• Brian Culbertson coming to fest to host "Live From The Inside" screening; play in jam
• RACC presents Hot 8 Brass at the Miller Center for the Arts on Sunday, Feb. 21
• Dance Hall Docs and guest vocalist Brent Carter set for "Tower of Power Tribute"
• Drummer Will Kennedy back performing with the Yellowjackets
• Frank Vignola planning 'hot' Django Reinhardt tribute during fest

CLICK HERE for compete lineup and schedule!

CLICK HERE for information on artists and concerts!

Longtime VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest favorite Brian Culbertson will take part in the milestone 20th anniversary event -- in a very unique way.

Culbertson will host a special theatre screening of his recently released CD/DVD "Brian Culbertson Live From The Inside."

The one-time-only screening is set for Friday, March 26, 4 p.m., at the RC/Reading Movies 11 & IMAX located at 30 North Second Street in Reading.

Following the screening, Brian and his father, Jim, will host a meet-and-greet with fans at the theatre.

Tickets are $10 and go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the theatre and online. Seating is limited to 250 fans. So make sure you get your tickets early!

"Finally, I'll get to see the film on the big screen!" said Brian. "I'm very excited about partnering with the Berks Arts Council and RC Theatres to make the special screening part of the 20th anniversary Berks Jazz Fest -- and most important, available to the fans.

"I'm looking forward to welcoming fans to the screening and spending time with them at the post-show event. It's going to be a fun time."
    
"Live From The Inside" is a 98-minute film that features live performance, interviews, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. It also features special all-star guests Ray Parker Jr., Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal, Michael Lington, Eric Darius and Brian's father.

All the special guests get a standout section in the film to strut their stuff. And Culbertson is featured peeling off dazzling displays of his keyboard, trombone and bass-playing skills.

From the dreamy opening montage shot on film, through all of the sharp high-definition video of the performance that was shot with six cameras, to the grittier hand-held video that was captured on the fly, "Live From The Inside" will give theater goers an all-access pass to the life of Brian Culbertson -- one of contemporary music's most compelling artists.

So make your plans now to attend this special Berks Jazz Fest event.

The keyboardist/trombonist also will perform during the 20th Anniversary All-Star Jam set for Thursday, March 25, 8 p.m., at the Crowne Plaza Reading.

View "Live From The Inside" Trailer

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Reading Area Community College will present the News Orleans' Hot 8 Brass Band on Sunday, February 21, at 4:00 p.m. at the Miller Center for the Arts.

Hot 8 Brass Band blends jazz, funk and hip-hop, which delivers a fresh sound that appeals to all ages. The show is part of the Berks Jazz Fest's "Countdown to 20th" series.

Hot 8 Brass Band has epitomized New Orleans street music for over a decade. The members of the Hot 8 Brass Band were born and raised in New Orleans and many began playing together in high school. The band plays the traditional Second Line parades, hosted each Sunday afternoon by Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, infusing their performances with the funk and energy that makes New Orleans music loved around the world.

The band has also been part of SAVE OUR BRASS! -- an important local grass-roots relief project following Hurricane Katrina that has brought music and instruments to shelters, temporary trailer parks, and communities across the Gulf Coast.

The band performs annually at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, world and jazz festivals across the U.S. and Europe, and was featured in the Spike Lee documentary When the Levees Broke.

The Hot 8 has released three critically acclaimed recordings and is featured on the latest Blind Boys of Alabama recording.

Tickets for Hot 8 Brass Band are $27 in advance, $32 at-the-door and $20 for students.

CLICK HERE for complete show information.

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The "Countdown to the 20th" series of events now includes a special "Tower of Power Tribute," featuring the Dance Hall Docs and special guest vocalist Brent Carter, who was TOP's lead singer for six years.

The special concert is set for Friday, March 12, at the Inn at Reading. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are on sale now.

The Dance Hall Docs are an 11-piece band that plays funk, pop, jazz, R&B and soul. Comprised of a talented mix of musicians, DHD performs in a style reminiscent of the horns bands of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

Joining the Docs for this one-time event is Brent Carter, who recorded three CD projects with TOP -- Souled Out, Rhythm & Business and Soul Vindication: Tower of Power Live.

Carter has a tremendous ability to switch gears from a romantic serenade, to sho'nuff funk, to deliciously smooth grooves, and promised to touch the hearts and souls of everyone who sees him perform live.

To get tickets:
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 also are available every Thursday night at Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading.
4) CLICK HERE to order online!

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It's official. Drummer Will Kennedy is back with the Yellowjackets.

On its web site, the band confirmed that Kennedy has replaced Marcus Baylor, who took over the Jackets drum chair 10 years ago when Kennedy decided to leave the band to explore other musical opportunities.

During his first 10-year stint, Kennedy recorded 10 records with the Jackets -- Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Bob Mintzer -- who received 14 Grammy nominations during that time. Will also won Modern Drummer magazine's reader's poll for best drummer (electric jazz category) three years in a row.

Kennedy will be performing both weekends of the festival. On Saturday, March 20, he will be the drummer for the Brian Bromberg & Friends show at the Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom, 10 p.m.

Kennedy returns the following weekend with the Yellowjackets for two shows at Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base on Saturday, March 27, 7 and 10 p.m.

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Guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola has made a lot of fans in the Berks area following his two amazing concerts at Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base during 2009.

It was during those concerts that Vignola developed the plan to put together Frank Vignola's Hot Club to celebrate Django Reinhardt's 100th birthday in 2010.

A leading proponent of Reinhardt's gypsy jazz style of playing, Vignola has assembled a dynamic quintet for a searing tribute to one of his earliest musical influences.

Frank Vignola's Hot Club: Celebrating 100 Years of Django Reinhardt concert is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, 7:30 p.m., at the Miller Center for the Arts on the Reading Area Community College campus.

Frank Vignola's Hot Club evolved from 20 years of commitment to the Django legacy, including gypsy jazz appearances with musicians from Bireli LeGrene and Babik Reinhardt (Django's son) to Mark O'Connor and Tommy Emmanuel, as well as a five-year stint with Reinhardt friend and enthusiast Les Paul.

Only a musician the caliber of Frank Vignola, an accomplished and influential guitarist in his own right, could dare tackle the monumental task of honoring the centennial of the legendary Django Reinhardt.

Special preview! Check out YouTube videos of Frank Vignola's Hot Club performing live at The Wagon Shed:
Gypsy Mania                                    
Rimsky Korsakov                  
Belleville
Diminishing Blackness
Carmen Medley

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