At this stage of her incredibly accomplished career, song stylist Nancy Wilson performs only select engagements. Therefore, the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest will be in very select company on Friday, March 28, when it showcases the three-time Grammy Award winner with its opening-night “An Evening with Nancy Wilson" at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m.
The 18th annual Berks Jazz Fest, presented by the Berks Arts Council, runs March 28 through April 6 and features an expansive array of musical styles, including contemporary and traditional jazz, blues and big band, with some gospel and even bluegrass thrown in. Shows are held at major venues, clubs and restaurants throughout Reading and Berks County, making it a truly unique festival.
Nancy Wilson has done it all in her nearly five-decade-long career. The legendary vocalist has adroitly sung jazz, blues, pop, cabaret, R&B, and everything in between. She has hosted her own network TV variety show, profiled the legends of jazz on National Public Radio and acted in numerous television programs.
As a jazz performer she is renowned for her exciting collaborations with such greats as Cannonball Adderley, George Shearing and Ramsey Lewis. Her debut single, “Guess Who I Saw Today," was so successful that between April 1960 and July 1962, Capitol Records released five Nancy Wilson albums. In 1963 “Tell The Truth" became her first truly major hit, leading up to her performance at the Coconut Grove in 1964 that turned her almost overnight into a jazz icon.
Through the years, Wilson's talent remains incandescent. She won Grammy Awards in 2005 and 2007 for her MCG Jazz albums R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) and Turned to Blue.
Other featured artists at this year's festival include always-rocking blues guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy; the return of the ever-popular Guitars & Saxes featuring Gerald Albright, Peter White, Jeff Golub and Jeff Lorber; jazz guitar great Pat Martino; master guitarist Chuck Loeb; saxophonist Eric Marienthal; alto saxophonist Candy Dulfer; the gifted and charismatic trumpeter Chris Botti; guitarist Paul Brown, vocalist Kenny Rankin, fellow guitarist Marc Antoine and saxman Eric Darius; Berks favorite, keyboardist Brian Culbertson; trumpet great Rick Braun and saxman Richard Elliot; guitarist Nick Colionne with keyboardist Brian Simpson; and versatile bassist Brian Bromberg.
Additional marquee artists include Bill Evans' Soulgrass with bluegrass vocalist and instrumentalist Sam Bush; popular keyboardist and vocalist Joe McBride; the Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels with special guest, reed player Paquito D'Rivera; saxman Euge Groove and keyboardist Alex Bugnon; violinist Regina Carter in a quintet; Maria Muldaur and Bonerama; blues night with the Clarence Spady Band, Campbell Brothers and Eric Bibb; the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, high-energy jazz dance performers; New York's Finest Jazz Band, an 18-member group performing jazz and pop standards; Kennedy Center presents Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, featuring young emerging artists; Sherrie Maricle and the all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra; Simone, daughter of legendary singer Nina Simone, and the Rob Stoneback Big Band; and the return of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.
Music director and keyboardist Jason Miles once again is bringing special ensemble shows to the Berks Jazz Fest. Miles and an all-star roster will be Celebrating the Life & Music of Grover Washington Jr., the late legendary saxman. The show, To Grover with Love, brings together some of the top names in the business, including Patti LaBelle, Walter Beasley, Everette Harp, Kim Waters, Maysa, Phil Perry, Chuck Loeb, Will Lee, Buddy Williams and Ralph MacDonald. The world premiere of Jason Miles/DJ Logic Global Noize features Christian Scott, Karl Denson, Bernie Worrell, Caf, Brian Dunne, Carl Burnett and Tim LeFebvre.
To order tickets:
Visit the Sovereign Center Box Office, Seventh and Penn streets, Reading
Visit the Sovereign Performing Arts Center Box Office, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading
Call Ticketmaster at 215-336-2000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com
For more information on the Berks Arts Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes all the arts in an effort to enrich the quality of life in Berks County, visit our website.
The 18th annual Berks Jazz Fest, presented by the Berks Arts Council, runs March 28 through April 6 and features an expansive array of musical styles, including contemporary and traditional jazz, blues and big band, with some gospel and even bluegrass thrown in. Shows are held at major venues, clubs and restaurants throughout Reading and Berks County, making it a truly unique festival.
Nancy Wilson has done it all in her nearly five-decade-long career. The legendary vocalist has adroitly sung jazz, blues, pop, cabaret, R&B, and everything in between. She has hosted her own network TV variety show, profiled the legends of jazz on National Public Radio and acted in numerous television programs.
As a jazz performer she is renowned for her exciting collaborations with such greats as Cannonball Adderley, George Shearing and Ramsey Lewis. Her debut single, “Guess Who I Saw Today," was so successful that between April 1960 and July 1962, Capitol Records released five Nancy Wilson albums. In 1963 “Tell The Truth" became her first truly major hit, leading up to her performance at the Coconut Grove in 1964 that turned her almost overnight into a jazz icon.
Through the years, Wilson's talent remains incandescent. She won Grammy Awards in 2005 and 2007 for her MCG Jazz albums R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) and Turned to Blue.
Other featured artists at this year's festival include always-rocking blues guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy; the return of the ever-popular Guitars & Saxes featuring Gerald Albright, Peter White, Jeff Golub and Jeff Lorber; jazz guitar great Pat Martino; master guitarist Chuck Loeb; saxophonist Eric Marienthal; alto saxophonist Candy Dulfer; the gifted and charismatic trumpeter Chris Botti; guitarist Paul Brown, vocalist Kenny Rankin, fellow guitarist Marc Antoine and saxman Eric Darius; Berks favorite, keyboardist Brian Culbertson; trumpet great Rick Braun and saxman Richard Elliot; guitarist Nick Colionne with keyboardist Brian Simpson; and versatile bassist Brian Bromberg.
Additional marquee artists include Bill Evans' Soulgrass with bluegrass vocalist and instrumentalist Sam Bush; popular keyboardist and vocalist Joe McBride; the Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels with special guest, reed player Paquito D'Rivera; saxman Euge Groove and keyboardist Alex Bugnon; violinist Regina Carter in a quintet; Maria Muldaur and Bonerama; blues night with the Clarence Spady Band, Campbell Brothers and Eric Bibb; the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, high-energy jazz dance performers; New York's Finest Jazz Band, an 18-member group performing jazz and pop standards; Kennedy Center presents Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, featuring young emerging artists; Sherrie Maricle and the all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra; Simone, daughter of legendary singer Nina Simone, and the Rob Stoneback Big Band; and the return of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.
Music director and keyboardist Jason Miles once again is bringing special ensemble shows to the Berks Jazz Fest. Miles and an all-star roster will be Celebrating the Life & Music of Grover Washington Jr., the late legendary saxman. The show, To Grover with Love, brings together some of the top names in the business, including Patti LaBelle, Walter Beasley, Everette Harp, Kim Waters, Maysa, Phil Perry, Chuck Loeb, Will Lee, Buddy Williams and Ralph MacDonald. The world premiere of Jason Miles/DJ Logic Global Noize features Christian Scott, Karl Denson, Bernie Worrell, Caf, Brian Dunne, Carl Burnett and Tim LeFebvre.
To order tickets:
Visit the Sovereign Center Box Office, Seventh and Penn streets, Reading
Visit the Sovereign Performing Arts Center Box Office, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading
Call Ticketmaster at 215-336-2000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com
For more information on the Berks Arts Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes all the arts in an effort to enrich the quality of life in Berks County, visit our website.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
