The new DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Reading will be a major venue for the 26th annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, which will begin Friday, April 1, and run through Sunday, April 10. Tickets for the festival officially go on sale Saturday.
In addition to six major concerts in the 1,200-seat grand ballroom, the DoubleTree will host six other events, including two brunches, in its smaller ballroom, said John Ernesto, the festival’s general manager. He said a scheduling conflict with the Reading Symphony Orchestra precluded the use of the Santander Performing Arts Center this year.
The opening night celebration at the DoubleTree will feature “The Summit” between two top vocal groups: The Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, in a special project including the two groups singing together.
“I saw this show,” Ernesto said, “and hearing all 10 singing together is pretty special.”
April 2 at the DoubleTree will be three-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’, back for the first time since 2007, with special guest Gerald Albright. And the hotel will host the 25th anniversary tour of Fourplay, with Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason and Chuck Loeb, on April 3.
The second weekend will see two major concerts at the DoubleTree (BWB featuring trumpeter Rick Braun, saxophonist Kirk Whalum and guitarist Norman Brown; and saxophonist Boney James, all longtime Berks Jazz Fest favorites); and three at the Scottish Rite Cathedral (gospel/blues singer Mavis Staples; pianist Chick Corea and banjo player extraordinaire Bela Fleck; and the fourth “Gospel According to Jazz” concert featuring Whalum and friends).
Staples, in her six-decade career, was part of the family group The Staples Singers and also has had an illustrious solo career. She will be appearing with special guest vocalist Amy Helm (daughter of The Band’s Levon Helm) and The Handsome Strangers.
Fleck, who has appeared at the festival multiple times in Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, will be in the midst of a short run of dates with the legendary Corea following their new recording, “Two,” Ernesto said.
And for the Gospel concert, which has become the traditional finale to the festival, Whalum will be bringing his brother Kevin Whalum, gospel singer Donnie McClurkin (who appeared in the first Gospel concert four years ago), Jonathan Butler, John Stoddart and the local DOXA Gospel Ensemble.
In addition to the two major venues, the Crowne Plaza Reading will host 15 concerts; Building 24 Live will host 13 concerts (including four Gerald Veasley’s Midnight Jams); Reading Area Community College’s Miller Center will host five concerts; the Inn at Reading will host three; and the Abraham Lincoln Hotel will host two.
Ernesto pointed out that fans of jazz piano will want to check out a newcomer to the festival: 12-year-old prodigy Joey Alexander, originally from Indonesia, who recently released an album, “My Favorite Things,” and will appear with his trio April 3 at the Miller Center.
“He’s the talk of the industry right now,” Ernesto said.
A big focus of Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest always has been education, and this year it will sponsor a big project, Get JazzED Day, at the DoubleTree on April 2. The day will include multiple activities with local, regional and high school bands, along with an expo for music vendors. It will culminate in a concert at 9:30 p.m. by drummer Sherrie Maricle and Five Play. Maricle will also conduct the Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band the next morning; the Berks High School All-Star Jazz Chorus, directed by Pat Dorian and Bob Dorough, will appear along with them.
Free concerts will be given by the U.S. Navy Band Commodores and the Pottstown High Jazz Band at Pottstown High School; the Commodores at the DoubleTree; the U.S. Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble and the Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band at the Crowne Plaza; and Rhythm in Blue with the Berks High School All-Star Jazz Chorus at Kutztown High School.
To whet the public’s appetite for the 10 days of jazz, there will be two Berks Jazz Fest Preview Concerts: On March 3, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks will perform at Alvernia University’s Francis Hall Theater and Recital Hall; and on March 18, Nellie McKay will perform at Miller Symphony Hall, in the Rodale Community Room, in Allentown.
The Frank Scott Memorial Art Show, “The Art of Jazz,” will hold its awards reception March 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Schmidt Gallery of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts.
Contact Susan L. Pena: life@readingeagle.com.
