SAX FOR STAX at Berks Jazz Fest
March 27, 2009 - On Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 2pm at Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania (www.berksjazzfest.com), there will be the crowd-pleasing smooth jazz show Sax for Staxwithtwo supremely talented and long-time popular saxophonists, Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum.  The two are paired up as part of the exciting Sax for Stax tour on the legendary music of Stax Records. The Record company had artists such as Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, and the Staple Singers and was based in Memphis Tennessee (nicknamed Soulsville, USA). Stax Records is now a subsidiary of Concord Music Group. The Sax for Stax tour features Gerald Albright on alto saxophone with his uniquely bluesy tones and “So Amazing” high altissimo notes that delight audiences.

Along with Kirk Whalum, with his special, soulful, smooth-as-silk tenor saxophone magic, they make a great combination.  Albright and Whalum appeared together at the 2007 Berks Jazz Fest as part of the Guitars & Saxes tour with Jeff Golub and Tim Bowman. Since the mid-1960s, Albright, influenced by Cannonball Adderly and Maceo Parker, has been an in-demand studio musician and sideman working with artists such as Les McCann, Jeff Lorber, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Jr., Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, The Winans, Olivia Newton-John, The Temptations, Maurice White, and many others. In 1987, he finally made his debut as a solo artist, and since then, he’s become one of the most popular contemporary jazz artists in the world, selling over 1 million albums. Albright was one of the ten featured saxophonists who performed at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. In addition to playing saxophones, Albright also plays bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, and for his CDs, does drum programming, and background vocals. Last year, Albright released his ninth solo album, the popular soul and funk CD Sax for Stax (Peak records), which received a 2009 Grammy nomination forBest Pop Instrumental Album.  The CD includes eight covers of songs such as “Knock on Wood,” “Respect Yourself,” “What You See is What You Get,”  “Never Can Say Goodbye,” as well as some original tunes such as “Walkin’ Down Beale Street featuring Whalum as a special guest.  

Joyce Cooling Band at 2009 Berks Jazz Fest
March 26, 2009 - On Saturday April 4, 2009 at 2pm at Berks Jazz Fest, in Reading, PA (www.berksjazzfest.com) there will be a great show with San Francisco-based guitarist Joyce Cooling and keyboardist Jay Wagner, and their band. The show will hopefully debut some of the new material from Cooling’s seventh CD to be released this April called Global Cooling, an eclectic mix of jazz, dance, and trance music - appropriately titled for these environmentally-concerned times. On the website www.joycecooling.com, there is a public service message “Vote Earth – Your Light Switch is Your Vote” Switch off your lights for Earth Hour, Saturday March 28, 8:30pm-9:30pm.

A portion of the sales from Joyce’s Global Cooling will go directly to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org). For over a decade, Joyce Cooling continues to be one of contemporary jazz's most dynamic guitarists, with songs on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and Radio & Records. From her first hit single “South of Market” from the 1997 CD Playing It Cool, to the song “Expression” on the CD This Girl’s Got To Play to the tune “Mm, Mm Good” with guest Al Jarreau on Cooling’s Third Wish CD. As well as upbeat smooth jazz tunes such as “Callie” and “Before Dawn” from the popular CD Keeping Cool. Every once in a while, Cooling has also recorded her own sweet vocals, on tunes like “Savannah” and "Simple Kind of Love." The songwriting duo of guitarist Joyce Cooling and keyboardist/producer Jay Wagner create an exhilarating repertoire of original tunes and a uniquely innovative sound which combines smooth jazz, funky R & B, dance rhythms and Brazilian influences. - by Val Vaccaro

Rick Braun’s Tribute to Chet Baker II at 2009 Berks Jazz Fest
March 25, 2009 - On Saturday, April 4th, at 10pm trumpeter Rick Braun will once again perform ”A Tribute to Chet Baker” in honor of his emotionally introspective muse at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel Ballroom at Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania (www.berksjazzfest.com).  Last year, Braun’s tribute included two sold-out shows to packed audiences at the Jazz Base.  Early in Rick Braun’s solo career, his CDs were more reflective of Baker’s introspective style, before Braun’s funky smooth jazz signature style was introduced in 1996 on the CD Beat Street. Braun will sing and play Baker’s biggest songs, along with the same fantastic musicians as last year: Ricky Lawson on drums, Brian Bromberg on bass, and Philippe Saisse on keyboards. Braun, along with this super-talented group of musicians, plans to release a CD on his tribute to Chet Baker. 

In addition, Braun is working on a new solo CD for his Artisan Records label of smooth jazz, funk and world music called What It Takes, which will be co-produced by Saisse. Philippe Saisse is a brilliant pianist, composer and producer of contemporary jazz, as well as other musical styles.  Saisse has recorded over two dozen CDs since 1987, with a large repertoire. He’s recorded funky, upbeat music, such as his brilliant and radio-friendly interpretation of the Steely Dan 70’s classic song “Do It Again” from Saisse’s Body and Soul Sessions CD (2006), and his popular CD Next Voyage, which had the title track, and his radio-hit cover of “Moanin.’ Saisse’s most recent CD  At World's Edge(Koch Records) is an exciting  mix pop, rock and funk-infused tracks, as well as new age-jazz and world music. 

Saisse has also worked with musicians such as Jeff Golub, Gato Barbieri, Kirk Whalum, David Sanborn, Al Jarreau, Chaka Kahn, Elton John, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, and the Rolling Stones, among many others.

Brian Bromberg is an accomplished acoustic and electric bass player with a successful solo career. Bromberg’s current CD Downright Upright received a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.  The bassist has performed with artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Herbie Hancock, Boney James. As a producer, Bromberg has had eight top 10 and two number 1 smooth jazz hits for artists such as Chris Botti, Kim Waters, Jeff Kashiwa and Turning Point. Bromberg is also appearing with his own band and as a special guest at the Berks Jazz Fest All Star Jam.

Drummer Ricky Lawson is one of the most fantastic, dynamic drummers in music today. He is a founding member of the Yellowjackets and a Grammy-winning composer.  Lawson has worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Phil Collins, Babyface, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, Russell Ferrante, Toto, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Lionel Richie and many others. - by Val Vaccaro

The 19th Annual Berks Jazz Festival
March 21, 2009 - The 19th Annual Berks Jazz Fest – March 27 to April 5, 2009 with Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Chuck Loeb, Average White Band, The Sax Pack, Phoebe Snow, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Jason Miles, Jeff Golub, Warren Hill, Peter White, Mindi Abair, Joyce Cooling, Paul Jackson Jr., Béla Fleck, Boney James, Wayman Tisdale, Jonathan Butler, the Derek Trucks Band, and more!   by Val Vaccaro

Every year just as winter turns to spring in the U.S., it is the time of the season for one of the best contemporary jazz festivals in the world - the Berks Jazz Fest (www.berksjazzfest.com). The 10-day event, which runs from Friday March 27 to Sunday April 5, celebrates its 19th year.  Berks Jazz Fest is located in Reading, Pennsylvania - about an hour outside of Philadelphia, and a couple of hours from NYC. More