On April 10 through 19, the faithful will return to Berks County, some for the 25th time. Fans of jazz, as well as jazz’s siblings and cousins - bebop, blues, funk, fusion, gospel and big band – know that Berks is the place to be as winter melts into spring. For 10 consecutive nights, Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest will offer music lovers 50 major ticketed concerts and more than 125 free musical performances.
Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, presented by the Berks Arts Council, will kick off April 10 at 7:30pm with a performance by trumpet legend Wynton Marsalis & The Lincoln Center Orchestra in the Santander Performing Arts Center. Back in 1991, Marsalis wowed crowds at the first Berks Jazz Fest.
Crowne Plaza is another hot spot on April 10, with an Opening Night Party at 10pm with saxophonist Boney James, followed by Gerald Veasley’s Midnight Jam.
“One of the reasons Jazz Fest has lasted 25 years is that it keeps changing and evolving,” says Karen L. Haver, executive director of the Berks Arts Council. “John Ernesto, the general manager, does a great job of bringing in new faces, like last year’s Grammy Award-winner Gregory Porter, and musicians who have grown up with Jazz Fest, such as Rick Braun and Brian Culbertson.”
Other headliners include Fourplay, Will Downing, the Billy Cobham Spectrum 40 Band, Kirk Whalum, Yolanda Adams, Dianne Reeves and Soul of Jazz.
Don’t miss the free Reading Eagle Community Concert on April 13 at 7:30pm at Crowne Plaza, featuring the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors with an opening performance by the Berks High School All-Star Band.
The Berks Bop Big Band will perform at Building 24 Live on April 14 and 15 at 7:30pm. This 25th anniversary event will feature local and regional musicians playing bebop with a big band including Chuck Loeb, Jeff Lorber, Rick Braun and Brian Bromberg.
Berks Jazz Fest is powered by more than 450 volunteers. “The friendliness and dedication of our volunteers make our out-of-town guests feel like they are coming home,” says Haver.
To celebrate the anniversary, a special book has been created. Berks Jazz Fest: Celebrating 25 Years combines photos and memories of the artists who have made each festival unique. To order this behind-the-scenes retrospective, visit berksjazzfest.com.
Ernesto began serving as general manager of Berks Jazz Fest in 1994. “There have been a lot of challenges along the way, but we managed to keep it going,” Ernesto recalls. “Looking back, it has been an amazing musical journey, made possible by many people. The festival has become a true community event, a partnership with the business, arts, hotel and volunteer communities. I love working with the Berks Arts Council and the volunteers to make the festival better each year. The festival has become an important event for Berks, with an economic impact of approximately $5.8 million.”
To buy tickets visit Santander Arena or any Boscov’s Department Store, or purchase tickets online at ticketmaster.com. For the schedule, visit berksjazzfest.com.
