Third annual 'A Night of All-Star Jazz for Sickle Cell'

Jason Miles presents
Celebrating the Music of
Marvin Gaye & Motown
featuring
Bobby Caldwell, Maysa, Nick Colionne,
James 'D-Train' Williams, Everette Harp & more

    Grammy-nominated producer, arranger, and keyboardist Jason Miles pays homage to the classic Motown sound and Marvin Gaye during what promises to be a memorable night of music.
    Miles and an all-star ensemble -- Bobby Caldwell, Maysa, Nick Colionne, James "D-Train" Williams, Everette Harp, a dynamic rhythm section and backup singers -- will present a tour de force of sensuous grooves and style that rekindles the spirit of the great Marvin Gaye.
    Miles debuted the Marvin Gaye tribute concert during the 2006 Berks Jazz Fest. It was an amazing concert.
    The Berks Jazz Fest encourages all its fans to support the South Central Pennsylvania Sickle Cell Council by attending this must-see concert.

Saturday, July 26, 7:30 p.m.
The Forum, Harrisburg, PA

Tickets: $55 and $45

Get your tickets NOW! For tickets and information:
l Call the Whitaker Center at 717-214-ARTS
l Stop in at the Whitaker Center box office at 222 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA
l Order online at www.whitakercenter.org

Bandshell series opens with Rangell, Reading Pops
    The annual Bandshell Summer Concert Series, presented by the Berks Arts Council, kicks off Friday, July 4, in City Park located in Reading, Pa.
    With the concert set for the Fourth of July, the Berks Arts Council has put together a dynamic program that promises to feature some musical fireworks.
    The concert -- "Let Freedom Swing!" -- features jazz saxophonist Nelson Rangell and the Reading Pops Orchestra.
    The free community concert starts at 7 p.m.
    The other three concerts in the series are The Barra MacNeils on Friday, July 11; Bernard Allison, Friday, July 18; and the subdudes, Friday, July 25.
    Rangell is one of the most exciting and diverse saxophonists in contemporary jazz, as well as being a virtuoso on flute and piccolo. He has recorded with The Rippingtons, Chuck Loeb, Patti Austin, Tom Browne, and The GRP All Star Big Band to name a few and is featured on Don Grusin's Grammy-nominated CD The Hang.
    The Barra MacNeils is widely regarded as one of the Celtic world's greatest live acts. Hailing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the six MacNeil siblings are deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, and history. Their critically acclaimed recordings include original songs as well as tradition-rich standards, both instrumental and vocal.
    Bernard Allison is a second-generation blues artist, son of the late Luther Allison, who also graced the stage of the Bandshell in 1995.
    At seven, Allison knew he wanted to play like his daddy and by age 13 he played on a live LP his father recorded. Allison went on to tour with the queen of blues, Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine. Allison’s style reflects a mix of traditional and modern blues influences in his music, including soul, funk, R&B and rock.
    Take some blues and folk, a touch of country and funk, a pinch of bluegrass, zydeco, gospel and add rock and some soulful harmonies and you have the ingredients for the American Roots Music sound of the subdudes. This New Orleans-based quintet, a perennial favorite at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, is known for their original songwriting as well as their renditions of classic favorites.

East Bay Soul, Mindi Abair set for Jazz Base shows
   The summer schedule at Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel is heating up.
   Two dynamic acts have been added to the schedule -- East Bay Soul, featuring Greg Adams, Phil Perry and Tom Scott; and Mindi Abair.
   East Bay Soul will perform one show on Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m.
   Mindi Abair (right photo) will perform two shows on Thursday, August 21, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
   Tickets for both shows are on sale NOW. Seating is limited.
   East Bay Soul tickets are $30 each; Mindi Abair tickets are $32 each.
   CD Exchange, located in Mohnton (PA), is the official box office for Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base. To get your tickets, you can:
   1: Call CD Exchange at 610-777-2310 to order by phone.
   2: Stop by the CD Exchange, 360 E. Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton, Pa., during regular business hours Tuesday through Saturday.
   3: Tickets are available every Thursday night at Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel.
   4: Order online: CLICK HERE to order online.
   Consider the possibilities when you take Greg Adams, founding member of Tower of Power and legendary arranger. His signature sound made the Tower of Power horn section a sought-out entity all its own.
   Add lead vocalist Phil Perry, saxophone legend Tom Scott and eight other world-class artists dedicated to a singular vision of bringing soul/jazz/funk music to audiences in a new way. What you get is the new movement of Metro Jazz ...
   What you get is East Bay Soul!
   Talking about music is like discussing a fine meal. You can use descriptive words -- but if you don't taste (or listen) to the experience, you will certainly miss something. Don't miss a taste of East Bay Soul!
   Saxophonist Mindi Abair is making a special appearance at the intimate Jazz Base during her summer tour in support of her new CD project Stars.

Smooth Jazz 92.7 presenting Kenny G in Lancaster
     Kenny G is coming to Lancaster!
     Smooth Jazz 92.7 and the Lancaster Barnstormers have teamed up to present five-time Grammy Award-winner Kenny G in concert on Thursday, July 10, at Clipper Magazine Stadium located in downtown Lancaster (Pa).
     "A Night of Smooth Jazz at the Ballpark" starts at 8 p.m.
     Tickets are $40 and are on sale now.
     To get your tickets:
     Visit the Lancaster Barnstormers box office located at the stadium.
     Call the box office at 717-509-HITS.
     Online at lancasterbarnstormers.com
     If you order online between now and Monday, May 19, you can save $5 off each ticket.
     When ordering online, use the special code "jazz2008" to receive the discount.
     Kenny G is touring in support of his latest CD release Rhythm Romance: The Latin Album, which is No. 1 on many jazz charts.
     Kenny G is backed by some of the world’s finest Latin musicians. The result is a rich, one-of-a-kind tapestry of samba and salsa, ballads and bossa nova, all of which are held together by beautiful melodies of Kenny G’s signature sound.

Veasley, Loeb, Beasley open Mt. Gretna Jazz Fest
     The inaugural Mt. Gretna Jazz Festival will present three days of outstanding jazz Thursday, August 28, through Saturday, August 30, at the Mt Gretna Playhouse.
    Opening night of the festival features electric bassist Gerald Veasley (right photo) and his band along with special guests guitarist Chuck Loeb and saxophonist Walter Beasley. The concert starts at 8:00 p.m.
    On Friday, August 29, at 7:30 p.m., a dynamic double-bill features the Cyrus Chestnut Trio followed by vocalist Nnenna Freelon and her band.
    On Saturday, August 30, 2:00 p.m., The Four Freshmen bring its timeless sound to the main stage as the iconic group celebrates its 60th Anniversary.
    Closing out the fest Saturday at 8:00 p.m. will be the Regina Carter Quintet.
    For complete details on the jazz festival and how to get tickets, check out www.gretnamusic.org

Thank You!    Thank You!    Thank You!
    The Berks Arts Council and the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest committee thanks everyone who contributed to make the 18th annual festival a huge success.
    A special thank you to all the artists who displayed their amazing talents and to all the fans who came out in record numbers to enjoy the 10-day event.
    Hope to see you next year for the 19th annual VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest set for Friday, March 27, through Sunday, April 5, 2009!
    Let us know your thoughts on the festival.
    CLICK HERE to comment.