{"id":3279,"date":"2014-01-01T22:21:10","date_gmt":"2014-01-01T22:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jazzusa.com\/berks-jazz-2006-preview\/"},"modified":"2011-01-01T22:21:10","modified_gmt":"2011-01-01T22:21:10","slug":"berks-jazz-2006-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/?p=3279","title":{"rendered":"Berks Jazz 2006 Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><font face=\"Verdana, Helvetica\" color=\"Blue\" size=\"3\" style=\"font-face:verdana; font-size:18px\">Berks Jazz Fest<\/font><font face=\"Verdana, Helvetica\" size=\"2\" color=\"Blue\" style=\"font-face:verdana; font-size:11px\"><br \/>    The Best Jazz fest in the world &#8211; March 17-26, 2006<\/font><\/strong><font face=\"Verdana\" size=\"1\" style=\"font-face:verdana; font-size:8pt\"><br \/> by Val Vaccaro<\/font><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/storypix\/berksjazzlogo.gif\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" align=\"right\" hspace=\"3\" vspace=\"0\"\/><font face=\"Verdana, Helvetica\" size=\"2\" style=\"font-face:verdana; font-size:13px\"><b>This is one of the best smooth jazz festivals in the  world!<\/b>\u00a0 If you\u2019ve been to Berks Jazz Fest before (as  have over 40,000 fellow fans), you know what I mean, and if you haven\u2019t yet  experienced the Fest, you\u2019ll be in store for a great time!\u00a0 The well-run fest is filled with great music,  wonderful venues, and a friendly, inviting atmosphere of terrific people that  manage the events; it\u2019s also fun to check out the selection of creative  merchandise (e.g., tee shirts, artwork, crafts, etc.). If  the abundance of great music and exciting shows are not enough, Berks County  is also known for its many shopping outlet stores.\u00a0 <\/font><\/p>\n<p> The 16th annual FirstEnergy  Berks Jazz Fest (<u>www.berksjazzfest.com<\/u>) runs from  Friday, March 17 through Sunday March 26, 2006 and includes contemporary  jazz, traditional jazz, big band, blues, Latin jazz, swing jazz, and other  styles of music. This year\u2019s Fest features  more than 130 events at major venues, clubs and restaurants throughout Reading and Berks    County, Pennsylvania.  The fest is produced by the Berks Arts Council (<u><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.berksarts.org\/\">www.berksarts.org<\/a><\/u>).<b\/><\/p>\n<p><b>A Star-Studded Lineup<\/b><br \/><i><br \/>    This year\u2019s festival has  another incredible lineup of top jazz luminaries.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>    The opening night festival kick-off concert will be a double bill  with Grammy award winning vocalist <b>Dianne  Reeves<\/b> and pianist <b>Joe Sample<\/b> on  Friday, March 17th\u00a0 at 7:30pm  at the Sovereign Performing Arts   Center. In addition, Grammy  winner and internationally renowned flugelhorn player <b>Chuck Mangione<\/b> (known as the \u201ccat in the hat\u201d) will perform his  magical music (e.g., \u201cFeels so Good,\u201d \u201cChildren of Sanchez\u201d) at 7:30pm on Friday,  March 24th at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p> Another fantastic double-bill show will feature two favorite  supremely smooth and soulful saxophonists <b>Gerald  Albright<\/b> and <b>Kirk Whalum<\/b> for two  shows on Saturday March 18th at 2pm and 10:30pm in the Wyndham  Reading Hotel Ballroom. The shows will be sure to include songs from their  recent CDs, Albright\u2019s <i>Kickin\u2019 It Up<\/i> (2004) and Whalum\u2019s new CD (which is topping the Billboard Contemporary Jazz  chart this February) <i>Kirk Whalum Performs The Babyface Songbook on<\/i> the Dave  Koz record label Rendezvous Music. <\/p>\n<p> Then there\u2019s the winning combination of two dynamic performers of  smooth jazz &#8211; the ever-popular\u00a0 home-town  PA trumpeter <b>Rick Braun <\/b>paired up again  with tenor saxophonist and co-label <i>Artizen Records<\/i> captain <b>Richard Elliot. <\/b>They\u2019ll be performing at  7:30pm on Friday, March 24th at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.  Elliot\u2019s latest CD is <i>Metro  Blue<\/i> (with the hit cover of \u201cPeople make the World Go Round\u201d which was  number 1 on Radio &amp; Records\u2019 airplay chart for almost 3 months). Recently,  Braun released his first CD for the new ARTizen label entitled <i>Yours Truly<\/i>,  a collection of covers of Braun\u2019s favorite all-time pop and soul songs. <\/p>\n<p> Another addition is smooth jazz saxophonist Najee (topping the  Billboard chart recently with his new CD\u00a0\u00a0 <i>My Point of View<\/i> on Heads Up) on  Friday, March 24th at 10:30pm in the Sheraton Reading Hotel  Ballroom. \u00a0\u00a0Pianists <b>Ramsey  Lewis<\/b> and <b>David Benoit<\/b> will be accompanied  by the <b>Reading Pops Orchestra<\/b> on  Saturday March 18th at 7:30pm at Sovereign Performing Arts Center.<\/p>\n<p> Bassist <b>Gerald Veasley<\/b> will perform two shows with special guest vocalist <b>Kurt Elling<\/b> at Veasley\u2019s Jazz Base club at the Sheraton Reading  Hotel at 7pm and 10pm on March 24th. Veasley\u2019s recent CD is a live recording <i>At The Jazz  Base!<\/i> (Heads Up); Elling will be sure to bring his unique vocalese stylings and  scatting on jazz songs from his various recordings. \u00a0There\u2019s also the jazz\/R&amp;B legendary group <b>Pieces of a Dream <\/b>(whose soulful,  sensual and funky new CD is <i>Pillow Talk<\/i> on the Heads Up label), will perform with special guest<b> <\/b>bassist <b>Gerald Veasley<\/b> on March 17th at 10:30pm in the Wyndham Reading Hotel Ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>  <b>Variety of great shows<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Here\u2019s another whole  slew of great shows that\u2019s also in store for fans. <\/i><\/p>\n<p>    There\u2019s the <i>NEW<\/i> sure-to-be-hot  combo called <b>Triad <\/b>featuring  guitarist\/percussionist <b>Steve Oliver<\/b> (he was awesome on Rafe Gomez\u2019 <i>Groove  Boutique TV show<\/i> last September on QVC!), saxophonist <b>Michael Paulo,<\/b> and bassist <b>Gerald  Veasley<\/b>, at Veasley&#8217;s Jazz Base club at the Sheraton Reading Hotel on  Saturday, March 25 at 6pm and 10pm.<\/p>\n<p>    Another promising highlight will be <b>Chieli Minucci<\/b> <b>&amp; Special  EFX<\/b> featuring <b>Ken Navarro<\/b> and  the <b>Berks Jazz Fest Horns<\/b> (The BJF Horms include <b>Mike Anderson<\/b> on saxophone, <b>Bill  Miller<\/b> on trombone and <b>Rob Diener<\/b> on trumpet \u2013 last year they performed with the Heads Up Super Band).\u00a0 This year\u2019s show will also include a \u201cmeet  the artists\u201d with CD signings. The show is on Thursday, March 23rd  at 7:30pm at the Wyndham Reading Hotel Ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>    Another sure-to-please combination show sponsored by radio station  WJJZ 106.1 is on \u201cSmooth Jazz Saturday\u201d March 25th at 1pm featuring  guitarist <b>Larry Carlton &amp; The Blue  Sapphire Band<\/b> plus guitarist <b>Richard  Smith<\/b> &amp; keyboardist <b>Freddie  Ravel<\/b> <b>Power Quartet<\/b> with special  guest saxophonist <b>Kim Waters<\/b> at the  Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom. <\/p>\n<p>    Super-versatile pianist and vocalist <b>Joe McBride<\/b> (who has his own special mixture of smooth and  traditional jazz, influenced by soul, R&amp;B, pop, and blues) will have a  number of shows at the festival. McBride and his <b>Texas Rhythm Club band <\/b>(whose members include some of the<b> <\/b>Lone Star State\u2019s most talented jazz  musicians: <strong>Wayne DeLano<\/strong> on saxophones; <strong>Dave Von Blohn<\/strong> on flugelhorn and trumpet; <strong>Larry  Spencer<\/strong> on muted trumpet; <strong>Todd Parsnow<\/strong> on guitar; <strong>Martin Walters<\/strong> on electric bass and guitar; <strong>John Adams<\/strong> on upright bass; and <strong>Dennis Durick<\/strong> on drums) will perform  songs from their new CD <i>Texas Hold \u2019Em <\/i>\u00a0(Heads Up label) Wednesday, March 22nd at 9 pm  at the Peanut Bar Restaurant.\u00a0 <b>McBride<\/b> also is doing three special  dinner shows at 5 pm at the restaurant<i> L&#8217;Arte della Vita<\/i> in the Wyndham Reading  Hotel Thursday through Saturday, March 23rd-25th. On Friday and Saturday he  will be joined by the tasteful and diverse alto saxophonist extraordinaire <b>Kenny Blake<\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    Popular smooth jazz keyboardist <b>Brian Culbertson<\/b> will perform with special guest saxophonist <b>Eric Darius<\/b> on Saturday, March 25th, at  the Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom at 10:30 pm.<b>\u00a0 <\/b>Brian will also accompany  his wife soprano vocalist<b> Michelle<\/b> <b>Culbertson<\/b> who will sing traditional  hymns from her new CD<i> Be Still My Soul<\/i> on Sunday, March 26, at Atonement Lutheran Church  at 4 pm. <\/p>\n<p>    Fresh and unexpected \u2013 talented jazz bassist <b>Kyle Eastwood<\/b>, (son of film star and producer Clint Eastwood) will  perform a show at 4pm on Sunday March 19th at the new GoggleWorks  Center for the Arts in Reading.\u00a0 Kyle\u2019s first CD released in 1998 is <i>From<\/i> <i>There to Here<\/i>, an upbeat  collection of jazz standards and original music with vocals by Joni Mitchell. \u00a0Kyle\u2019s most recent CD\u00a0\u00a0is <i>Paris<\/i><i> Blue  (2004). Kyle<\/i> worked on the record while living in Paris with his own family \u2013 the CD includes  from his father and his daughter, Graylen who recorded the introduction to the  title track when she was only 9 years old. Kyle Eastwood is quite popular on the  London jazz  scene, and promises to be a hit at the Berks Jazz Fest. <\/p>\n<p>    After Kyle\u2019s concert, the classic movie jazz biography  &#8220;Bird&#8221; will be shown about the life of bebop legend Charlie Parker (produced  by Clint Eastwood). Kyle was introduced to jazz at an early age by his Dad who  is a well-known jazz fan. In addition to performing, Kyle has worked as a  studio musician. Also, Kyle has played on film scores &#8212; one of which is Clint  Eastwood\u2019s composition for &#8220;Unforgiven;&#8221; More recently, Kyle wrote a  few tracks for his father&#8217;s blockbuster film, &#8220;Million Dollar Baby,&#8221;  starring Hillary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood.<\/p>\n<p>    Also, on Sunday March 26th,\u00a0 the smooth jazz radio-station WJJZ will once  again sponsor its Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch, this time with dynamic guitarist <b>Paul Jackson Jr.<\/b> at the Sheraton  Reading Hotel Ballroom \u2013 two shows &#8211; 10 am. and 1 p.m.<br \/><b><br \/>    Blues artists too<\/b><\/p>\n<p>    This year\u2019s Fest will once again include blues artists.\u00a0 Grammy-award winning guitarist <b>Robert Cray will perform <\/b>with his <b>Band<\/b> on March 25th. Pianist\/vocalist\/songwriter <b>Mose Allison <\/b>and <b>Guy Davis will do a show<\/b> on March 17th  at the The Inn of Blues, Inn at Reading  ballroom. Pianist\/vocalist <b>Marcia Ball,  Clarence Spady<\/b>, and <b>the Deb Callahan  Band <\/b>will all perform on March 18th.<br \/><b>Great ensemble  combination shows<\/b><br \/><i><br \/>    There will also be five  wonderful ensemble shows. <\/i><\/p>\n<p>    The first ensemble show will be the Festival\u2019s  16th Anniversary Concert. \u00a0This show should  be a blast \u2013and will surely be a popular event: <b>\u201cThe Music of Marvin Gaye &amp; Motown\u201d<\/b> featuring <b>Jason Miles, Bobby Caldwell, Peter White,  Kevin Mahogany, Guida DePalma, Mike Mattison, Nick Colionne, Jay Beckenstein, Candy  Dulfer, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Bashiri Johnson, Gene Lake,  Sherrod Barnes, Jonathan Maron, Dominick Farinacci, DJ Logic<\/b> and others.  The show will take place on Sunday, March 19th 7pm at the Sovereign Performing  Arts Center.<\/p>\n<p>    The next ensemble will debut a special new part of the Festival.  On March 22nd at 7:30pm, the kick-off <b>Berks Jazz Fest Fantasy Camp Faculty Concert<\/b> will include:\u00a0 pianist <b>Mulgrew  Miller<\/b>, vocalist <b>Kurt Elling<\/b>,  bassist <b>Christian McBride<\/b>, guitarist <b>Jimmy Bruno<\/b>, saxophonist <b>Bob Mintzer<\/b>, trumpter <b>John Swana<\/b> and drummer <b>Steve Smith<\/b> at the Wyndham Reading  Hotel Ballroom.\u00a0 The Jazz Fantasy Camp,  with Director bassist <b>Gerald Veasley<\/b>,  takes place March 21-22<i>.\u00a0 <\/i>Eight special students will be selected  to participate, will pay a workshop fee and bring their own instruments (except  keyboards and drums) to participate in the two day educational workshop on Improvisation,Ensemble Performance,<b> <\/b>Instrumental  Technique, Jazz Harmony &amp; Theory Arranging\/Composition. <i>\u00a0\u00a0For all of those wannabe jazz players who would  like to further develop their chops, and the fans that love discovering and  watching them perform, let\u2019s hope the Fantasy Camp Concert  becomes a regular highlight at future Berks Jazz Fests!\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n<p>    On Thursday, March 23rd, one of the highlights Fest fans  really look forward to will take place. This year\u2019s <b>Berks All-Star Jazz Jam<\/b> at 10pm at the Sheraton Reading Hotel  Ballroom includes: \u00a0trumpeter <b>Rick Braun<\/b>, saxophonists <b>Richard Elliot<\/b>, <b>Kenny Blake<\/b>, and <b>Eric Darius<\/b>,  bassist <b>Gerald Veasley<\/b>, guitarists <b>Chuck Loeb<\/b>, <b>Chieli Minucci<\/b>, <b>Ken Navarro<\/b>,  keyboardists <b>Joe McBride<\/b> and <b>Tom Coster<\/b> and drummer <b>Steve Smith<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>    The fourth ensemble show will be <b>\u201cIvan Lins &amp; Friends\u201d<\/b> on Saturday, March 25, at the Sovereign  Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. This show, produced by keyboardist <b>Jason Miles<\/b>, will feature the legendary  Brazilian composer\/pianist <b>Ivan Lins<\/b>,  sensational traditional jazz vocalist <b>Jane  Monheit<\/b>, renowned smooth jazz\/R&amp;B vocalist <b>Brenda Russell<\/b>, pianist\/vocalist <b>Eliane Elias,<\/b> the wonderfully emotive saxophonist <b>Nelson Rangell<\/b>, Dutch saxophonist <b>Candy Dulfer<\/b>, Brazilian guitarist <b>Romero Lubambo<\/b>, guitarists <b>Leonardo Amuedo<\/b> and <b>Chuck Loeb<\/b>, <b>percussionists <\/b>Caf\u00e9 and Vinny Colaiuta, the cool and funky bassist <b>Will Lee<\/b> (from the David Letterman  show), and top jazz trumpeter <b>Tom  Harrell<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>    The fifth ensemble show promises to be a memorable one for Wes  Montgomery fans and followers. A <b>\u201cTribute  to Wes Montgomery\u201d<\/b> is the Fest finale on Sunday evening, March 26 featuring  some of the top smooth and traditional jazz guitarists around: \u00a0<b>Chuck  Loeb, Pat Martino, Paul Jackson Jr., Larry Carlton, Russell Malone, Earl Klugh<\/b> and <b>Jimmy Bruno<\/b> &#8211; with a rhythm  section of keyboardist <b>Larry Goldings<\/b>,  drummer <b>Vinny Colaiuta<\/b> and bassist <b>Will Lee <\/b>at the Scottish Rite  Cathedral. <br \/><b><br \/>    Other noteworthy concerts<\/b><\/p>\n<p>    Vocalist <b>Liz Longley<\/b>, a  senior at nearby Downingtown   High School will do an  opening set for pianist prodigy <b>Taylor  Eigsti<\/b> and guitarist phenomenom <b>Julian  Lage<\/b> on Monday, March 20th, at the Albright College Wachovia Theatre at  7:30 pm.\u00a0 Longley draws upon a potpourri  of musical influences to create a savvy and captivating sound that belies her  young age. <\/p>\n<p>    If you\u2019re an \u201cOld Blue Eyes\u201d Sinatra fan, you\u2019ll want to catch the <b>City Rhythm Orchestra<\/b>, a terrific  15-piece big band with vocalists from Philadelphia.  The Orchestra will play a <b><i>tribute to Frank Sinatra <\/i><\/b>on Tuesday,  March 21, at the Wyndham Reading Hotel Ballroom at 7:30 pm. \u00a0In a similar nostalgic vein, <i>WEEU radio  station presents &#8220;The One and Only&#8221; <\/i><b>Tommy Dorsey Orchestra<\/b> in concert on Saturday, March 25th  at 2 pm at the Wyndham Reading Hotel Ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>    On Saturday, March 18th at 7pm, there will be <b>\u201c<i>An Evening of Strings\u201d<\/i><\/b>featuring<b>Michael Manring<\/b>, <b>Tracy  Silverman<\/b> and <b>David Cullen<\/b>, at  Gerald Veasley&#8217;s Jazz Base in the Sheraton Reading Hotel. Then on Sunday  afternoon at 2pm on March 19th, there\u2019s <b><i>\u201cJazz Goes to Church\u201d<\/i><\/b> featuring <b>Cyrus Chestnut, Kevin Mahogany<\/b> and <b>Kendrick Oliver &amp; The New Life  Jazz Orchestra<\/b> at the Wyndham Reading Hotel Ballroom. On Monday, March 20th,  at 7pm, the <b>U.S. Air Force Rhythm In  Blues Jazz Ensemble<\/b> will perform a free community concert with special  guest <b>Tom Coster<\/b> plus <b>Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band <\/b>at  the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Also, traditional jazz pianist <b>Mulgrew Miller with his Trio<\/b> will  perform at 7:30pm on Tuesday, March 21 at Albright College Wachovia  Theatre. On Thursday, March 23rd at 7pm, there\u2019s B3 player <b>Gene Ludwig with his Trio<\/b> featuring <b>Dave Stryker<\/b> and <b>Vince Ector<\/b> at Gerald Veasley&#8217;s Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading  Hotel.\u00a0 The next evening at 7:30pm,  Friday, March 24th, there\u2019s the <b>River  City Brass Band<\/b> at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Later that Friday night at  9pm will be a <b><i>\u201cJimi Hendrix Tribute\u201d<\/i><\/b> with <b>The Carl Filipiak Group<\/b> at the Wyndham Reading Hotel Ballroom.  Also, on Sunday, March 26th, there will be a show at 3pm with <b>Bona Fide <\/b><i>featuring<\/i><b> Slim Man<\/b>, at Gerald  Veasley&#8217;s Jazz Base in the Sheraton Reading Hotel.<\/p>\n<p><b>Free Shows  at the Fest <i>(non-ticketed events)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>In addition to all of  the great ticketed events, the Berks Jazz Fest always includes a number of  entertaining <i>free non-ticketed shows<\/i>.\u00a0 The town will be once again brimming over  with lots of talented musicians who will perform at  brunch,\u00a0 lunch, dinner and after-dinner,  and late-night events, from jazz, to blues, to rock and Sunday jazz worship  services at various venues.\u00a0 \u00a0<i>Check <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.berksjazzfest.com\/\">www.berksjazzfest.com<\/a> for details on times and  places of non-ticketed events.<\/i> \u00a0<br \/><b><i><br \/>    Here\u2019s a list of the artists:<\/i><\/b> \u00a0\u00a0Groovemasters, New Fusion Assembly, Sax Summit  II <i>featuring <\/i>Chris  Heslop, Tim Price, Tom Strohman, Larry McKenna,  Chris Heslop Band, Relatively  Speaking &amp; Friends <i>featuring <\/i>Ed McCartan and Suzie Ernesto; Erwin Chandler; Ray Allen &amp;  Bill Bower; Neil Wright; Jim Murray &amp; Dave Eltz; Bunchafunk <i>featuring<\/i> Reggie Brown; The Blue Method; Groove Dawgs; Chuck Cahoe &amp; The Fun Junkies;  Fisheye; From The Hip <i>featuring <\/i>Mike Eben &amp; Friends; Duck  Soup &amp; The Fowlmouth Horns; Ken Gehret\u2019s Oui 4; Ed McCartan; Sharon Bailey  Trio; Ray Allen Trio; The Blues Factor; Been There Done That; Uptown Band; Porch  Dogs; Ken Gehret &amp; Steve Rudolph; Tony Sands; Polish American Heritage  Association Jazz Reception &amp; Art Exhibit; Ken Blekicki Quartet; Paul and Robert Strause; Robbi K  &amp; Friends; Eric Steckel Band; Gerald  Veasley\u2019s Bass Boot Camp Jam III; U.S.  Air Force Rhythm In Blues Jazz Ensemble, with special guest Tom Coster plus Berks  High School All-Star Jazz Band; \u00a0Ken Gehret &amp; Friends featuring Al  Seifarth, Andy Roberts, Hector Rosado; Pretzel City Dixieland Jazz Band;  Lower Case Blues Band; Alligator Zydeco; Bones of Contention <i>featuring <\/i>Doc Mulligan, Chuck Dressler, Jim  Smale; Ken Gehret &amp; Al Seifarth; Barbara Trumpio Trio; Ray Allen &amp; Bill  Bower; Mr. J; Great Jazz Divas <i>featuring <\/i>Julie Davis &amp; Kelly Dow; Jump City Jazz  Orchestra; Mike Guildin &amp; Rollin&#8217; &amp; Tumblin&#8217;; Berks Music Educators Big  Band <i>plus <\/i>Berks High  School Jazz Chorus <i>plus <\/i>KU&#8217;s  AfterHours Jazz Chorus; Scotti Mann; Sharon Bailey &amp; Mark Huber; Deanna  Reuben; Ray Allen Quartet; Frank Guido &amp; Friends; Deanna  Reuben Quartet; Loose  Cannon; Pretzel City Dixieland Jazz Band; John King\u2019s Dance Band; High  Maintenance; Tim Price &amp; Sue Terry; D3 &amp; Company; The Blues Factor; Marty  Mellinger &amp; Friends; Burning House; The Steely Dan Show; Royal Scam; Rob Diener &amp; Anomaly; Dave Mell&#8217;s Blues  Band; Steven De Bonaventura; Skip  Moyer Trio <i>featuring<\/i> Toni  Lynne; Steve Walker; Rhett Tyler.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Hope you and your  friends can be there at the March 2006 First Energy Berks Jazz Fest \u2013 one of  the coolest contemporary jazz festivals in the world!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>FOR  TICKETS &amp; OTHER FESTIVAL INFORMATION<\/b><br \/><b><i><br \/>    For additional information see the Festival\u2019s  website, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.berksjazzfest.com\/\">www.berksjazzfest.com<\/a>,  including concert schedules, ticket prices, artists profiles, hotel and other  visitor information.<\/i><\/b> <u>Also  when you arrive, be sure to get a complimentary copy of the excellent free Reading Eagle Berks Jazz  Fest newspaper supplement, for details on the artists and shows (available at  all of the hotels and concert venues)!<\/u><br \/>    http:\/\/www.berksjazzfest.com\/ticketinfo.asp <\/p>\n<p><b>Tickets are available for purchase three ways:<\/b> 1) O<b>rder at <\/b><b><u>www.berksjazzfest.com<\/u><\/b> <br \/>    2) Call <b>Ticketmaster at 215.336.2000 or visit <\/b><b><u>www.ticketmaster.com<\/u><\/b><b>. Have a credit card  ready <\/b><br \/>    Ticketmaster has built  a special online site for the Berks Jazz Fest. It&#8217;s fan friendly and open 24  hours a day, 7 days a week. For Seating Chart information at the major venues: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.berksjazzfest.com\/seatingchart.asp\">http:\/\/www.berksjazzfest.com\/seatingchart.asp<\/a>;  Or 3) Stop by in person<b> to the Sovereign Center  Box Office, Seventh and Penn streets, Reading.<\/b><br \/><b><br \/>    For information about the Berks Arts Council, check <\/b><b><u><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.berksarts.org\/\">www.berksarts.org<\/a><\/u><\/b><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>For more \u00a0information about the artists,  check out the artists\u2019 websites, and also the write-up by Jonathan Widran at: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.berksjazzfest.com\/artistsprofiles.asp\">http:\/\/www.berksjazzfest.com\/artistsprofiles.asp<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>NOTE:\u00a0 The  author would like to thank <\/b><b>Mike Zielinski, Publicity  Director <br \/>    and John Ernesto, Festival Manager of the FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest, the  Berks Arts Council members, the artists, \u00a0and everyone that make this Festival terrific each  year.<br \/><\/b> <\/p>\n<p>            <center>  <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\">    <?php require($DOCUMENT_ROOT . \"_footer.htm\");   ??><\/a><\/center><\/body><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Berks Jazz Fest The Best Jazz fest in the world<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3279\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}