Berks Jazz Fest to bring live music to area.
Reading area set to buzz with live musical collaboration
Thanks to the Berks Arts Council, Berks County becomes a regional hotbed for music each year with the Berks Jazz Fest.
“I think it’s got a wonderful reputation. John Ernesto, who runs the festival, is a real people person,” said smooth jazz saxophonist and syndicated and satellite radio host Dave Koz, adding that there’s an excited energy inside and outside each venue because the audiences are “real music fans.”
“On the Berks stage, you’re getting things that do not happen anywhere else,” Koz said, referring to his opening night show with his “Summer Horns” side project partner Rick Braun, and the April 8 “Remembering Chuck Loeb” jam, which so many musicians have committed to that Koz commented that it’s like two nights of entertainment crammed into a single night.
Ironically Koz will not be a part of the “Heart and Soul of Sax” event April 13 because of his schedule. He said that’s a good thing because he’d be too nervous to play on stage with Maceo Parker, whom he looks up to. “Classic Berks concert — it sounds like a show I’d wanna see,” he said.
Among the multitude of festival concerts is one that jazz purists might complain doesn’t belong — Coopersburg guitarist Craig Thatcher’s Eric Clapton tribute show on April 7 at the Reading Country Club. “They’re trying to attract people from different demographics, so they open things up,” Thatcher said, noting that his band has previously performed an Allman Brothers tribute show at Berks Jazz Fest. “The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this year is going to have Jimmy Buffet, so go figure.”
Thatcher performs his hybrid blues/funk/jazz electric guitar style in a much different, spontaneous setting April 12, with brothers Matt and David Cullen, bassist Chico Huff (known for his work with James Taylor, Carly Simon, John Belushi and Charlie Mussle-
white) and saxophonist Pete Fluck. He said that if you appreciate the music of The Meters and The Crusaders, you’ll like the set by the ad hoc “Cullen & Company.”
“We’re not going to be choosing really progressive, complicated jazz. I’ve never played with Chico Huff. I’ve done some work with David Cullen ... David is playing guitar in the first half; I play guitar in the second half. I sure hope we play (guitar) together (at the same time). We’re used to stuff like that. You use your ear and your abilities,” Thatcher said.
The 28th annual Berks Jazz Fest will be held April 6-15, and to get a sense of everything that’s going to be happening, you need to look at www.berksjazzfest. com.
Here’s the major events at a glance. If the name Bernie Williams looks familiar, that’s because it’s the same Bernie Williams that played for the New York Yankees from 1991-2006 (helping to win the World Series in 1996 and 1998-2000).
Friday April 6
7:30 p.m.: Special EFX All-Stars, featuring Chieli Minucci, Eric Marienthal, Lao Tizer, Karen Briggs and Gerald Veasley; the ballroom at The Inn at Reading, 1040 N. Park Road, Wyomissing; Tickets are $40.
10 p.m.: Rick Braun with special guest Dave Koz; the Grand Ballroom at DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating).
Saturday April 7
1:30 p.m.: Billy Price Band with special guest Johnny Rawls; the ballroom at The Inn at Reading, 1040 N. Park Road, Wyomissing; Tickets are $30.
2 p.m.: Pieces of a Dream with special guests Kim Waters, Nick Colionne and Eric Roberson; the grand ballroom at DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $50 (reserved seating).
7 p.m.: Boney James; Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading; Tickets are $49 and $55 (reserved seating).
7:30 p.m.: The Victor Wooten Trio, featuring Dennis Chambers and Bob Franceschini, plus opening act Teen Town; Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College, 10 S. Second St., Reading; Tickets are $49 (reserved seating).
7:30 p.m.: The Royal Scam (Steely Dan tribute); the ballroom at The Inn at Reading, 1040 N. Park Road, Wyomissing; Tickets are $25.
10 p.m.: Fourplay (Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason, Kirk Whalum); the grand ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating).
Sunday April 8
7 p.m.: “Remembering Chuck Loeb,” featuring Eric Marienthal, Rick Braun, Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason, Kirk Whalum, Will Lee, Michael Franks, Dave Koz, Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber, Randy Brecker, Paul Jackson Jr., Chieli Minucci, Nick Colionne, Kim Waters, Gerald Veasley, Wolfgang Haffner, Mitch Forman, Brian Bromberg, Andy Snitzer, Lionel Cordew, Ron Jenkins, David Charles, Matt King, Adam Hawley, The Berks Horns, and Carmen, Lizzy and Christina Loeb; Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading; Tickets are $59 and $64 (reserved seating); a portion of proceeds will go to establish the Chuck Loeb Scholarship Fund.
Tuesday April 10
7:30 p.m.: “The Music of Cannonball Adderley” with Eric Marienthal, featuring Rick Braun, Brian Bromberg, Mitch Forman and Lionel Cordew; DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $36.
Thursday April 12
7:30 p.m.: Cullen & Company featuring David Cullen, Matt Cullen, Craig Thatcher, Chico Huff, Cliff Starkey and Pete Fluck; the ballroom at The Inn at Reading Ballroom, 1040 N. Park Road, Wyomissing; Tickets are $20.
8 p.m.: “Berks All-Star Jazz Jam,” featuring Rick Braun, Gerald Veasley, Randy Brecker, Brian Bromberg, Kirk Whalum, Maceo Parker, Gerald Albright, Everette Harp, Elan Trotman, Bernie Williams, Eric Marienthal, Nick Colionne, Rayford Griffin, Kevin Whalum, J.J. Sansaverino, Jay Rowe, Chris “Big Dog” Davis, Selina Albright, Nestor Torres, Paul Bollenback; the grand ballroom at DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $54 (reserved seating).
Friday April 13
7 p.m.: “The Heart & Soul of Sax,” featuring Kirk Whalum and Everette Harp, with special guests Maceo Parker, Dee Dee Bridgewater, plus The Berks Horns; Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. Seventh Ave., West Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating).
7:30 p.m.: Rayford Griffin’s “Reflections of Brownie: A Tribute to Clifford Brown,” featuring Randy Brecker, Brian Bromberg, Hans Zermuehlen and Andy Snitzer; DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $39.
7:30 p.m.: Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton; Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College, 10 S. Second St., Reading; Tickets are $49 (reserved seating).
7:30 p.m.: “The Music of Rory Gallagher” with Band of Friends (Davy Knowles, Gerry McAvoy and Ted McKenna), plus special guest Jack Semple; the ballroom at The Inn at Reading Ballroom, 1040 N. Park Road, Wyomissing; Tickets are $39.
10 p.m.: Gerald Albright, with special guests Kenny Lattimore and Selina Albright; the grand ballroom at DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating.
Saturday April 14
2 and 7:30 p.m.: The Caribbean Connection with Bernie Williams, Elan Trotman, Nestor Torres, featuring Kareem Thompson; DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $39.
2 p.m.: The Rippingtons, featuring Russ Freeman, plus Grace Kelly; the grand ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating). 2 and 7:30 p.m.: Ana Popovic and Vanessa Collier; the ballroom at The Inn at Reading, 1040 N. Park Road, Wyomissing; Tickets are $39.
7 p.m.: EPK (Euge Groove, Peter White, Keiko Matsui); Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. Seventh Ave., West Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating) 7:30 p.m.: “A Salute to Billie Holiday & Frank Sinatra” with Catherine Russell and John Pizzarelli; Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College, 10 S. Second St., Reading; Tickets are $49 (reserved seating).
7:30 p.m.: The Reading Symphony Orchestra presents “Glorious Gershwin,” featuring Simon Mulligan, Kevin Deas and Julie-Ann Whitely Green; Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading; Tickets range from $20$80 (reserved seating).
10 p.m.: Incognito featuring Maysa; grand ballroom at DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating).
Sunday, April 15
3 p.m.: David Benoit and Marc Antoine; Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College, 10 S. Second St., Reading; Tickets are $45 (reserved seating).
6 p.m.: “Festival Finale” with Kirk Whalum’s “Gospel According to Jazz Celebration,” featuring Jonathan Butler, Maysa and Wycliffe Gordon, plus John Stoddard and the Doxa Gospel Ensemble; Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. Seventh Ave., West Reading; Tickets are $52 (reserved seating).