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Jeff Golub Band featuring Henry Butler
plus the Berks Horns
Friday, March 23, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m.
Gerald Veasley's Jazz
Base, Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
Guitarist Jeff Golub is a Berks Jazz Fest favorite -- and
the fest is thrilled to have him back this
year.
Golub's life has been turned upside down recently, as he
has lost his sight in both eyes over the
summer -- ironically, while touring with pianist Henry Butler,
who has been blind since birth.
Butler has been able to give him a first-hand primer on how
to deal with this life-altering event -- Golub is
determined as ever  to play on.
Golub's latest release, The
Three Kings, released in
June, is a tribute to BB King, Freddie King and
Albert King,
with tracks like "Let the Good Times Roll," "Born
Under a
Bad Sign," and "The Thrill is Gone."
Golub and Butler performed at the
Jazz Base last June during a CD release concert. It was
an amazing concert that fans are still talking about.
During the fest, Butler and Golub are back at Gerald Veasley's
 Jazz Base
for two show. Butler, a legendary pianist and
vocalist, hails from New Orleans.
Although blinded by
glaucoma since birth, Butler is also a world-class
photographer with his work displayed at exhibitions
throughout the United States.
Playing piano since the age of
six, Butler is a master of musical diversity. Combining the
percussive jazz piano playing of McCoy Tyner and the New
Orleans style playing of Professor Longhair, Butler
continues to craft a sound uniquely his own.
Since 2002, the Berks 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, Gerald
Albright, and Brian Bromberg.
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 40th
Anniversary Celebration
The Manhattan Transfer
Friday, March 23, 7:30 p.m.,
Sovereign Performing Arts
Center
Tickets: $49
Click
here for ticket information
This year's opening night concert features The
Manhattan Transfer, the legendary vocal quartet celebrating
its 40th anniversary.
The Manhattan Transfer -- Tim Hauser,
Cheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel -- last appeared
at the Berks Jazz Fest in 2005.
The harmony vocal quartet has enjoyed commercial and
critical success, earning dozens of Grammy and other awards.
The Manhatten Transfer embraces varied musical styles and
yet creates something wholly unique in the field of American
popular song.
The group’s status as one of the most important and innovative vocal groups in the history of popular music was
cemented after their 1985 album Vocalese received a
monumental 12 Grammy nominations.
Their The Definitive Pop Collection, a 2-disc
retrospective of the group’s greatest hits, provides an
opportunity to look back at one of the greatest bodies of
work in American popular music.
The Chick Corea Songbook is their most recent
release in 2009.
Coincidentally, Chick Corea also is performing at this
year's Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest.
"Thank you Chick, for all the challenges, the elegant beauty
of your writing, and for the opportunity to put our vocal
spin on your music," Siegel shared, when speaking of the
album.
Don't miss this special anniversary celebration with one of
America's most iconic vocal groups!
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 Music
of TOP
Dance Hall Docs featuring Brent
Carter
Friday, March 23, 9 p.m.
Inn at Reading Ballroom
Tickets: $25
Click here for ticket information
The Dance Hall Docs are back at the Berks Jazz Fest
with another rockin' show featuring the music of Tower of Power.
The Docs and special guest
vocalist Brent
Carter will celebrate TOP's 40-year legacy with
another high-energy tribute.
 Carter is a former lead singer of Tower of Power.
For over four decades, TOP has been creating their
own
kind
of soul music.
The Docs, a 12-piece band playing funk, pop, jazz, R&B
and soul, are lead by Freddy Moreadith on drums,
percussion and vocals. Joining Carter on lead vocals
will be Danny Thompson.
Carter was lead singer of Tower of Power for
nearly six years, during which time TOP recorded three
albums -- Souled Out, Rhythm & Business, 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. He recently became lead vocalist for the
Average White Band.
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 All-Star Female Band
JaZz in Pink!
featuring Gail Jhonson,
Cindy Bradley, Karen Briggs, Althea Rene, Paula
Atherton, Lynne Fiddmont,
Mariea Antoinnette, "Pockett"
Brown, Darlene Moreno, Robin Bramlett and
Sundra Manning
Friday, March 23, 10 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
The Berks Jazz Fest is very happy to present JaZz in
Pink! during
 the 10-day event.
JaZz
in P!nk is an all-star female ensemble of musical women
in jazz that projects talent, beauty, power and
femininity as they embrace the stage.
They play everything from straight ahead to contemporary
jazz,
 Neo-Soul,
Latin, funk, R&B, and adult contemporary -- vocals and
instrumental.
JaZz in Pink! is fronted by pianist Gail Jhonson,
who is music director for guitarist Norman Brown;
violinist Karen Briggs, who played for 13 years with new
age/easy listening composer Yanni; trumpeter Cindy
Bradley; saxophonist Paula Atherton; and flutist Althea
Rene.
Other members of the group include drummer Danielle "Pockett:
Brown; bassist Robin Bramlett; harpist Mariea
Antoinette; guitarist Darlene Moreno; keyboardist Sundra
Manning; and vocalist Lynne Fiddmont.
With the release of Unscripted, her latest
Trippin’ N Rhythm recording, Cindy Bradley is not only
keeping the trumpet and flugelhorn hip and grooving lead
jazz instruments like her late great heroes Freddie
Hubbard, Lee Morgan and Blue Mitchell -- she’s also
continues her knack for picking spot on album titles.
Althea Rene is an impassioned flautist, who has been
known to mesmerize her audiences with her vivacious
captivating performances.
After years under the direction of many distinguished
members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, she focused
her attention to jazz and popular music. Today, Rene is
regarded among musicians and enthusiasts as one of the
best jazz flautists.
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 'Round Midnight Jams
Gerald Veasley & Friends
Friday, March 23
Saturday, March 24
Friday, March 30
Saturday, March 31
Midnight at Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $20
These midnight jams have become very popular in the
last few years, so for the first time, there will be
four 'Round Midnight Jams, and some tickets will be sold
in advance as well as the day of the jams.
The
jams will be held Friday, March 23; Saturday, March 24; Friday, March 30;
and Saturday, March 31.
You never know who will show up at the jams, but no
matter what artists join in the fun, it's always
guaranteed to be a great time.
The festival's energy continues after the last
concerts of the evening, and spills into Gerald
Veasley's Jazz Base for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Artists let their figurative hair down and jam into the
wee hours.
Don't miss the party!
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 The Sax Pack
featuring
Steve Cole, Kim Waters, and Jeff
Kashiwa
plus opening act Marc Antoine
Saturday, March 24, 2 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
The Sax Pack is a dynamic act consisting of three
signature sax players: Steve Cole, Kim Waters and Jeff
Kashiwa.
Backed by a tight rhythm section, the talented
trio combine their lifelong love of music and their
passion for performance, to make an impact on audiences
that love music as much as they do.
Committed to sharing the excitement, spontaneity and
creative energy that flows between them on stage, The
Sax Pack inspires
an
audience far beyond the duration of a show.
The well-known saxophonists create a show that combines
their individual styles and diverse backgrounds for a
fresh approach to the music that inspired them all to
become jazz musicians.
Their live performances
feature original music as
well as each
sax player’s signature hits and the classic
funk, R&B and jazz tunes that will get fans out of their
seats.
Guitarist Marc Antoine had a medical scare in
2011, and subsequently has had two heart surgeries. He
was forced to canal his appearance at last year's
festival.
Antoine's return to touring includes this
appearance in Reading as the opening act for The Sax
Pack.
His latest release, My Classical Way, includes
fresh versions of Pachebel's famed Canon and the first
single, 'Dreamer,' and features performances by
keyboardist Phillipe Saisse, and vocalists Jasmine Roy
and Rebeca Vega.
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 Prayer for the Planet
Tour
Global Noize
featuring Jason Miles,
DJ Logic, Falu, Jay Rodriguez, Amanda Ruzza, Will
Calhoun
plus special guests
Mino Cinelu and Maurice Brown
Saturday, March 24, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m.,
Gerald Veasley's
Jazz Base
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
Producer and keyboardist Jason Miles is bringing his
Global Noize project back to Berks.
In 2008, Miles and
his diverse lineup brought a unique free- spirited brew
of jazz, funk, electronica and world music.
He is back this year to take the audience on another
eclectic musical journey as they celebrate the second
Global Noize release, Prayer for the Planet, with
the help of fellow musicians Falu, Jay Rodriguez, Amanda
Ruzza, Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun, and special guests
Mino Cinelu
and Maurice Brown.
Miles, who has worked with everyone from Miles Davis and
Luther Vandross to Ivan Lins, and turntable guru DJ
Logic, who has collaborated with such diverse artists as
Phish, Vernon Reid, ?uestlove and Don Byron, joined
forces on the 2008 release Global Noize.
They teamed up with innovative guests such as Meshell
Ndegeocello, Billy Martin (Medeski, Marin & Wood),
Vernon Reid (Living Color), John Popper (Blues
Traveler), Cyro Baptista, Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads,
Parliament-Funkadelic) and Karl Denson.
Prayer for the Planet continues the musical
journey, with Falu, the brilliant female vocalist from
India who graced Global Noize's debut album, stepping up
and taking a major role by becoming the featured
vocalist.
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 An Evening With
George Benson
Saturday, March 24, 7 p.m.,
Sovereign Performing Arts
Center
Tickets: $56 and $46
Click here for ticket information
The legendary jazz guitarist George Benson is making his
second appearance ever at the Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest, his first
since 2004.
In his four-decade career, the Benson has been heralded
as a jazz guitarist of unparalleled chops, a vocalist
with great emotional range and sophistication, or a
combination of both.
Benson's staying power can be attributed to his
unparalleled aptitude for storytelling, evidenced by his
10 Grammy Awards and numerous other accolades.
His October 2011 Concord Jazz release, Guitar Man,
includes a mix of jazz and pop standards -- some in a
combo setting and some solo, but all of them tied
together seamlessly by Benson's soulful and exploratory
signature sound.
An evening with jazz icon Benson promises to be an absolutely
unforgettable one.
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85th Birthday Concert
Doc Mulligan & Friends
featuring Neil Wetzel, Mike Eben, Chris Heslop, Rick Gazda, Doug Matz,
Chuck Dressler, Marty Mellinger, Steve Meashey, Lew Leabman,
Suzie Ernesto, Deanna Reuben,
and Harry Barlow
Saturday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., The Miller Center for the
Arts
Tickets: $20
Click here for ticket information
More information coming soon!
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 Tribute
to Steely Dan
The Royal Scam
Saturday, March 24, 9 p.m.
The Inn at Reading
Tickets: $23
Click here for ticket information
The Royal Scam is the world's premier Steely Dan
tribute band -- and a big crowd pleaser in Berks.
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 throughout the Northeast region.
Royal Scam is comprised of Michael Caputo, lead vocals; Joe Montini, saxes; Wendi Gordy,
vocals; Gino Amato, keyboards and synth programming;
Carla Culkin, vocals; Phil
Long, drums; and Al Egizi, guitar.
After spending an evening enjoying the music of The
Royal Scam, you will come away thinking you just spent
an evening with Steely Dan!
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 Live TV Broadcast
WFMZ Jazz Stars
featuring Peter White,
Brian Simpson, Gerald Veasley,
Nick Colionne, Walter
Beasley and Elan Trotman
Saturday, March 24, 10 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
The Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest is well known for numerous
traditions. One of those traditions is the annual live broadcast of a concert on
Channel 69 WFMZ-TV, major sponsor of the festival.
"The live broadcast has become a B erks
Jazz Fest tradition," said Barry Fisher, WFMZ general
manager. "We are proud to be part of the jazz festival. It's
a great event for our community."
This year, the concert is being billed the WFMZ Jazz
Stars, featuring Peter
 White, Brian Simpson, Gerald Veasley,
Nick Colionne, Walter Beasley and Elan
Trotman, a
star-studded lineup
that promises a rousing good time for those
in attendance as well as those watching on TV.
Simpson and Veasley are the musical directors for this
two-hour musical journey that will travel through the
many hits of all the performers.
Celebrated keyboardist, composer Brian Simpson has been
the ‘go-to’ man for many major pop acts, including Janet
Jackson.
Placing his success in pop aside, Simpson has always
been a working jazz musician. He has toured with some of
the greats of recent jazz history, including George
Duke, Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, Kirk Whalum, and
Jonathan Butler. He has been the musical director for
Dave Koz for the past 15 years, and for the last eight
years the musical director of the highly popular “Smooth
Jazz Cruise," featuring Marcus Miller and David Sanborn.
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 Sunday
Jazz Brunch / CD Release Concert
Brian Bromberg & Friends plus the Berks
Horns
Sunday, March 25, 11 a.m., The Inn at Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
Join Brian Bromberg and Friends for the release party of
his upcoming recording, I’m Just Sayin’ during a
special jazz brunch at the Inn at Reading.
Bromberg
says the CD is primarily acoustic bass and acoustic
straight-ahead jazz, with up-tempo, high-energy tunes,
featuring a 10-piece horn section and the talents of
musicians like George Duke, Jeff Lorber, Randy Brecker
and more.
Bromberg is a fixture at Berks, making 2012 his eighth
time here. His previous projects have featured
collaborations with well-known genre artists.
Though he tends to gravitate towards the genre of
smooth jazz, Bromberg has released some straight-ahead
jazz records in which he performs with a trio, and has
even ventured into more rock-oriented jazz fusion
territory as of late.
His innovative and technically demanding style of
playing extends to both electric and upright bass.
Don’t miss the chance to hear his new material, while
relaxing and enjoying a great brunch.
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 Chieli Minucci & Special EFX
with special
guest Bernie Williams
plus opening act
Karen Briggs
Sunday, March 25, 2 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
Guitarist, composer and arranger Chieli Minucci is back
at the Berks Jazz Fest with a special project featuring
former New York Yankee turned jazz guitarist Bernie
Williams and the Special EFX band.
Opening the co-bill will be jazz violinist Karen Briggs,
who quickly became a fan favorite during the 2011 fest.
A major force on the jazz and world music scene for 25
years, Special EFX’s newest release, 2010’s
 Without
You is a diverse
collection of jazz-fusion, Latin
rhythms and Minucci's flowing guitar artistry.
With
Bernie Williams joining Minucci &
Special EFX, the Berks Jazz fest show promises to be
something very special.
Growing up
in Puerto Rico, Bernie
Williams discovered his love
for
baseball and music, when
at the age of 8 he fell in
love with the sounds of a
flamenco guitar his
merchant-marine father
brought home from Spain, and
also felt the same
exhilaration when he first
picked up a baseball bat. In
his 16-year career
patrolling centerfield for
the New York Yankees,
Williams was a four-time
World Series champion and a
five-time All-Star.
Williams has more
post-season RBI’s to his
credit than any other player
in Major-league history and
his resume also boasts four
gold-glove awards, six
American League pennants,
the 1996 ALCS MVP award, and
the 1998 American League
batting title.
Throughout
Williams’ years with the
Yankees, his passion for
music never waned. Whether
acoustic or electric, a
guitar was a constant
presence in the star’s
locker or equipment bag, and
it was no surprise in 2003
when he demonstrated how
serious his musical pursuit
was with the release of his
first album -- The
Journey Within. The
record featured fusions of
jazz, rock and the tropical
rhythms of Williams’
heritage and was met with
strong critical praise.
Williams raised his musical
game even further in 2009
with the release of his
second album Moving
Forward. The album was
nominated for a Latin Grammy
Award for Best Instrumental
Album.
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 Reading Eagle Community Concert
U.S. Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble
and the
Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band
Sunday, March 25, 3 p.m.
Boyertown Senior High School
and
Monday,
March 26, 7 p.m.
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Rhythm in Blue is a highly entertaining and
versatile big-band 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, Michael
Brecker and Herbie Hancock.
The ensemble also pays tribute to the Big Band leaders
of the swing era, such as Duke 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.
Bringing you great jazz from the USAF Heritage of
America Band, led by Master Sergeant John Cisar, we hope
you enjoy the musical talent of Rhythm in Blue!
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 Bela Fleck & The Original Flecktones
Sunday, March 25, 7 p.m.,
Sovereign Performing Arts
Center
Tickets: $49
Click here for ticket information
The Bela Fleck & The Original Flecktones are being
reunited for a special tour that may be the last time
the dynamic group performs together.
After nearly two decades, the original Flecktones have
joined forces again and released a new CD project --Rocket Science
-- featuring
new music from the
original lineup of banjoist and bandleader Bela Fleck,
pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy, percussionist Roy
“Futureman” Wooten, and bassist Victor Wooten.
Far from being a wistful trip back in time, the album
sees the Grammy Award-winning quartet creating some of
the most forward thinking music of their long, storied
career.
While all genres come into play -- from classical and
jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues
and Eastern European folk dances -- the result is a meeting of musical minds that remains, as ever,
utterly indescribable.
Simply put, it is the music made only
when the Flecktones come together.
Don’t miss the Flecktones’ seventh Berks Jazz Fest
performance, this time, featuring the four musicians who
made the band the legend it is today.
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 Sunday with the Pops
Rick Braun Sings With Strings
Reading Pops Orchestra
and Rick Braun
Sunday, March 25, 7 p.m.
The Miller Center for the Arts
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
Allentown native Rick Braun is a Berks favorite.
It’s
home for the trumpeter, and each year, he
shares his latest projects with his hometown crowd.
Last year, Braun debuted a project that was quite a
departure from his past shows – he sang songs from the
Great American Songbook, while accompanied by the
Reading Pops Orchestra.
He premiered his latest release, Rick Braun Sings
with Strings, before a delighted Berks crowd, and to
rave reviews from local music journalists in attendance.
He is once again joined by the Reading Pops Orchestra,
led by conductor Will Rapp. Don’t miss this delightful,
whimsical trip down memory lane.
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 Pat Martino Day
/ Tuesday, March 27
Miller Center for the Arts
6 p.m.: Martino: Unstrung (documentary
screening)
and
8 p.m.:
Pat Martino Trio plus special guests
Tickets: $30
Click here for ticket information
The
story of legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino’s battle
back from complete memory loss after a brain aneurysm in
the 1970s is a tale deemed by some as nothing short of a
miracle.
 The
Berks Jazz Fest has been blessed to have had Martino
perform several times during the annual event.
Now the fest wants to celebrate Martino’s continuing
legacy and contributions to the
music world -- and to look back on what made him the
musician he is today.
The fest is hosting a special Pat Martino Day on
Tuesday, March 27, which will feature a
special screening of the documentary "Martino Unstrung: A
Brain Mystery," followed by a concert by Martino and his
trio. The concert will feature some surprise guests who
have been part of Martino's musical journey.
Martino also will be available to sign his new
autobiography -- “Here & Now!” -- following the concert.
The film is a running commentary about a man, his music,
his friends and family, and his philosophy of life. The
film could be thought of as an intimate journey with
Martino on the road of life. However, its emphasis is on
his brain aneurysm, surgery, memory loss, and the
remarkable recovery of his guitar-playing ability.
Today, Martino lives in Philadelphia again and continues
to grow as a musician, amazing audiences with his
musical prowess.
Don’t miss this unique celebration of Martino’s life and
music.
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 Chuck Loeb's BeBop Sessions II
featuring
Chuck Loeb, Rick Braun,
Brian Bromberg,
Andy Snitzer,
Gerald Albright, Lionel Cordew,
Karen Briggs and Matt
King
Wednesday, March 28, 7 p.m.
Gerald Veasley's Jazz
Base
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
Chuck Loeb's BeBop Sessions is one of those
events that makes the Berks Jazz Fest very special.
Last year, Chuck and the fest committee came up with the
idea of getting an all-star group of contemporary jazz
artists together to stretch and play some good old
BeBop.
The concert was such a big hit that Chuck and friends
are back for BeBop Sessions II.
Jazz is nothing if not collaborative, and there's
certainly no shortage of that, with this all-star lineup
joining Loeb -- trumpeter Rick Braun,
bassist Brian Bromberg, saxmen Andy Snitzer and Gerald
Albright, drummer Lionel Cordew, violinist Karen Briggs
and pianist Matt King.
This mid-week concert is one not to miss!
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 Blues Party of the Year
Tommy Castro's Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue
featuring Tommy Castro, Magic Dick, Joe Louis Walker
and Deanna Bogart
Wednesday, March 28, 7:30 p.m., Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
Award-winning blues and R&B guitarist/singer/songwriter
Tommy Castro has become the honorary Captain of The
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruises, where famous blues
stars perform   together on the open seas of the Pacific
and the Caribbean.
Inspired by the thrilling,
no-holds-barred jam sessions on the ship, Castro decided
to bring the excitement and musical spontaneity of these
high-sea gigs to non-cruising fans with the Tommy Castro
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue tour.
 Leading the Revue, Castro brings the spirit and energy
of the onboard jamming to audiences.
Joining him for this Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest version of the revue are acclaimed
harmonica player Magic Dick, electric blues guitarist/vocalist Joe Louis Walker, and blues and boogie
pianist/saxophonist Deanna Bogart.
Richard Salwitz, better known as Magic Dick, was the
harp-wielding madman adding a bluesy vibe to such early
J. Geils Band songs as "Looking For A Love," "Give It To
Me," and the explosive harmonica showcase "Whammer
Jammer." He was with the band from its earliest
days through its break-up in 1985.
Guitarist Joe Louis Walker interprets not only the blues
but also a bevy of diverse musical genres, tempered with
aspects of contemporary jazz. Diversity of style is the
hallmark of his talent, and critics praise his bent for
improvisation and his boundless adaptability for
performing jazzy styles and themes.
Multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter Deanna Bogart
has been a successful bandleader for over twenty years.
Playing dazzling piano and soulful saxophone, her
eclectic streak and style of adventurous “blusion” has
garnered her numerous awards and accolades while touring
throughout the US and abroad.
With this lineup, this show will indeed be the blues
party of the year.
Fans of the genre will not want to
miss this rocking concert.
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 Greg Hatza ORGANization
Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m.
Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $15
Click here for ticket information
During the past few years, a popular trend has taken
hold in the jazz world -- the comeback of the Hammond
B-3 organ.
Under the influence of the great
Jimmy Smith in
the '60s, the instrument had become so popular that it
seemed that ever major city featured organ combos in
their neighborhood bar. Then in the '70s, with the rise
of the electric piano, synthesizers and disco rhythms,
the organ went into a near complete eclipse, and almost
became extinct.
Hatza's career has paralleled closely the ups and downs
of the organ, but as with the instrument, he has
survived the lean years and is currently in prime form.
The turning point for Greg occurred in 1995 when he met
Joey DeFrancesco,
a member of the new generation of organ players. Joey
convinced Greg to start playing the organ again, telling
him "the B-3 was back to stay." Soon after that, the
first Greg Hatza Organization CD was recorded and
released.
Since then, Greg has recorded
four CDs under
the Greg Hatza Organization banner. The group has
performed nationally and internationally with premier
performances at the Blue Note, in New York and Fukuoka,
Japan.
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Berks All-Star Jazz Jam
 featuring Chuck
Loeb, Nick Colionne, Jeff Golub
Dean Brown, Gerald Veasley, Brian Bromberg, Rick Braun, Andy Snitzer, Mindi
Abair, Gerald Albright, Lionel Cordew, David Pack, Karen
Briggs, Matt King, David Benoit and Brian
Culbertson
Thursday, March 29, 8 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $45
Click here for ticket information
Nowhere else will you find such a star-studded show! The annual favorite is a musical party in the Crowne
Plaza.
Join the party and enjoy the collaborative magic of
musical director and guitarist Chuck Loeb, guitarists
Nick Colionne, Jeff Golub and Dean Brown; bassists
Gerald Veasley and Brian Bromberg; saxmen (and women)
Rick Braun, Andy Snitzer, Mindi Abair and Gerald
Albright; drummer Lionel Cordew; guitarist David Pack;
violinist Karen Briggs; pianists Matt King and David
Benoit and trombonist Brian Culbertson.
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 The Dean Brown Group
featuring Dean
Brown, Dennis Chambers,
Schuyler Deale and
Gerry Etkins
Friday, March 30, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m.
Gerald Veasley's
Jazz Base
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
Those who have seen and heard Dean Brown perform are
immediately struck by the passion and energy he puts
into each note.
His compositions are thoughtful and intense, yet lyrical
vehicles for individual as well as group expression. The
strength of Brown's virtuosic rhythm technique makes his
music groove in a unique way.
For close to 30 years, Dean Brown has been an
integral part of the global fusion and electric jazz
scene, recording and/or touring around the world with
his own projects and legendary artists David Sanborn,
Bob James, Marcus Miller, The Brecker Brothers, Billy
Cobham, George Duke, Roberta Flack, Joe Zawinul, Lenny
White, Kirk Whalum, Dennis Chambers, Bill
 Evans, Victor
Bailey, and Steve Smith's Vital Information.
Brown's soulful, dynamic and creative guitar work can
be heard on well
over 200 recordings, numerous Grammy nominations and
four Grammy Award winners.
Dean has released three critically acclaimed solo CD's
worldwide titled Here, Groove Warrior and
DB III: Live At The Cotton Club Tokyo and an
Instructional DVD with publishing giant Hal Leonard for
Musicians Institute titled "Modern Techniques For The
Electric Guitarist".
Brown continues to tour and sell out venues all over
the world with his own all-star groups and recently
returned to Japan for the third consecutive year with
his trio DB III, which has featured Dennis Chambers,
Billy Cobham and Will Lee.
Legendary drummer Dennis Chambers will be part of Dean's
power quartet for the Berks Jazz Fest shows.
Chambers is probably one of
the best jazz, funk, fusion drummers of all
time. His most notable work is with Carlos
Santana, John Scofield, Steely Dan, Funkadelic,
and Mike Stern. His incredible ability to play
right in the pocket has set him apart as one of
the best groove drummers ever.
Chambers currently is a member of Carlos
Santana's touring band. Last August, On August
26, he appeared as a featured drummer on the
Late Show with David Letterman during Drum Solo
Week II.
Back to top
 Boney James
Friday, March 30, 7 p.m.
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Tickets: $49
Click here for ticket information
Boney James is back at the Berks Jazz Fest making his
10th appearance.
Boney dislikes labels and refuses any and all of them.
“In fact, I have never thought of myself as a ‘jazz’
artist specifically,” he says.
Of course, this statement may serve as a source of
confusion for the musician’s legion of fans that have
scooped up over 3 million copies of his 12 albums (with
eight of them going to No. 1 on the Billboard
Contemporary Jazz Chart).
It also may seem contradictory to the respected opinions
of music critics who consider him one of the most
influential jazz artists of his generation.
Even so, Boney, who has four Gold albums, three Grammy
nominations, a Soul Train Award, and an NAACP Award
nomination to his credit, says: “I am just a saxophone
player whose music has several different influences.
Jazz is only one of them.”
This incredibly accomplished artist -- who broke into
music in the mid-80s touring with acts such as The Isley
Brothers, Morris Day (The Time), Randy Crawford and
Teena Marie, and emerged as a solo force in 1992 with
his breakthrough debut, Trust -- has long been
influenced by contemporary R&B.
Boney cites legendary producer Quincy Jones as a major
inspiration. “I admire him and his ability to make great
vocal tunes as well as instrumentals.”
Although Boney’s music has in the past been categorized
by some as smooth jazz, he refuses to accept any type of
labeling.
“I always try to make sure my records possess integrity.
I make Boney James music."
Back to top
 Piano2Piano
Brian Culbertson & David Benoit
Friday, March 30, 7:30 p.m.
The Miller Center for the Arts
Tickets: $39
Click here for ticket information
The Berks Jazz Fest always is looking for new and unique
acts to present.
The Piano2Piano project featuring Brian Culbertson and
David Benoit is one of those acts.
Having two of the highest profile pianists in
contemporary jazz join forces and perform on acoustic
grand pianos at the same time, makes for an exciting new
concert experience.
Benoit and Culbertson will perform some of their
best-known compositions along with original music they
have created together specifically for this project.
The Berks Jazz Fest is happy to offer fans a great
opportunity to see these gifted and prolific artists in
the intimate setting at the Miller Center for the Arts.
Be sure to catch this duet of two piano virtuosos.
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 Blues at the Inn
Joe Krown Trio featuring Walter "Wolfman"
Washington, Russell Batiste Jr.
plus opening act
Debbie Davies Band
Friday, March 30, 7:30 p.m., The Inn at Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
Joe Krown (Hammond B-3), Walter Wolfman Washington
(guitar & vocals) & Russell Batiste (drums & background
vocals) started playing together in March 2007.
The combination of the soulful vocals of Walter with the
big sound of the Hammond B-3 (which Joe also plays all
of the bass parts on the B-3) and the masterful drumming
skills of Russell Batiste Jr. has developed it's own
unique sound. The trio won a 2009 Big Easy Award in the
"Best Rhythm & Blues Band" category.
As a member of one of N’awlins legendary musical
families, Russell Batiste Jr. knows his way around a
sound stage. He joined the Funky Meters in 1989. Russell
has played with a wide variety of performers including
Mike Gordon (Phish), Eric Krasno (Soulive), Champion
Jack DuPree and Maceo Parker.
Walter “Wolfman” Washington has been an icon on the New
Orleans music scene for decades. His searing guitar work
and soulful vocals have defined the Crescent City’s
unique musical hybrid of R&B, funk and the blues since
he formed his first band in the 1970s.
Joe Krown was featured in a first-season episode of the
HBO drama "Treme." He has
performed with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Johnny Adams,
Marcia Ball, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, C.J. Chenier and
Marva Wright.
Honing her chops in the legendary Albert Collins' band
the Icebreakers, guitarist/singer/songwriter Debbie
Davies has been fronting her own powerful blues units
over the course of seven critically-acclaimed releases.
One of the top contemporary blues artists on the scene
today, Davies injects that kind of deep, soulful
resonance into her work that she learned from her
mentor.
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 Brazilian Carnavale
Minas
Friday, March 30, 9 p.m.
Reverb @ 1402 N. Ninth St.
Tickets: $20
Click here for ticket information
Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest brings more than jazz to
audiences each year. The festival organizers are always
looking for something new to share with music lovers.
This year, festival goers can enjoy the energetic sounds
of Carnaval with Minas, a duo which has become one of
the most sought-after Brazilian bands in the U.S.
Orlando
Haddad and Patricia King formed Minas in 1978 at North
Carolina School of the Arts to bring Brazilian music to
stateside audiences. They proceeded to play all over the
eastern US before going back to their musical roots in
Brazil, where they entertained, traveled extensively and
recorded their first album, Num Dia Azul.
Minas is built upon the duo's multiple talents as
vocalists, instrumentalists and composers with an
impressive grasp of the whole range of Brazilian musical
idioms.
At the core of any Minas show are the voices of the duo,
which reflects two decades of vocal and instrumental
blending. Warm and engaging, this magical sound becomes
infectious when Minas adds bass, drums, percussion and
horns to Orlando's guitar and Patricia's keyboards.
Experience Minas and be transported to Carnavale!
Back to top
 Mindi Abair
with special guests Jeff
Golub and David Pack
Friday, March 30, 10 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
Saxophonist/singer/songwriter Mindi Abair has not only
set sonic trends, but has broken all the boundaries as
she continues to define the less traditional future of
jazz.
Her
own brand of pop and soul meets jazz adds a refreshingly
unique voice to an exciting new generation of crossover
artists.
Abair has 10 No. 1 singles under her belt, and has
hosted a radio show, Chill with Mindi Abair, for five
years.
She is a regular columnist for Wine and Jazz Magazine
and author of the book "How To Play Madison Square
Garden - A Guide To Stage Performance." She is currently
touring the US and abroad with her band.
The list of artists she has toured or recorded with are
a testament to her talent. They include the Keb’ Mo’,
Lalah Hathaway, Duran Duran, Lee Ritenour, the
Backstreet Boys, Mandy Moore, Adam Sandler, Max
Weinberg, Mocean Worker, Bill Champlin, Teena Marie,
John Tesh, Sheila E, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, Peter
White and Rick Braun.
Guitarist Jeff Golub also is performing with his own
band during the fest, on Friday, March 23. Both Golub
and Pack will join Abair and many others on stage for
the Berks All-Star Jazz Jam, Thursday, March 29, 8 p.m.,
in the Crowne Plaza Reading ballroom.
Back to top
 Spyro Gyra
plus Nick
Colionne
Saturday, March 31, 2 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
The Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest is please to present Spyro
Gyra at this year's fest in a special co-bill with
guitarist Nick Colionne.
As Spyro Gyra contemplates upcoming milestones to its
storied career, it is tempting to fall back on the
Grateful Dead lyric -- “What a long strange trip
it’s been” -- to describe it.
During that time, the contemporary jazz iconic band has
performed over 5,000 shows, released 29 albums (not
counting “Best Of”
 compilations) selling over 10
million albums, including one platinum and two gold
albums.
A
Foreign Affair is the band's latest release.
These upcoming milestones include 2012, which will be 35
years since their first album release and 2014 will be
forty years as a band. They show little sign of wanting
to slow down either, gaining Grammy nominations for each
of their last four albums.
In their earliest days, Spyro Gyra took their cues from
Weather Report and Return to Forever -- bands whose
creative flights were fueled by a willingness to do
things that had never been done before.
The first few years saw the group’s identity split into
a dynamic live act and a producer centric recording
process, borne out of the rotating cast of characters in
the jazz jam beginnings.
There were several personnel changes in the 1980s, which
slowed down about 20 years ago. Julio Fernandez became
the group’s guitarist in 1984 and, except for a short
hiatus at the end of that decade, has continued in that
position. Scott Ambush became the band’s bass player in
1991 making this the beginning of his third decade in
the band. Bonny Bonaparte joined the band in 2006 making
him the “new guy” at five years.
With a jazz style that is both urban and contemporary,
Nick Colionne, a Berks Jazz Fest favorite, has blazed a
trail to the top of the ranks of today's stars.
Combining jazz, R&B, blues and funk, Nick has an
unmistakable sound and vibe that is instantly
recognizable. He takes the guitar to unexpected places
every time he performs and his rich baritone vocals
delight audiences unaccustomed to hearing such a skilled
instrumentalist singing as well.
As for his showmanship -- well, you just have to
experience a Nick Colionne show for yourself. With style
and energy to spare, unparalleled musicianship and a
natural comedic flair, he is one of a kind.
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 Chuck Loeb & Plain 'n' Simple
featuring
Pat Bianchi, Andy Snitzer,
Lionel Cordew, Carmen Cuesta
and Lizzy Loeb
plus special guest Rick
Braun
Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m.
Gerald Veasley's
Jazz Base
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $38
Click here for ticket information
Chuck Loeb has become a fixture at the Berks Jazz
Fest.
And each year, the dynamic guitarist brings fresh ideas
for an entertaining show.
This year, Loeb is sharing his latest musical
project --
Plain 'n' Simple. The new venture features a
"retro" Hammond B-3 organ trio that reflects Chuck's
earliest influences in jazz.
The concert at the Jazz Base will take you back to an
era when times were much "simpler," and a lot of
fun.
Joining Chuck will be organist Pat Bianchi and drummer
Lionel Cordew, who were part of the CD project, along
with special guests saxophonist Andy Snitzer and
trumpeter Rick Braun.
The Berks Jazz Fest show also will be a real family
affair, with Chuck's wife, singer Carmen Cuesta, and
daughter, singer/songwriter/guitarist Lizzy Loeb,
joining in the fun.
More than a jazz guitar player, Loeb is the consummate
musician who now tours with Fourplay. 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 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.
Back to top
 Will Downing
with special guest Gerald
Albright
Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m.
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Tickets: $49
Click here for ticket information
Will Downing and Gerald Albright together on stage --
it does not get any better than that!
R&B and jazz singer Will Downing is bringing his
signature romantic sound to the Berks Jazz Fest for the
first time with his band and special guest saxophonist
Gerald Albright.
In 1998, Albright and Downing collaborated on a classic
CD
 Pleasures
of the Night that emphasized romantic ballads
-- "The
Nearness of You," the Beatles'
"Michelle," "The Look of Love," and "We'll Be Together
Again."
A USA Today
reviewer said: "If
you're looking for
something to complement
your
wine and
candlelight, Downing's
smoky vocals and Albright's
soothing sax will probably
fill the bill."
During his two-decade career, Downing has earned a place in the hearts of women with his soulful ballads.
His 1991 album A Dream Fulfilled began a period
where Downing found his musical identity and was the
first of a string of successful albums that focused on
smooth, romantic music, mostly ballads.
Sometimes unfairly lumped with his friend Luther
Vandross, Downing was actually creating his own brand of
love music that was less urban and much jazzier. And
though Downing’s songs were also more sensual than Vandross’s, he shared Luther’s sensibilities, singing to
women on a truly romantic level that clearly went beyond
the physical.
In 2010, Downing issued one of his most ambitious
projects, an “audio novel” called Lust, Love and
Lies, that detailed a relationship going through
various stages, with spoken interludes between a very
strong batch of songs. It was released to enthusiastic
reviews.
Gerald Albright's contemporary and straight-ahead
collections have established him as one of the most prominent artists. Indeed,
Albright was one of
the 10 featured saxophonists who performed at President
Clinton’s inauguration. He was also featured at the
Presidential Summit, as well as several private
functions for the President.
Albright has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S.
alone. His self-produced music features him on bass
guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and
background vocals. Gerald has definitely earned the
reputation as the “musician’s musician.”
Whether he is playing contemporary or straight-ahead
jazz, Albright stands in a class all by himself. He is
known for his swiftness on stage, his unique round sound
which is percussive yet soulful. He has the ability to
surprise the audience with something out of the
ordinary. Albright gives his audience what they come for
-- a great show!
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 The New Faces of Jazz
Anat Cohen Quartet plus Eldar
Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
The Miller Center for the
Arts
Tickets: $35
Click here for ticket information
Anat Cohen and Eldar, two of the hottest young
artists in jazz, will perform during a special "The New
Faces of Jazz" program during the festival.
An established bandleader and prolific composer,
Israeli-born clarinetist and saxophonist Cohen first
exploded on the global jazz scene with two critically
acclaimed records.
Now, she has established herself as one of the primary voices of her generation on both the tenor saxophone and
clarinet while leading her band with an ntensity,
 balance and clarity almost unmatched in the jazz world
today.
Exploring and mastering multiple styles -- such as
traditional jazz, Afro-Cuban, tango, klezmer, and others
--- earned her a reputation as an adventurous player,
unafraid to take risks in any situation.
With her own compositions and with even her affectionate
tribute to Benny Goodman, the King of Swing, her abandon
is no less evident.
The Boston Globe recently wrote: “The most interesting
clarinetist of her generation. Anat played with great
physicality -- but at the heart of her performance was a
commitment to enjoy herself ... she had the audience in
her palm.”
Eldar Djangirov is a case of a prodigy living up to his
boundless promise.
Since his debut in 2004, Eldar, now 24, has been
traveling at hyper speed, carried along by a combination
of awe-inspiring technique and stunning musicality.
Born in Kyrgyzstan, Eldar began studying piano at 3 with
his mother, who was a professor of music history. After
the Soviet Union’s dissolution, his family settled in
the U.S. and Eldar was only in his mid-teens when jazz
elite like Billy Taylor, Marian McPartland and Benny
Carter started to hail him as a great young player.
During his meteoric career, Eldar has been nominated for
a Grammy, performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie
Hall, and appeared on high-profile TV shows.
Prepare for an intimate evening of solo piano with one
of today’s huge talents.
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 Blues at the Inn
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
plus
opening act Clarence Spady
Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
The Inn at Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
If you are a fan of the legendary jump blues era,
then you want to make sure you do not miss this show.
Lavay Smith is the vocalist and bandleader of the Red
Hot Skillet Lickers, one of the top swingin’ jazz and
blues bands in the world.
Lavay grew up in Southern
 California and the Philippines
and has
become an internationally recognized Diva of
jazz and blues, with
a singing style influenced by
Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, Little
Esther Phillips and other legendary greats. Whether
singing her own compositions or drawing on a large
repertoire of classics, Lavay and her all-star 7-piece
band bake up an instant recipe for dancing and good
times.
This sultry chanteuse evokes a sensuous era of
jazz/blues queens and sexy pinups and adds a modern,
feminist twist. No wonder Los Angeles Magazine
chose her as one of the sexiest people around. Lavay
began attracting crowds right from the start thanks to
her big, bluesy voice, exciting stage personality,
and
glamorous approach.
Joining Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers to
kick off the swinging night of music is blues guitarist
Clarence Spady, a Berks Jazz Fest favorite.
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Funky Party
The Groovemasters featuring Bennie
Sims, Cliff Starkey, David Cullen, Curt Harmon
and Alisa B. Anderson
Saturday, March 31, 9 p.m., Reverb, 1402 N. Ninth St.
Tickets: $15
Click here for ticket information
More information coming soon!
Back to top
 Incognito featuring Maysa
Saturday, March 31, 10 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
After many years of trying, the Berks Jazz Fest
finally was able to book Incognito featuring Maysa for
the fest.
From the earliest years of his life, Jean-Paul Maunick
was literally surrounded by music.
Maunick was the son of Edouard Maunick, a distinguished
African poet and writer, who was his country’s
ambassador to South Africa after Nelson
 Mandela became
president.
Young Jean-Paul -- nicknamed Bluey at an early age --
immediately gravitated to a different kind of lyric and
verse. By the early 1970s, Bluey sought out every
available opportunity to check out U.S. bands touring in
the UK, like Earth Wind & Fire, Weather Report, Kool and
the Gang, Tower of Power and the Doobie Brothers.
Bluey and Paul “Tubbs” Williams formed a disco-funk
group in the 1970s
known as Light of the World, a disco-funk group that
scored a few moderate UK hits, including a cover of Bob
Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff.”
After three LPs, Bluey
and Williams made a few personnel changes and renamed
the band Incognito.
The band released Jazz Funk in 1981. Ten years
after Jazz Funk, Incognito released the
long-awaited Inside Life, a 1991 album that
spawned the single, “Always There,” which became a hit
in Britain’s burgeoning acid jazz scene, thanks in large
part to the song’s vocal track by Jocelyn Brown.
Dynamic vocalist Maysa would appear on several Incognito
albums for the remainder of the 1990s and beyond. Along
the way, they’ve generated numerous hit singles on
either side of the Atlantic, most notably “Always There”
and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A
Thing.”
More than just a band in the traditional sense,
Incognito is an ever-changing collective of musicians
hand-picked by Bluey from a worldwide pool to capture
whatever vibe he is seeking on any given project. The
result is a dynamic musical entity that spans a vast
range of styles and cultures. He claims to have used
more than 1,000 different musicians and vocalists during
the band’s 30-year career, with lineups varying in size
from eight pieces to fourteen to even larger
configurations.
Back to top
 Sunday Jazz Brunch
Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo
Sunday, April 1, 11 a.m., Inn at Reading
Tickets: $36
Click here for ticket information
What a great act for a Sunday Jazz Brunch at the Innn at
Reading.
Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo have become festival
favorites after some great performances the past three
years.
Vignola's stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist
of choice for many of the world's top musicians,
including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton
Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, the Boston Pops, the New York
Pops, and the late guitar legend Les Paul, who named
Vignola to his "Five Most Admired Guitar List" for the
Wall Street Journal.
Vignola's jaw-dropping technique explains why the New
York Times deemed him "one of the brightest stars of
the guitar."
Vinny Raniolo began playing
guitar at age 13. After performing his first gigs at
the age of 16 in local jazz clubs, rock n’ roll
bars, and musical theatre pit bands, he began to
catch the ears of other professional musicians and
began to tour and work in recording studio.
Vinny has been on numerous recordings with Vignola,
Bucky Pizzarelli, Tommy Emmanuel, Tony Trishka, Matt
Flinner, Ken Peplowski to name a few.
Back to top
 RnR
Richard Elliot
and Rick Braun
Sunday, April 1, 2 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading
Tickets: $40
Click here for ticket information
The finale day of the Berks Jazz Fest is no April Fools
joke.
Kicking off Day 10 of the fest will be the dynamic
collaboration of Rick Braun and Richard Elliot -- who
will be followed later in the day by Chick Corea and
Brian Culbertson at different venues.
When Braun and Elliot hit the stage
together, you know the fans are in for a fun,
high-energy concert.
The incredible collaboration -- Braun on trumpet and Elliot on sax -- between the genre superstars have been
entertaining fans since the debut the RnR project back
in 2007.
Braun and Elliot have more than two-dozen solo albums
between them, a collaboration album -- RnR -- and
a massive catalog of chart-topping radio hits. Braun,
who started his professional career by writing a hit for
REO Speedwagon ("Here With Me"), is an Allentown native.
Elliot began his recording career playing with Motown
legends Smokey Robinson and The Temptations. He was
still a teenager when he toured with Melissa Manchester.
Elliot put out his first solo album in 1976, and in
subsequent years, the Scotland-born, Los Angeles-raised
saxophonist became a steady voice in contemporary jazz.
Back to top
 An Evening With
Chick Corea
Sunday, April 1, 7 p.m.
The Miller Center for the Arts
Tickets: $55
Click here for ticket information
The Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest has been trying to
present Chick Corea for many years.
The fest and Corea schedules never messed. Well, that
thankfully has changed for the 2012 festival.
The festival is proud to have the legendary pianist in
the lineup for what will be a very special night of
music at The Miller Center for the Arts. Corea will
present a solo piano concert.
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, 16-time
Grammy winner, and undisputed keyboard virtuoso, Chick
Corea has attained living legend status after four
decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic
output that is simply staggering.
From straight ahead to avant-garde, bebop to fusion, children's songs to chamber music, along with some
far-reaching forays into symphonic works, Chick has
touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his
illustrious career while maintaining a standard of
excellence that is awe-inspiring.
A tirelessly creative spirit, Chick continues to
forge ahead, continually reinventing himself in the
process.
Back to top
 Brian Culbertson
Sunday, April 1, 7 p.m.
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Tickets: $49
Click here for ticket information
The Berks Jazz Fest ends its musical journey with a
concert featuring the dynamic Brian Culbertson.
The keyboardist, trombonist, writer, arranger, producer
and one of the most exciting live performing
instrumentalist on the scene today, is a festival
favorite, making his 11th appearance.
Culbertson always brings
an unparalleled level of energy to every performance,
getting the crowd on its feet and clapping and cheering along to the
beat.
Culbertson also will team up with fellow jazz
pianist David Benoit, also no stranger to Berks, for a
unique piano duo show at the Miller Center for the Arts
on Friday, March 30.
Whether funking out or mellowing out, Culbertson
promises a world-class entertaining performance worthy
of the being the festival finale.
Back to top
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