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FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest is the premier assemblage of musical artistry to date. This year’s 10-day lineup features more than 130 concerts at major venues, clubs and restaurants throughout Greater Reading and Berks County, PA,
exulting the music of Brazilian Jazz legend Ivan Lins and Friends, Marvin Gaye & Motown, a tribute to celebrated jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery and more. It will truly be a grand celebration of 16 phenomenal years, showcasing the diversity of musical styles that include Contemporary/Smooth Jazz, Latin jazz, traditional jazz, swing, big band, blues and so much more, showcasing return engagements by a marquee cast of artists during this year’s festival.
The festival has a bright constellation of stars such as Dianne Reeves, Joe Sample, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Ramsey Lewis, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Gerald Veasley, Kurt Elling and the Robert Cray Band, among many others. Recent additions to the lineup include Dutch sax woman, Candy Dulfer and maestro of the flugelhorn, Chuck “Cat in the Hat” Mangione.
For tickets and more event information, including lodging and directions, logon to www.berksjazzfest.com. FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest: It’s all about the music!
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything.” - Katharine Hepburn
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Editor’s Notes:
March 2006
After a brief hiatus, we’re back and excited to once again bring you the best in Notes and News of Smooth Jazz. With Spring just around the corner, and so much more on the horizon, we can hardly contain ourselves! Exciting new releases, heart-stopping live performances on the land and the seas, there is so much to do. Once again, it is time to get it in gear. Can ya feel it?
In our corner of the world, we’re shakin’ it up—getting fit and sassy, takin’ time to live in the moment. Like many of our readers, we have had to address issues such as children with special needs and elder care, relocations, life mates and personal growth. These are the LDM’s (Life Defining Moments) that ultimately define us—in a real way, identify who we are and/or who we will become. Once we embrace the fact that “it is what it is” and consciously decide to move forward in a positive light, growth happens. This is the dance of life. What better way to accompany the dance than with our favorites recording and performing the music we have come to love and respect.
As is true with each of us, our favorite (and soon to become favorite) artists have been laboring to create new music to get excited about. There’s Grant Geissman’s “Say That” (remember when he was a neophyte in Chuck Mangione’s ensemble?), the Remastered “Gold” by the late Grover Washington, Jr., Chick Corea’s “Ultimate Adventure”, Tom Schuman’s “Deep Chill”, “Urban Flamingo” by Bob James, Gerald Albright’s “New Beginnings” on Peak Records – (Albright doesn’t miss a beat with this one gang, featuring heavy hitters Jeff Lorber, Patrice Rushen, Paul Jackson, Jr., Chris Botti, Chuckii Booker, drummer Tony Moore and bassist Melvin Davis, to name a few). Spyro Gyra is “Wrapped in a Dream” and let’s not forget hot new saxman Eric Darius’ soon to be released “Just Getting Started”. He’s got chops! Check him out live with Brian Culbertson at a venue near you and for the ultimate thrill, watch them take it full throttle at the Berks Jazz Fest.
Congratulations to all our GRAMMY® winners and nominees: Earl Klugh, Jeff ilera, Stevie Wonder and India.Arie, George Duke, Burt Bacharach and Chris Botti, Pat Metheny Group, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joshua Redmond, Dianne Reeves, Tierney Sutton, Nneena Freelon, Luciana Souza, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels.
There’s a nursery rhyme that begins: “The North winds shall blow, and we shall have snow. What will the poor robin do then, poor thing!…” We have a suggestion: head to Berks County, Pennsylvania for the 16th Annual
First Energy Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, PA. Logon to the festival website www.berksjazzfest.com for the full lineup, tickets and lodging information. The lineup will astound you. Labeling it a “major event” doesn’t begin to cover it. We’ll be there, won’t you?
Our thanks to the many artists who brought their own special brand of magic to the holiday season, including Peter White, Mindi Abair, Rick Braun, Dave Koz & Friends, Will Downing (family & friends), Jimmy Sommers and Chris Botti, who gave us remarkable, memorable holiday concerts and CDs. What a wonderful way to share the spirit of the season.
We ask that you continue to remember our men and women in uniform who continue to give the full measure in the struggle to keep all men free. God Speed and come back to us soon.
This genre we adore is about so much more than music, but the music remains the ties that bind us all. Thanks to our readers, friends and fellow music lovers for your continued loyalty and support. Likewise, we encourage your continued support of the artists of Smooth Jazz, by purchasing CDs, attending live performances and spreading the word to family, friends and coworkers. We need to take care of the music: it is our legacy and it is just that important!
It’s a new day… a new year. Until we meet again…
Peace and Grace,
~gwenn
“…Life has meaning only in the struggle. Triumph or defeat is in the hands of the Gods. So let us celebrate the struggle!” - Stevie Wonder
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