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FirstEnergy Berks Jazz FestGordon Goodwin & the Big Phat Band Promises High-Energy ExperienceThe FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest has always been dedicated to jazz education as well as entertainment. Each year, the festival's education committee arranges clinics, workshops and performances with world-renowned jazz musicians for local jazz students.
They will be joined by the Berks High School All-Star Band for the Music Educators of Berks County Night, Tuesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Tickets are $18, and $10 for students with ID. In keeping with their philosophy on educational outreach, Goodwin and his band will host a workshop before the concert. The Berks Jazz Fest places a strong emphasis on educational outreach. There will be at least five other educational workshops conducted by various artists throughout the festival. Goodwin and his 18-member Big Phat Band will propel the listener on a journey through a myriad of styles: Latin, blues, swing classical, hard-hitting jazz and even a homage to Looney Tunes. The group has two Grammy-nominated albums out and The Phat Pack currently hitting the charts. The 17th annual Berks Jazz Fest, presented by the Berks Arts Council, runs March 16-25 and features an abundance of great artists, more than 130 venues large and small, a schedule of staggering scale and amazing ensemble concerts. Goodwin is a three-time Emmy Award winner, a five-time Grammy nominee and recent winner of a 48th annual Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his arrangement of "The Incredits" from Pixar's "The Incredibles." Members of the Big Phat Band have distinguished themselves as recording artists and soloists in the jazz field, including Eric Marienthal, Wayne Bergeron (also a Grammy nominee), Andy Martin, Bob Summers, Luis Conte, Bernie Dresel and Grant Geissman. The Phat Band is: saxes - Eric Marienthal, Sal Lozano, Brian Scanlon, Jeff Driskill, Jay Mason; trumpets - Wayne Bergeron, Dan Fornero, Bob Summers, Dan Savant; trombones - Andy Martin, Alex Iles, Charlie Morillas, Craig Ware; drums - Ray Brinker, Bernie Dressel; AC & EL Bass - Rick Shaw; guitar - Grant Geissman, Carl Verheyen; percussion - Luis Conte, Brad Dutz; leader - Gordon Goodwin. To order tickets: Major ticketed events Friday, March 16 -- Downright Upright All-Stars featuring Brian Bromberg, Randy Brecker, Jeff Lorber, Gary Meek and Dave Weckl, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 10 p.m., $32 Saturday, March 17 -- An Afternoon of Heads Up featuring Pieces of a Dream, Bobby Lyle, Marion Meadows, Alexander Zonjic, Gerald Veasley and Doc Powell, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 2 p.m., $38 and $33 Saturday, March 17 -- Gerald Veasley's Electric Mingus Project featuring Gerald Veasley, John Swana, Chris Farr, Tony Miceli and Butch Reed plus special guest John Blake Jr., Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel, 7 p.m., $20 Saturday, March 17 -- Boney James, Sovereign Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $46 and $39 Saturday, March 17 -- An Evening of Heads Up featuring Pieces of a Dream, Bobby Lyle, Marion Meadows, Alexander Zonjic, Gerald Veasley and Doc Powell, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 10 p.m., $38 and $33 Sunday, March 18 -- Nelson Rangell and Philippe Saisse plus Joyce Cooling, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 1:30 p.m., $25 Sunday, March 18 -- Celebrating the Life & Music of Luther Vandross: Dionne Warwick, Kirk Whalum, Walter Beasley, Cissy Houston, Doc Powell, James "D Train" Williams, Paulette McWilliams, Buddy Williams, Tinker Barfield, Cindy Mizell and music directors Jason Miles and Nat Adderley Jr., Sovereign Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m., $46 and $39. Tuesday, March 20 -- Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band plus Berks High School All-Star Band, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 7:30 p.m., $18 and $10 for students with ID. Wednesday, March 21 -- The Rolling Stones Project featuring Tim Ries, Mike Davis, Bernard Fowler and Ben Monder, Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $30 Thursday, March 22 -- Greg Hatza ORGANization, Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel, 7 p.m., $12 Thursday, March 22 -- Mindi Abair, The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $30 Thursday, March 22 -- Berks All-Star Jazz Jam featuring Rick Braun, Chuck Loeb, Gerald Veasley, Richard Elliot, Nick Colionne, Warren Hill, Joe McBride, Steve Oliver and Rayford Griffin, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 10 p.m., $30 Friday, March 23 -- Pat Martino Quartet, Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel, 7 p.m., $28 Friday, March 23 -- Ann Hampton Callaway plus Denis DiBlasio Quintet, The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom, 7 p.m., $30 Friday, March 23 -- Keb' Mo' Band, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 7 p.m., $40 and $34 Friday, March 23 -- 17th Anniversary Concert: Rick Braun & Friends featuring Richard Elliot, Jonathan Butler, Jackiem Joyner and Rayford Griffin, Sovereign Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $46 and $39 Friday, March 23 -- Bettye LaVette and Frank Bey & The Swing City Blues Band, Inn at Reading, 9:30 p.m., $28 Friday, March 23 -- Pat Martino Quartet, Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel, 10:30 p.m., $28 Friday March 23 -- The David Sanborn Group, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 10:30 p.m., $38 and $33 Saturday, March 24 -- Ladies of Jazz featuring Toni Lynne, Sharon Bailey and Suzie Ernesto with The Last Big Band, The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom, 1 p.m., $20 Saturday, March 24 -- "The Groove Boutique's" Rafe Gomez hosts Warren Hill and Nick Colionne, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 1:30 p.m., $38 and $33. Saturday, March 24 -- Tribute to Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane: Kevin Mahogany featuring saxophonist David Liebman, Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel, 7 p.m., $28 Saturday, March 24 -- World Premiere Concert: Soul Summit featuring Jason Miles, Steve Ferrone, Bob Babbitt, Reggie Young, Karl Denson, DJ Logic, Sherrod Barnes, Barry Daniellan, David Mann plus special guests Susan Tedeschi, Maysa Leak, Richard Elliot, Mike Mattison and Karl Denson, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 7 p.m. , $46 and $39 Saturday, March 24 -- Smokin' Joe Kubek featuring Bnois King plus Billy Price Band plus Deanna Bogart, Inn at Reading, 7 p.m., $35 Saturday, March 24 -- Trumpet Summit featuring guest trumpeters Brian Lynch, Scott Wendholt and Alex Sipiagin and Dave Stahl and his Big Band, The Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25 Saturday, March 24 -- Tribute to Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane: Kevin Mahogany featuring saxophonist David Liebman, Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading Hotel, 10:30 p.m., $28 Saturday, March 24 -- The Sax Pack featuring Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters and Steve Cole, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 10:30 p.m., $38 and $33 Sunday, March 25 -- Chuck Loeb featuring the Berks Jazz Fest Horns plus the WJJZ All-Stars Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters, Steve Cole and Gerald Veasley, Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom, 1:30 p.m., $25 Sunday, March 25 -- Guitars & Saxes featuring Gerald Albright, Tim Bowman, Jeff Golub and Kirk Whalum, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 7 p.m., $46 and $39 FirstEnergy Berks Jazz Fest Edited by Dave Shultz Images courtesy of http://www.berksjazzfest.com |
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This
year, the committee is pleased to present Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, whose
dynamic sound has refocused the national spotlight on big bands. Goodwin is a
champion promoter of the big-band sound on high school and college campuses, and
his high-energy fusion Phat Band isn't your mother's big band.