The 33rd yearly Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, which opens on Friday and continues until April 14, will offer a wide variety of jazz genres for 10 days, including contemporary, straight-ahead, blues, fusion, Big Band, gospel, Hot Club, and others.
This variety is visible in the selection of headliners this year.
Renowned bassist Christian McBride will perform on the first night at the Miller Center for the Arts, while just across the river at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, jazz/fusion/R&B bassist Marcus Miller will perform with the revered South African singer-songwriter Jonathan Butler.
Later that evening, the diverse jazz flutist/saxophonist Najee & Friends will help kick things off at the DoubleTree Grand Ballroom.
On Saturday, a fantastic co-bill featuring Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin and Kirk Whalum will start the music at the DoubleTree Grand Ballroom. Legendary guitarist Pat Metheny will bring his national Dream Box Tour to the Scottish Rite, and the talented vocalist Maysa will reunite with the British acid-jazz band Incognito, who helped launch her career as their lead soloist in the ’90s.
Longtime BJF favorite, pianist Keiko Matsui, will bring her beautiful original pieces to the Miller Center, performing with the Reading Pops Orchestra on Sunday afternoon. And fans of gospel music will be happy to know that saxophonist Kirk Whalum’s Gospel According to Jazz is returning to the Scottish Rite that evening, with a stellar lineup, including keyboardist John Stoddart, vocalist Kevin Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Marcus Finnie, Andrea Lisa, the Reading Choral Society and the Fresh Wind Gospel Choir.
On Friday, April 12, the fest presents West Coast Jam featuring fest favorites Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Peter White with the West Coast Horns at the Scottish Rite; a Miller Center co-bill of the Grammy-winning The Baylor Project and iconic vocalist Paulette McWilliams.
Fans of jazz/rock/blues guitar will enjoy the Eric Clapton Retrospective by Craig Thatcher and Friends on Saturday afternoon, April 13, and that evening the young jazz pianist Joey Alexander will return to the festival (all grown up now!) along with the ever-popular Tuck & Patti.
And Brian Culbertson will perform at the Scottish Rite on Sunday, April 14, followed by Straight No Chaser’s Jerome Collins closing the fest at the Miller Center.
But that lineup is just a part of the Berks Jazz Fest story. One of the unique aspects of this festival is the chance to attend one-of-a-kind concerts featuring collaborations by artists around special themes — or just because they want to jam together.
This year, fans have several options to enjoy these concerts:
• The yearly Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jam at the DoubleTree on Thursday, April 11.
• “Remembering Grover Washington Jr.,” featuring Kirk Whalum, Everette Harp, Kim Waters, Gerald Veasley, Billy Jolly and Carol Riddick with musicians who performed with Washington, on Friday, April 12.
• Chris “Big Dog” Davis’ third “Celebrating the Women in Jazz,” featuring Melba Moore, Maysa, Paulette McWilliams, and Nicole Henry and others at the Scottish Rite on Saturday, April 13.
• Brian Bromberg & Friends will perform during brunch on the last day.
• And, naturally, the four late-night Gerald Veasley Unscripted shows will take place on the two Fridays and Saturdays.
And those interested in discovering new and talented young artists should attend “The Future Is Now!” this Saturday at the Miller Center, featuring vocalist/trombonist Aubrey Logan, trumpeter/vocalist Ilya Serov, Oli Silk, and more. Additionally, jazz enthusiasts who appreciate women in jazz music will find enjoyment at Jazz in Pink on Sunday, during brunch at the DoubleTree Grand Ballroom.
“When the programming process begins each year,” stated John Ernesto, fest artistic director, “our aim is to assemble a lineup that highlights the variety within the jazz genre. I believe we have accomplished that objective — offering fans numerous options and chances to encounter contemporary and traditional jazz, fusion, blues, big band, Gypsy Jazz, and more.”
Other noteworthy concerts include Bobby Lyle & Andrew Neu featuring The Bright & Tight Horns; the Simon Shaheen Fusion Quartet at the WCR; saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin on Wednesday, April 10, at Kutztown University’s Schaeffer Auditorium; the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors and the Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band on Thursday, April 11, at the Miller Center.
There will be back-to-back concerts by Eric Darius & Rebecca Jade and the Rhythm & Groove Trio; blues performances by Craig Thatcher and Danielle Nicole; and Gypsy Jazz by the Hot Club of Reading, all on the second Saturday.
For a comprehensive manual to Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest 2024, visit www.berksjazzfest.com, where you can see the schedule as well as artist bios, news, and other details, including how to buy tickets.
