawford) hit the
top-10 on the R&B chart and No. 36 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. In
1975, following the release of their 28th album (their ninth as “The
Crusaders”), Henderson left the group to pursue a full-time career as a
producer. Hooper left in 1983.
In 1991, Sample and Felder recorded Healing The Wounds, which
peaked at No. 1 on the Contemporary Jazz Album Chart. Henderson
revived the “Jazz Crusaders” name in the mid-1990s with a lineup that
included Felder and Carlton.
SMOOTH JAZZ 92.7 SUNDAY BRUNCH
NICK COLIONNE & BRIAN SIMPSON
WITH SPECIAL GUEST JEFF KASHIWA
Sunday, April 3 / Two Seatings: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.,
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
One of the most highly anticipated event every year at the Berks Jazz Fest is the Smooth
Jazz 92.7 Sunday Brunch; this year there are
two brunch shows co-headlined by genre stars,
guitarist Nick Colionne and keyboardist Brian
Simpson, with special guest Jeff Kashiwa.
Superstar saxman Dave Koz, for whom
Simpson has been the longtime musical director, says, “Brian is the consummate musician
– he can do it all. But it’s his incredibly memo- NICK COLIONNE
rable and infectious melodies that truly set him
apart.”
2010 was a breakthrough year for Simpson,
whose Shanachie Records debut South Beach
included a title cut which was one of the fastest rising airplay hits of the year. No stranger
to huge radio singles, the keyboardist’s first
major single, the title track to his album It’s All
Good (2005) hit No. 1 on the Radio & Records
Smooth Jazz Airplay chart and remained in
the Top 5 for four months. His follow-up album BRIAN SIMPSON
found him soaring Above The Clouds (2007)
Simpson has also been a touring keyboardist for pop icons Teena Marie and Janet Jackson and has also worked with George Duke,
Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, George Howard,
Billy Cobham and Gerald Albright.
The title of Nick Colionne’s 2008 Koch Records debut says it all about the charismatic
Chicago-based guitarist’s sizzling mix of jazz,
R&B, funk, blues and seductive vocals.
JEFF KASHIWA
Jeff Kashiwa is one of the most diverse and
in-demand sax players in all of contemporary jazz.
Kashiwa will be at the fest as part of The Rippingtons featuring Russ
Freeman show on Saturday, April 2. So he decided to hang around for
an extra day to join Colionne and Simpson for the Smooth Jazz 92.7
Sunday Brunch at the Crowne Plaza.
CLARENCE SPADY BAND
Sunday, April 3, 11 a.m., Sunday Blues Brunch at Inn at Reading
The Inn at Reading is playing host this
year to a Sunday Blues Brunch, featuring the
dynamic Clarence Spady Band.
Spady is no stranger to the Berks Jazz Fest
and the fans of Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base.
A W.C. Handy Nominee for Best New Artist
in 1997, Spady has been an underground
marvel since his initial and only worldwide
release Nature of the Beast in 1996. He
received international recognition as one of
CLARENCE SPADY
Living Blues Magazine’s “Top 40 Blues Artist
Under 40,” and received the ‘98 France Blues Trophie for Best International Blues Artist of the Year.
Spady has a strong worldwide fan base that has grown from his headlining performances in Hong Kong,
Austria, Germany, France, Italy,
Canada and the U.S. His most recent recording is Just Between Us
on Severn Records (2008).
Once described as “the future
of the blues” by Bill Dahl (Chicago
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Tribune), his sound has matured and is now even more distinguishable.
Clarence plays with a depth and sensitivity that can’t be taught, effortlessly combining blues, jazz, funk, and rock into his own unique sound.
Clarence’s growing fan base continues to spread the word of his
moving guitar play, rough street-edged vocals, songwriting, and live
improvisations.
RICK BRAUN AND THE READING POPS ORCHESTRA
PLUS SPECIAL GUEST PHILIPPE SAISSE
Sunday, April 3, 3 p.m., Miller Center for the Arts
Allentown native Rick Braun is a hometown
favorite at Berks Jazz Fest, and audiences
look forward to his magnetic personality and
rousing trumpet skills.
This year, his audience will see him as
they’ve never seen him before -- singing and
playing the American Songbook.
“I’m so excited about this,” Braun said. “This
represents a totally new direction for me.”
Braun is joining forces with the Reading
RICK BRAUN
Pops Orchestra, led by conductor Willis M.
Rapp, to bring his unique interpretation to the
American Songbook.
The April 3 show will be the official debut of
Braun’s material from his new project, Lucky
to Be Me, due out in June and named for a
Blossom Dearie song.
“It feels so right to have it start out at home,”
he said.
Braun will be joined by veteran keyboardist
Philippe Saisse, who composed the arrange- WILL RAPP
ments for Lucky to Be Me.
Saisse previously worked with Rod Stewart on his American Songbook project. A frequent collaborator of Braun’s, Saisse joins him once
again on piano and vibes on Lucky to Be Me, which was mixed by the
legendary, Grammy Award-winning Al Schmitt.
“I’ll be singing and playing trumpet on some amazingly wonderful
standards,” Braun said. “They are not songs commonly heard in the
American Songbook approach.”
Why the change in direction for a man so well known and loved for his
charismatic trumpet playing?
“I’ve always loved this music,” Braun said. “I’ve been singing all my life.”
In fact, he has been a background singer for Rod Stewart and Sade,
and while growing up, he was a student and fan of the standards and the
artists who sang them.
Among the songs featured on the upcoming album are “Say It,”
previously recorded by Frank Sinatra and John Coltrane; and “Once
Upon a Summertime,” recorded by Michel Legrand.
These songs are dear to Braun, as they remind him of times spent
with his wife, Christiane.
“It really tells a story directly related to my life,” he said.
“This is the most singing I’ve ever done,” he said. “It’s been a real leap
of faith for me, and a very positive experience all over.”
Best known to smooth jazz fans for his chart topping 2006 album
The Body and Soul Sessions, Saisse received a Best Contemporary Jazz
Album Grammy nomination for his world music influenced 2008 solo
project At World’s Edge. His credits as a sideman include David Bowie,
The Rolling Stones and Al Jarreau.
BRIAN CULBERTSON
FEATURING KENNY LATTIMORE
Sunday, April 3, 7 p.m., Scottish Rite Cathedral
The 2008 Berks Jazz Fest wrapped with
Brian Culbertson launching the tour behind his
then-upcoming CD Bringing Back The Funk,
an in-your-face, old school-styled groovefest.
The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard
Contemporary Jazz chart and spawned the
No. 1 radio hit “Always Remember.”
The hitmaking keyboardist returned to jazz
up BJF in 2009 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral,
where he and special guest vocalist Kenny
BRIAN CULBERTSON
Lattimore will close this year’s festival.
After 11 inspired albums that have passionately surveyed a broad spectrum of musical styles and prominently featured many of
music’s finest players, Culbertson decided to
keep conceptualism to a minimum and title
his 12th album XII (the Roman numeral for 12).
The 2010 collection was packed with guest
performances from the likes of renowned R&B
singer Avant, Brian McKnight, Faith Evans,
Kenny Lattimore and Ray Parker Jr. and
KENNY LATTIMORE
acoustic guitar legend Earl Klugh.
As he started working on the album, Brian thought of yet another way
to make his fans a part of the creative process in a brilliant extension
of the DVD he created in 2009, Live From The Inside — creating a daily
video blog.
His association with GRP began in 2004, when he contributed a
breathtaking rendition of “If Only For One Night” to GRP’s acclaimed
Luther Vandross tribute disc Forever, For Always, For Luther.
Kenny Lattimore made his self-titled debut on Columbia Records in
1996, scoring the Top 20 hits “Never Too Busy” and the perennial wedding song favorite “For You.” The success of the album earned him a
win for Best New Artist at the NAACP Image Awards. Among his career
highlights is Things That Lovers Do, an album of classic soul songs by
him and his wife, R&B singer Chante Moore.
Guitar Masters promise unforgettable evening of music
BY JERRY DUCKETT
SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLE
N
o jazz festival is considered the complete
package unless at some point it includes a
stage full of world-class guitarists.
The 21st annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest
has certainly always been a part of that elite
group of high-ranking festivals, and this year is
no different, with the inclusion of four incredibly
talented guitarists performing together on Saturday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Miller Center
for the Arts.
The “Guitar Masters” are Frank Vignola, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini and Bucky Pizzarelli,
and they are certainly worthy of the title.
Let’s start with the youngest member of the
group, John” Bucky” Pizzarelli, who recently
BUCKY PIZZARELLI
FRANK VIGNOLA
HOWARD ALDEN
GENE BERTONCINI
turned 85 and is still doing over 100 shows a
year.
During the late ’80s and early ’90s, Vignola
He is the father of the popular jazz guitarist
toured
with the likes of Madonna, Leon Redbone
John Pizzarelli and upright bassist Martin Pizand
Ringo
Starr, and his Hot Club was hailed by
zarelli. Bucky began his professional career with
The
New
York
Times as one of the top 10 acts
Vaughn Monroe in 1944 and is still going. After
of
1988.
It
was
this tribute that forged the way
he left the army in 1952 he became a staff musifor the many Django Reinhardt Hot Club groups
iane Dayton has been
“There is such a contagious
cian for NBC, playing with Skitch Henderson. In
that followed.
producing podcasts for
positive energy that flows from
1964, be became a member of the Doc SeverinVignola was only 27 when he signed his first
berksjazzfest.com with some
artists to concertgoers to behindsen band on the “Tonight Show.”
contract with Concord, followed by Telarc and
of
Berks
Jazz
Fest’s
biggest
the-scenes personnel and back
Bucky has performed at the White House for
Acoustic Disc, Hyena Records. Since then he
stars
for
several
years.
The
around
again. We hope to captwo presidents, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton,
has recorded with a limitless number of famous
interviews, available before
ture some of that with our video
and also played for former First Lady Pat Nixon
personalities including Queen Latifah, Mark
the fest, give fans a glimpse
blog this year.”
at a private birthday party at her home.
O’Connor, Wynton Marsalis and Donald Fagen.
of what they can expect.
You never know where they
Frank Vignola began his career at the age of
“I also began a five-year stint with Les Paul
This year, Dayton is doing
will touch down, so check www.
5, listening to his father’s records and playing
in 2000,”said Vignola. “I had heard he needed
something new -- she will be
berksjazzfest.com regularly and
along with all his friends who taught him all the
a rhythm guitar player, so I went down to Fat
taking Cool Jazz Café on the
click on the Diane Dayton - Cool
chords. All through his school days, he played
Tuesday’s where he was playing, and introduced
road during the 21st annual
Jazz Café Video Blog to find out
along with his influences, Django Reinhardt,
myself. To my amazement he told me to sit down
Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.
what’s going on at Berks this
Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Les Paul and other
and have dinner with him. It was an awesome exIn addition to her Cool
year.
famous musicians.
perience. We became good friends over 25 years.
Cast artist interviews, she will
“There is a great camaraderie
Frank has become one of the most accomBy the way, I never got the job at that time.”
be presenting a video blog during the fest.
with everyone at Berks Jazz Fest, I think of
plished multidimensional players walking the
“I am looking forward to the show on March
Catch up with what’s happening during the
it like jazz camp,” Dayton said. “This festival
planet today. In addition to being a superb player, 26, working with my three guitar heroes, Bucky,
10-day festival as Diane and her crew grab
is one of biggest in the country. It is well
composer, and improviser, he plays proficiently
Howard Alden and Gene Bertoncini,” Vignola addmoments with artists and attendees, and go
produced, with surprises each year, thanks
in every genre from jazz to bluegrass, and works ed. “I remember hearing Bucky for the first time
behind the scenes. Experience the music,
to John Ernesto! Once you have been here,
with everyone known in the guitar world.
when I was 5. Being on the bandstand with procamps, clinics and spontaneous times that
you keep coming back; it’s a great vibe all
During his growing-up period, he was playing
fessionals like this is how you find a love for the
make up Berks Jazz Fest!
around!”
three and four days a week professionally, and
instruments and the music. We all live to play.”
“This is my 10th year at BJF and I still rePrevious pod casts are on iTunes under
his first professional gig was at 13 in San Jose,
After recording a long series of albums for
member my first interview with members of
Cool Jazz Cafe Cool Casts, and artist interCalif., at a string convention. He went to high
Concord Records, Howard Alden released
the band, Fattburger,” said Dayton. “Thanks
views from previous festivals are on Dayton’s
school for one half-day a week and the other half
his own Reinhardt tribute album, I Remember
to the previous publicity director Mike ZielinYouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/
at the Cultural Center of Long Island, and graduDjango, with Anat Cohen and Warren Vache. His
ski, for setting that up!
user/DianeDayton.
ated a half-year early so he could go on the road
extensive credits include four albums with sevenwith the famous ragtime pianist Max Morath.
string guitar innovator George Van Eps and
dubbing Sean Penn’s guitar parts as “Emmett
“It was at this point, “said Vignola, “I decided
Ray” in the 1999 Woody Allen film “Sweet and
not to go to music college, get a place in ManLowdown.”
hattan, and look for work. I was very fortunate,
During his storied career, Gene Bertoncini has
since there was a great demand for rhythm guiincluded playing with Benny Goodman, Wayne
tar players in the traditional style, and I began to
Shorter, Hubert Laws, Paul Desmond, Tony Benknock on doors.”
nett, Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson, as well as
“One of my biggest life experiences was the
performing
in a long-running duo with bassist
day I put on my tuxedo, walked into Michael’s
Michael
Moore
and working in the orchestras on
Pub, probably New York’s premier night club,
and asked the owner if he wanted to do a tribute “The Merv Griffin Show” and “The Tonight Show.”
to Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli,” Vignola said. “He really floored me. To my surprise
he said ‘Yes, I just got a cancellation, you start in
saturday, march 26
three weeks.’ I guess we worked there about 25
weeks that year, 1988, and called our act the
Guitar Masters: Frank Vignola, Howard
Hot Club of France, the same name the originaAlden, Gene Bertoncini, Bucky Pizzarelli
tors used when they started the first-ever string
featuring
Miller Center for the Arts • 7:30 p.m. • $35
band in 1934.”
Cool Jazz Café goes on the road
D
A Musical Celebration
of Breast Cancer Survival
The Last Big Band
and the Ladies of Jazz
if you go...
Sharon Bailey, Toni Lynne & Suzie Ernesto
Saturday, April 2 • 2 p.m.
The Abraham Lincoln Hotel
100 N. Fifth Street, Reading • 610-372-3700
The Ladies of Jazz are back!
Performing together for
the first time in nearly five
years, the Ladies of Jazz –
Sharon Bailey, Toni Lynne
and Suzie Ernesto – will team
up with The Last Big Band
for an afternoon of swinging
jazz classics from the great
American Songbook.
The concert is dedicated
to breast cancer survivors,
including Sharon Bailey who
is making a singing comeback
after a two-year battle with
the disease.
Lee Southall and Jimmy
Zoller will conduct The Last
Big Band. Joanne Philipczak
will be the MC for this special
musical journey.
Tickets: $23
• Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com
• Sovereign Center Box Office, Seventh and Penn streets, Reading
• berksjazzfest.com
CONCERT IS
SUPPORTED BY
BREAST CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES
OF BERKS COUNTY
berksjazzfest.com
Legendary Randy Brecker
an artist-in-residence at fest
Join Paul Scott
and WSJW for live
festival coverage
BY JERRY DUCKETT
SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLE
or more than three decades, five-time Grammy winner and legendary trumpet and flugelhorn master Randy Brecker has been
shaping the sounds of jazz, R& B, and rock all over the world,
and his list of recorded music spans from Frank Sinatra to Bruce
Springsteen.
Brecker has been a regular fixture at the Berks Jazz Fest year
after year, but this year you might call him an artist-in-residence,
since he will performing five different times as a special guest with
some of the world’s elite musicians including: March 26 with Jeff
Lorber’s Fusion; March 28, with the world famous United States
Air Force Rhythm and Blues Jazz Ensemble for a free community
concert; March 30 with Chuck Loeb and Friends, for the BeBop
Sessions; March 31 as part of the Berks All-Star Jazz Jam; and
April 1 with the Brian Bromberg Band.
Brecker just returned from his annual gig on the Norwegian Line
Jazz Cruise along with 80 other musicians.
“I brought a quintet featuring my wife, saxophonist Ada Rovatti,
who will also be with me at Berks,” Brecker said. “The same family does this one and the smooth jazz cruise every year from Ft.
Lauderdale. I also followed the cruise with a performance at the
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Jazz Festival in Weatherford, Okla.”
“I think it’s great to be coming back to Berks,” he added. “I
have been doing it for many years, and again this year a lot of my
friends will be back. I am looking forward to seeing and playing
with them.
“It’s great, because we get to see each other in one fell swoop,
and John Ernesto does such a great job putting it all together. I
also will be doing some master classes at Albright College and
F
F
brecker at the fest...
saturday, march 26
Jeff Lorber Fusion featuring Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal,
Jimmy Haslip, Sonny Emory plus special guest Randy Brecker
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading
7 p.m. and 10 p.m. • $38
monday, march 28
United States Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble
featuirng special guest Randy Brecker plus the Berks High
School Al-Star Jazz Band
Boyertown Junior High West • 7 p.m. • FREE with ticket
wednesday, march 30
Chuck Loeb & Friends featuring Chuck Loeb, RIck Braun,
Randy Brecker, Brian Bromberg, Gerald Albright, Ada Rovatti,
Philippe Saisse and more
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading
7 p.m. • $35
thursday, march 31
Berks All-Star Jazz Jam featuring Rick Braun, Randy Brecker,
Chuck Loeb, Chieli Minucci, Gerald Veasley, Brian Bromberg,
Gerald Albright, Euge Groove, Philippe Saisse, Selina Albright,
Ada Rovatti and more
Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom • 8 p.m. • $45
friday, april 1
Brian Bromberg Band with special guest Randy Brecker
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading
7 p.m. and 10 p.m. • $38
Kutztown University. I am just happy the festival has been going
on for so many years.”
Brecker born in 1945 in Philadelphia began playing the piano
at an early age, coached by his father. His ear for R&B and funk
grew steadily as a result of playing various gigs in and around
Philadelphia, and by listening to his father’s record collection. He
attended Indiana University, pursuing an education degree, and
touring with their Big Band including a trip to the Middle East sponsored by the State Department.
In 1966 he moved to New York and worked with Clark Terry’s
Big Band, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, and the Duke
Pearson Big Band with whom he recorded two albums.
It wasn’t long after that when he began to devote more time to
jazz and joined Blood, Sweat, and Tears, staying with them for a
year. During that time he played on their 1968 debut, Child is
Father to the Man, then left to join the Howard Silver quintet.
Shortly after, he decided he wanted to record as a leader and
re-issued Score on Blue Note, which also featured his late brother,
tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker.
Together, in the fall of 1994, the brothers released the doubleGrammy winning Out of the Loop, and began a series of tours,
which took them to Europe, China, Japan and Poland, where they
played to sell-out crowds.
In 1995, Brecker began to increase his popularity worldwide
with his first solo album in six years with musicians gathered from
around the world. His first Grammy as a soloist came in 1998 for
Into the Sun as Best Contemporary Jazz Performance.
Then came the CD Hangin in the City, which swept Europe, and
once again increased his popularity overseas with his own band,
but also led him back to the U.S. where he toured extensively as a
part the Newport Jazz Millennium Celebration tour.
When President Barack Obama hosted Chinese President Hu
Jintao at the White House recently, the choice of music entertainment for the state dinner was “An Evening of Jazz.”
Headliners were piano legend Herbie Hancock, two-time
Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, four-time
Grammy-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves and Chris Botti, who
headlined the 2010 Berks Jazz Fest. Hancock and company were
backed by an all-star ensemble that included Brecker, Antonio Hart
on alto sax, James Genus on bass, Peter Martin on piano and Matt
Wilson on drums.
Brecker expects to release a new album, Ballads with the
Danish Radio Orchestra in June on the Half Note label.
During the last several years he has released five other
albums, many of which won Grammys. They are Lex and 34th,
Some Skunk Funk recorded in Germany with the WDR Big Band,
re-released Hangin in the City, Randy in Brazil, and Nostalgic
Journey, the Tykocin Site, recorded in Poland in the same area
where his ancestors were born.
or the sixth year, Smooth
Jazz 92.7 WSJW will have
a big presence at the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, with interviews and live broadcasts
on site. WSJW’s program and
music director Paul Scott, a
fixture at Berks, will be hosting his weekday morning
show, interviewing artists and
capturing the vibe at major
venues, and emceeing shows
for all 10 days.
“John Ernesto does such an
amazing job year after year
compiling a wonderful array
of genres, styles and great
artists for the festival,” Scott
said. “It’s a huge undertaking,
but the end result is a beautiful variety in a lineup that
gives all jazz lovers a little bit
of everything to chose from.”
For WSJW and Scott, the
party starts long before the
festival does, with daily ticket
and gift certificate giveaways
during Scott’s morning radio
show, starting with the first
Monday of the new year and
continuing right up until opening night.
Scott said the station has
been embracing technology,
giving fans more ways to
listen. Their smart phone app,
Smooth Jazz 92.7 WSJW, has
been downloaded more than
12,600 times in the past two
months. In addition to the
app, fans can listen online at
www.smoothjazz927.com.
These capabilities allow listeners to tune in from around the
globe, and they do.
According to Scott, January numbers show that the
U.K. and Australia are in the
fifth and sixth spots for listener demographics, behind
Philadelphia, Washington D.C.,
Baltmore and New York City.
This year, WSJW adds a
whole new dimension to their
coverage, with live streaming video of interviews and
broadcasts, which will available via a link on the station’s
Web site.
“We’re so excited to be
such a huge part of this
festival and are so looking
forward to seeing all the fans,
interviewing all the wonderful
artists and just being part
of a ‘vibe’ that just can’t be
found in any other festival on
the planet,” Scott said.
Smooth Jazz 92.7 broadcast schedule
SATURDAY, MARCH 26
• Noon to 2 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading; live with
Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sovereign Performing Arts Center;
prior to Al Jarreau and George Duke
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
• Noon to 2 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading; live with
Pieces of a Dream, Phil Perry
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sovereign Performing Arts
Center; live with Guitars & Saxes
MONDAY, MARCH 28 FRIDAY, APRIL 1
• 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Paul Scott’s morning show live in
the Crowne Plaza Reading lobby
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
• Noon to 2 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading; The
Rippingtons, Philippe Saisse
interviews
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Scottish Rite Cathedral; live
with Fourplay
SUNDAY, APRIL 3
• Noon to 2 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading; live with
Brian Simpson, Nick Colionne
and Jeff Kashiwa
• Miller Center; live with Rick
Braun before 3 p.m. show
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Scottish Rite Cathedral; live
with Brian Culbertson
Listen and view interviews online at smoothjazz927.com
Veasley will provide live reports
to WRTI listeners during the fest
G
erald Veasley will be a major
part of WRTI’s in-depth coverage of the 21st annual Boscov’s
Berks Jazz Fest.
The Philadelphia-based iconic
radio station has teamed up with
Veasley, who will provide WRTI
jazz listeners with live reports
during the 10-day fest.
“We’re excited about Gerald joining the WRTI team,” said Maureen
Malloy, WRTI jazz program director. “He’s a perfect fit -- he’s very
personable and he knows the
Berks Jazz Fest. Gerald’s nightly
reports will be a great addition to
our fest coverage.
Veasley plans to provide two
reports each night -- 7:30 p.m.
and 9:30 p.m.”
The reports will air on the
“Straight Ahead and Jazz with
Jeff Duperon” program on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday nights; on
the “Jazz with Maureen Malloy”
and the “Jazz with Bob Perkins”
programs Monday through
Thursday.
“My goal is provide WRTI listeners with a behind-the-scenes look
at the fest, artist interviews, and
the latest festival updates,” said
Veasley. “I’m honored to be part
of WRTI’s fest coverage.”
WRTI can be heard west to
Harrisburg and north to Scranton
and Wilkes-Barre; as far south as
Dover, Del., and at the shore in
Atlantic City, N.J.
In Reading, WRTI can be found
at 97.7 FM.
wit
h
WEST READING
NYC STYLE
CHARM
610.373.4907
622 Penn Avenue
West Reading
Conveniently located near all major Jazz Fest events...
www.winedowncafe.net
The Vista All-Stars to give fans
land version of The Jazz Cruise
SPONSORED BY
BY JERRY DUCKETT
SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLE
O
n Saturday, April 2, fans of straight-ahead jazz will be treated
to a musical odyssey often experienced at sea, without ever
having to leave port.
The Vista All-Stars are a mainstay on The Jazz Cruise, a straightahead jazz lover’s dream vacation, and are coming to Berks April
2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Miller Center for the Arts for The Jazz Cruise
Night.
These top-drawer musicians include the musical director of the
group, saxophonist and clarinetist Ken Peplowski, saxophonist
Houston Person, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Shelly Berg,
bassist David Finck, drummer Ernie Adams, and jazz vocalist Dee
Daniels.
“The Vista All-Stars was really formed about 10 years ago by
Anita Berry, and one of her sons, Michael Lazaroff,” Ken Peplowski
said. “They originated things and made it a charter on the Norwegian Line. The name Vista All-Stars was always there, but the musicians changed over the years. The group performing at the Berks
Jazz Festival have all just completed performing on the cruise.
Most of us have all performed together at one time or another in
various bands over the years, and we have all been regulars on
the cruise. It’s like a full jazz festival on the water.”
“One of the concepts they had was always to have existing
bands included in the cruise, the quartets, quintets, and some
hand-picked all-star groups, who – for lack of a better word –
could do organized jam sessions,” Peplowski explained. “When
I started playing on the cruise, I started in one of these all-star
groups. They have now operated for 10 years, and I have done
eight, but I recently have resigned as music director after four
years, simply because it takes too much time, and I have some
other projects I want to get started on.”
Peplowski just released a new CD earlier this month, titled In
Search Of, on the Capri label. The album includes guest spots by
Shelly Berg, Tom Kennedy and Jeff Hamilton.
“This is my first time at Berks,” he said. “I’m looking forward to
it. It’s a great lineup. I’m also looking forward to playing with the
All-Stars.”
Peplowski talked about his beginnings 30 years ago when he
grew up in Cleveland playing with Polish Polka bands.
“I played right through elementary and high school in their various bands and orchestras and also continuously jammed with the
other students, and with my trumpet-playing brother Ted at weddings, dances and almost every weekend,” he said. “That’s how
I learned to improvise, fake songs, learn chord changes and for
lack of a better description, it was like learning to swim by being
thrown in the water.”
“My first gig I had was when I was 11 or 12 in that polish polka
band my brother and I had,” he recalled. “We got paid $40 playing in the Garfield Heights, Ohio, library. I remember it well because, here it was, my first gig, and they spelled my name wrong.
Learned to improvise as a result of that band. It was good training.
The clarinet improvises much like a New Orleans jazz band.”
Next he joined the Tommy Dorsey band under the direction of
Buddy Morrow. Morrow had heard him at a Cleveland Jazz Festival
with the Teddy Wilson trio. Not only did he play lead, but he also
was given a feature spot with the rhythm section.
Maybe those days of learning to swim have carried over to his
jazz cruises, but these days, he is no longer searching for ways to
swim in an effort to become the best at his art.
The New York Times has called him “magical” and only one of a
few clarinetists to fill the void left by Benny Goodman. From The
Times: “Not only is he an outstanding sax and clarinetist, but an
entertainer with warmth and musicianship.”
Peplowski moved to NYC in 1980 and began to play with everyone who was anyone of note in the music world. He also recorded
close to 20 albums as a leader.
KEN PEPLOWSKI
HOUSTON PERSON
WYCLIFFE GORDON
Many of the others in the group have toured the world and have
won many different awards.
Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon received the Jazz Journalists Association Award for trombonist of the year in 2001, 2002, 2006,
2007 and 2008, and their Critics Choice award for best trombone
in 2000.
Houston Person and the late Etta James had collaborated for
30 years, as a result, making Person one of the most popular
figures on The Jazz Cruise.
Pianist Shelly Berg is currently the Dean of Jazz Music at the
University of Miami. He is well known to cruise fans not only as a
pianist, but also as a composer and arranger.
Bassist David Finck also is a producer, arranger and songwriter,
whose discography lists more than 100 recordings including platinum- and gold-selling records with Rod Stewart, Natalie Cole and
Elton John.
Ernie Adams is a popular drummer who has recorded and
played with almost every name you can think of, as well as the
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic.
There can be no Vista All-Stars without a versatile vocalist like
Dee Daniels. She has been to 12 African countries, Australia,
South America, the U.K., China, Japan, Europe and of course, all
over the U.S.
SHELLY BERG
ERNIE ADAMS
A great concert!
A great chance
to win a free cruise!
saturday, april 2
thejazzcruise.com
DEE DANIELS
Mark Your Calendars! Christmas Is Coming!
A Peter White
Christmas
featuring
Mindi Abair and Kirk Whalum
Sunday, Dec, 4, 2011 • Miller Center for the Arts
Two shows! 3 p.m. and 7 p.m • Tickets $39
Complete ticket information will be announced in June!
Thursday, March 31
1-3 pm
Enjoy the toe-tapping jazz
hits of yesterday and today
at this free concert at
Manor at Market Square.
Refreshments served. Seating is limited.
Please RSVP by March 25 by calling
Nicole or Carly at 610-373-0800.
FREE parking at the Berks Encore parking
lot located at 9th and Court Streets.
Sponsored by
Meals • Housekeeping
Activities • Transportation
No Buy-in
All-Inclusive Monthly Rent
803 Penn Street • Reading, PA • www.manoratms.com • 610-373-0800
The Jazz Cruise is proud to
be part of The Vista All-Stars
concert on Saturday, April 2,
7:30 p.m., Miller Center for
the Arts, during the Boscov’s
Berks Jazz Fest.
To celebrate the partnership
with the fest, Michael Lazaroff,
executive director of Jazz
Cruises, is offering everyone
who purchases a ticket for
The Vista All-Stars concert a
chance to win a FREE CABIN
for 2 for The Jazz Cruise
2012, the only full-charter
traditional jazz cruise.
That’s right. Everyone who
purchases a ticket for the April
2 concert will be eligible to win
a very special musical vacation ($5,000 value). The lucky
winner of the random drawing
at the concert will board the
Holland America m/s Westerdam and The Jazz Cruise that
sails Jan. 29-Feb. 5, 2012,
featuring stops in Aruba,
Curacao and Half Moon Cay.
DAVID FINCK
if you go...
The Vista All-Stars featuring Houston Person, Wycliffe
Gordon, Ken Peplowski, Shelly Berg, David Finck,
Ernie Adams and Dee Daniels
Miller Center for the Arts • 7:30 p.m. • $40
BUY A TICKET:
WIN A CRUISE!
Regional artist creates another festival logo
E
ach year, the Berks Arts Council selects an artist’s original
design to use as a unique logo
for Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest
merchandise.
This year’s artist piece was
created by East Petersburg-based
artist Todd Walk.
Walk has been a commercially
successful self-taught artist for
more than 20 years, working
TODD WALK
primarily in pastels. He focuses
mainly on contemporary pop-art, featuring a variety of
subjects.
His art stand has also been a festival mainstay for
several years, and his “Four Guitars” piece served
as last year’s Berks Jazz Fest logo. Walk’s creations
include original festival prints that are popular with
festival-goers.
To order prints online, visit www.toddwalkgalleries.com.
Crowne Plaza opens “Prime Steak & Wine”
restaurant in time to serve festival fans
T
jazz merchandise
This year’s official logo for the 21st annual
Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest will appear on a variety
of souvenir merchandise, which is supplied by
Lasting Image Promotional Products & Apparel.
A sample of that merchandise is shown here.
These and other items will be available for sale
during the festival at all major venues.
he Crowne Plaza Reading’s new
restaurant – Prime Steak & Wine –
opens just in time for the 21st annual
Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.
Tim J. Foster, director of food and
beverage, said: “The concept of the
restaurant is like Ruth’s Chris Steak
House or The Capital Grille, only less
formal.” The restaurant changes are
part of a $9 million renovation of the
rooms, pool and courtyard area, and
the Goodnites Lounge – Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base to festival fans.
In addition to prime cuts of meat
from New Jersey, Prime Steak &
Wine will serve seafood and have an
oyster bar with three or four kinds of
oysters.
The restaurant is located in the
former Market Cafe and City Limits
area. The hotel breakfast buffet will
be served in the Prime Steak & Wine
area, which will be called the bistro.
Foster also said that Prime Steak &
Wine will be open until 1 a.m. during
the Berks Jazz Fest to accommodate
fans staying at the hotel or attending
the many concerts scheduled in the
ballroom or in Gerald Veasley’s Jazz
Base.
TH
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H o l l a n d A m e r i c a m /s We s te r
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Over 300 guests
on The Jazz Cruise 2011
,
joined us from Europe
,
South America, Canada
Australia and Africa!
THE JAZZ CRUISE
JAZZ
IS AN INTERNATIONAL
FESTIVAL!
› Ft
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TO L L- F R E E U S & C A N A DA
TOLL-FREE INTERNATIONAL
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888.852 .9987
2O12
Jan. 29 - Feb. 5
› Cur
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T H E J A Z Z C R U IS
800.852.99872
THESMOOTHJA
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