By Susan L. Peña, Santander Arena and Performing Arts Center
For 35 years, Berks Arts has been drawing audiences from near and far to a jazz festival that is now famous for being one of the best of its kind in the country.
Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest will celebrate this anniversary with an amazing lineup of artists — some who have been coming for years, as well as plenty of newer faces.
From Friday, March 20, through Sunday, March 29, beginning with the traditional Harold B. Leifer Memorial Luncheon with The Groovemasters at the Peanut Bar Restaurant and ending with David Benoit, Eric Marienthal, and the Reading Pops Orchestra at the Miller Center for the Arts, fans of all forms of jazz will enjoy great music and good company.
Berks Jazz Fest ticket sales begin on Saturday, Dec. 6, through Ticketmaster. Complete fest information is available at berksjazzfest.com.
“The entire Berks Arts team is looking forward to presenting the milestone 35th anniversary fest,” said Tish Davis, Berks Arts executive director. “It is going to be a special 10 days of music that will offer our fans the opportunity to have fun and experience the many genres of jazz.”
The opening night celebration, at 6 p.m., in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, will feature fest favorite Brian Culbertson, the pianist/trombonist who has brought his brilliant performances to Berks since 1996.
“Opening the 35th Berks Jazz Fest means the world to me,” said Culbertson. “The fest has been an important part of my musical journey the last 30 years. I feel very fortunate to have a wonderful relationship with the fest and its loyal fans. It’s like coming home to family.”
That same night, the Yellowjackets — featuring keyboardist Russell Ferrante, saxophonist Bob Mintzer, drummer Will Kennedy, and bassist Dane Alderson — will perform in the Miller Center.
At 9:30 p.m., the renowned flutist/saxophonist Najee will be on hand with special guests Regina Belle and Alex Bugnon in the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom.
Festivities will continue with a stellar lineup for Saturday, March 21:
- A double-header featuring Pieces of a Dream and Four80East with Jeff Kashiwa at the DoubleTree
- Trumpet master Chris Botti and his all-star ensemble of guest artists at Scottish Rite Cathedral
- Multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala at the DoubleTree Callowhill Ballroom
- Amazing vocalist Maysa with special guests saxophonists Mike Phillips and Carl Cox at the DoubleTree
Visitors can enjoy the first Jazz Brunch on Sunday, March 22, at 10:30 a.m., hosted by Michael Tozzi, with BPM: Brian Bromberg, Paul Brown, Michael Paulo, and The Berks Horns at the DoubleTree; the following Sunday, the brunch will feature Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted All-Stars.
The ever-popular Veasley’s Unscripted Jams will be featuring various lineups both Fridays and the first Saturday at 11:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree’s Callowhill Room.
On Sunday, March 22, at the Miller Center, the Emmet Cohen Quintet will celebrate the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane during their centenary year (Davis was born May 26 and Coltrane Sept. 23, 1926).
During the 2020 lockdown, Cohen developed “Live From Emmet’s Place,” a series of weekly performances by his trio and guest artists live-streamed from his New York apartment. The concerts became an online sensation, receiving millions of views on social media platforms.
Due to schedule demands, Cohen ended the five-year run with the final episode streaming in October.
The fest’s second weekend will be packed with headliners:
- Saxophonist Boney James at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on Friday night.
- Spyro Gyra (celebrating 50 years) at the Miller Center on Friday night.
- R&B vocalist Eric Benet will be making his fest debut at the DoubleTree on Friday night.
- Guitarist Stanley Jordan playing music by The Grateful Dead (with Kenwood Dennard, Greg Koerner, and Jesse Hiatt) at the DoubleTree on Saturday afternoon.
- Jazz and soul singer Will Downing at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on Saturday night, with Carol Riddick and Gerald Veasley opening with their amazing tribute to Nina Simone — “I Got Life.”
- Berks County’s own Dance Hall Docs with special guests Larry Braggs and Tom Bowes, both former Tower of Power lead singers, playing the music of TOP and more at the DoubleTree on Saturday night.
- Berks Sinfonietta, led by David McConnell, will be making their Berks Jazz Fest debut in “Gershwin Comes Alive,” featuring pianist Lars Potteiger performing “Rhapsody in Blue,” in the Miller Center on Saturday. The Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band will open for this special presentation.
- Marcus Miller & Friends featuring Eric Marienthal and Warren Wolf headlines at the DoubleTree on Saturday night.
Chris “Big Dog” Davis’s popular “Celebrating Women in Jazz” will return on the second Saturday at noon at the DoubleTree, featuring vocalists Regina Belle, Maysa, Paulette McWilliams, plus violinist/vocalist Chelsey Green, and saxophonist Jazmin Ghent.
And it wouldn’t be Berks Jazz Fest without the annual Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jam, hosted by Gerald Veasley and Eric Marienthal, at the DoubleTree on Thursday at 7 p.m.
“Berks Jazz Fest has been on an amazing journey since 1991,” said John Ernesto, who has been part of the fest since the beginning, serving as general manager for 33 years, and now as a consultant. “Despite the challenges along the way, the musical journey stayed on course and now, unbelievably, has reached the milestone 35th anniversary.”
“The journey made it this far thanks to countless supporters — from volunteers to sponsors — who came together each year to nurture the fest, allowing it to flourish and ultimately having a major impact on our community culturally and financially.”
“The 35th anniversary celebrates everyone who has been part of the journey.”
As always, there will be many more concerts by local and regional artists, as well as opportunities to enjoy Berks County’s top jazz students in the RMF Jazz Jam and the two-day GETJAZZED New Horizons Fest at the DoubleTree.
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