Berks Jazz Fest kickin' it into high gear for a 10-day run

Mar. 19—The 32nd annual Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest, set to run from Friday through April 2, will open its spectacular lineup with audience favorite Brian Culbertson and his band at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in West Reading.

This will be the beginning of 10 days packed with some of the most acclaimed artists on the scene today, drawing people from all over the country who gather annually for a celebration of America's classical music.

The big news this year is that fans of the iconic vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer will have one last chance to see them perform live on Saturday at the Scottish Rite, when they make a stop here on their "50th Anniversary and Final World Tour," along with the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. The show will feature songs from The Manhattan Transfer's Grammy-nominated 2022 album, "FIFTY," and selections from their entire career.

The Manhattan Transfer has appeared during Berks Jazz Fest three times previously: in 2005, 2012 and, in 2016, along with Take 6 for a grand collaboration called "The Summit."

TMT's Janis Siegel has performed at the fest with different ensembles three times, including 2014 as a soloist with the late composer/pianist/vocalist Bob Dorough of "Schoolhouse Rock" fame.

The group has won 11 Grammy Awards in several categories, and in 1998 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The members, along with Siegel, include soprano Cheryl Bentyne, tenor Alan Paul and bass Trist Curless.

On the last day of the festival, April 2, festivalgoers will have a chance to say hello to fast-rising star Samara Joy, making her BJF debut at 3 p.m. in the Miller Center for the Arts. Joy recently won two Grammy awards (Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album) for her 2022 release, "Linger Awhile."

At 4 p.m. that day, the ever-popular saxophonist Boney James will play the grand finale at the Scottish Rite.

In between, as always, Berks Arts has many treats in store, from major ticketed events to concerts by local, regional, national and international artists in more intimate settings, some of which are free. And the range of styles and subgenres is wide, including smooth and straight-ahead jazz, blues, fusion, Latin, Big Band, Gypsy swing and some that defy categorization.

"We are thrilled that The Manhattan Transfer included our fest on its farewell tour," said John Ernesto, Berks Jazz Fest general manager. "Honored to provide our fans the opportunity to see the legendary group one last time.

"On the other end of the spectrum, fans have the chance to see the amazing Samara Joy for the first time. Winning two Grammys has skyrocketed the young vocalist to the top of the jazz genre."

On opening day, visitors can get an early start on the festivities by attending the annual Harold B. Leifer Memorial Luncheon at Reading's venerable Peanut Bar Restaurant, where they can listen to The Groovemasters, featuring the ever-popular Berks artists Bennie Sims on bass, Cliff Starkey on piano and Erich Cawalla on vocals and trumpet.

That night, along with Culbertson, Four80East with special guests JJ Sansaverino and Art Sherrod; Al "DJ ACT" Taylor; and Pieces of a Dream with Bobby Lyle and Carl Cox will be on hand. For night owls, it will be the first of four Gerald Veasley Unscripted Jams at 11:30 p.m. in the DoubleTree by Hilton's Small Ballroom (continued on March 25, April 1 and April 2).

The first weekend will also include headliners Gerald Albright, with Larry Carlton and Paul Brown; JAZZ FUNK SOUL (Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber and Paul Jackson Jr.); legendary bassist Stanley Clarke N 4 EVER; Acoustic Alchemy with Jeff Kashiwa; the Andrew Neu Big Band with Aubrey Logan, Ilya Serov and Bobby Lyle; and trumpet master Chris Botti.

Berks Jazz Fest will begin its second weekend on March 31 with an early-bird concert at the DoubleTree at 3 p.m. featuring Greg Manning and Jeff Ryan. The party will continue at 6 p.m. with RnR: Rick Braun and Richard Elliot with Peter White at the Scottish Rite.

Guitar aficionados can opt to hear Frank Vignola's Birdland Guitar Night at the Miller Center for the Arts, with Pasquale Grasso, Vinny Raniolo, Gary Mazzapropi, Vince Cherico and special guests Houston Person and Randy Brecker, also at 6 p.m.

That weekend will also include Eric Darius and Eric Roberson with special guest Avery — Sunshine; Tommy Castro & The Painkillers with Deanna Bogart in two performances; and Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers.

Berks Jazz Fest is famous for its special one-of-a-kind events that allow audiences to experience many artists coming together to perform. These are rare opportunities to hear musicians interact who seldom have that pleasure, and the resulting sparks of inspiration are always galvanizing, for players and listeners alike.

Two of these events will feature special performances by vocalist Regina Belle: the Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jam on Thursday evening, March 30, and "Celebrating the Women in Jazz II," presented by Chris "Big Dog" Davis on Saturday afternoon, April 1. Both will be held in the DoubleTree's Grand Ballroom.

Also not to be missed is Eric Marienthal & The Jazz Cruises All-Stars on April 1 at the Scottish Rite, featuring Peter White, Keiko Matsui, Mindi Abair, Randy Brecker, Vincent Ingala and The Berks Horns; and "West Coast Groove" later that evening at the DoubleTree, with a group led by music director Adam Hawley.

Other notable events will be John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell in "Nat King Cole & the Ladies of Song" at Kutztown University (as part of its KU Presents! series) on Wednesday, March 28, in Schaeffer Auditorium, and the Hot Club of Reading in "A Night of Gypsy Jazz" on Saturday, April 1, in the WCR Center for the Arts.

A new part of the festival this year will be the GETJAZZED@BERKS Scholastic Festival on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28 and 29, which will give young performers another opportunity to perform and enhance their jazz skills. Twenty-eight schools will participate in the inaugural events.

Festival fans can hear some of these talented students perform with artist clinicians Gerald Veasley, Aubrey Logan, Andrew Neu and Albert Rivera at the annual RMF Project Penske Jazz Jam on Monday, March 27.

"Providing world class opportunities to young musicians is essential to the mission of Berks Arts and Berks Jazz Fest," said Justin Heimbecker, Berks Arts Executive Director. "We are thrilled to welcome nearly 1,000 student performers to this year's festival to learn, jam and perform with some of the most renowned jazz musicians in the world. We look forward to some very special performances and moments in this new initiative."

For complete information on the 2023 Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest, visit www.berksjazzfest.com, where you can view the schedule (with artist bios), and purchase tickets through the festival's own system.