http://www.berksjazzfest.com/
Mostly smooth jazz, but these are interesting:
Guitarist Derek Trucks to perform with McCoy Tyner Quartet at Miller Center
The management teams of Derek Trucks and McCoy Tyner confirmed that arrangements have been finalized for red-hot guitarist Trucks to sit in with McCoy Tyner during the legendary jazz pianist's concert Saturday, April 4, at the Miller Center for the Arts located on the campus of Reading Area Community College.
Tyner and his quartet, featuring legendary saxophonist Gary Bartz, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.
Trucks is set to perform with The Derek Trucks Band later Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. at the Reading Crowne Hotel.
Trucks also was a special guest on Tyner's latest CD release Guitars. So it was only natural that this special collaboration would take place.
This a must-see concert during the fest. Get your tickets NOW!
Andy Fusco joins Steve Smith & Vital Information for March 28 concerts
The Steve Smith & Vital Information concerts set for Saturday, March 28, at Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Reading Crowne Hotel now will feature a special guest -- saxophonist Andy Fusco.
Fusco, a member of Smith's Jazz Legacy Band, will perform with the Hall-of-Fame drummer and the other members of the iconic fusion band -- Tom Coster on keyboards, Baron Browne on bass, and Vinny Valentino on guitar.
Steve Smith & Vital Information featuring special guest Andy Fusco will perform at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at the Jazz Base.
Fusco was the lead alto saxophonist in the Buddy Rich Big Band from 1978-1983. He has toured with a number of other legendary performers including Gerry Mulligan, Mel Lewis, Frank Sinatra, and John Pizzarelli, and is widely recorded both as a sideman and the leader of his own ensemble.
Fusco is an educator and clinician, and currently heads the jazz band and directs the jazz program at Kean University in New Jersey.
Festival headliners Randy Brecker and Bela Fleck win Grammy Awards
Two artists performing during the 19th annual VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest received Grammy Awards at the annual National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences ceremony, held in the Staples Center in Los Angeles.Randy Brecker took home the Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for Randy in Brasil, his 2008 release on Mama Records. 
Brecker will be performing as part of fusion group Metro, featuring Chuck Loeb, Mitch Forman, Dave Weckl, Gerald Veasley and Bobby Franceschini on Saturday, April 4, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base in the Reading Crowne Hotel.
The album, with its lush sound, beautiful song choices and ideal mesh of Brazilian culture and Brecker's singular voice, Randy in Brasil stands as one of his finest — if not the finest — albums in his long and varied career.
Bela Fleck, as part of his legendary group Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, took home the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for their holiday album Jingle All the Way.
Jingle All The Way also features another 2009 Berks Jazz Fest performer, Victor Wooten, on electric bass, Jeff Coffin on sax and flute, and Future Man on percussion.
Fleck will be bringing his world premiere tour of The Africa Project to Reading on Monday, March 30, at the Miller Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m.
In The Africa Project, Fleck explores with native musicians the little-known African roots of the banjo, highlighting how richly diverse the continent’s music traditions truly are. Fleck recently produced the documentary, “Throw Down Your Heart,” which was directed by Sascha Paladino and follows the musician’s journey through Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali as he explores the African roots of the banjo.
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