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| VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest The VF Outlet Berks Jazz fest is notable for its diversity of music and its innovative concepts. That twin tradition will be emphatically upheld on Wednesday, April 2, when Jazz Meets Bluegrass: Bill Evans' Soulgrass with special guest Sam Bush at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Jazz saxophonist Bill Evans has had a distinguished career as a solo artist, one whose first full-time gig was a berth with the Miles Davis Band. But over the years he has explored a variety of such musical settings as hip-hop, fusion, reggae, Brazilian and slamming funk. He stepped into more adventurous territory with his 2006 release Soulgrass, collaborating on the project with numerous jazz fusion all-stars as well as famed bluegrass vocalist and mandolin master Sam Bush. Now Evans and Bush are teaming up at the Berks Jazz Fest. The 18th annual VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest, presented by the Berks Arts Council, runs March 28 through April 6 and offers fans a wide array of musical styles, including contemporary and traditional jazz, blues, big band and gospel. Shows are held at major venues, clubs and restaurants throughout Reading and Berks County, making it a truly unique festival. Getting back to Evans and Bush, the question is what happens musically when hipster marries hayseed? "You get a marriage that really works," Evans says. “Jazz may be more intellectual, but the lines and rhythms can be exactly the same as bluegrass, and both are about improvisation." Rounding the Soulgrass bluegrass-jazz fusion band at the festival will be banjo phenom Ryan Cavanaugh, fiddler/violinist Christian Howes, bassist Mark Egan and drummer Joel Rosenblatt. It's a nervy merging of genres. While progressive bluegrassers have been experimenting with swing jazz elements for years, Evans is the first overtly modern jazz bandleader to move in a bluegrass direction. In 2006, Evans' Soulgrass album received a Grammy nomination in the contemporary jazz category. "I can't afford to rest on my laurels with this band," said Evans, who has played with Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Mick Jagger and Willie Nelson when not touring extensively with his own band. “Nobody knows me on the grassroots scene. We have the best players, and a fresh musical vision. We cover all the bases, which I have to do to gain a new audience." Everybody knows Sam Bush on the grassroots scene. Besides vocals and mandolin, he is a capable guitar and fiddle player. He was a founding member of the New Grass Revival and has been called a modern-day Bill Monroe. He is known as one of the liveliest performers at bluegrass festivals and released his first live concert DVD On The Road in 2007. "The real definition of jazz is about growth, innovation and moving forward," Evans said. “So a hybrid like this is the essence of jazz." And it's happening on April 2nd at the Berks Jazz Fest. Don't miss it! Other featured artists at this year's festival include the return of the ever-popular Guitars & Saxes featuring Gerald Albright, Peter White, Jeff Golub and Jeff Lorber; jazz guitar great Pat Martino; blues legend Buddy Guy; 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 and 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 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; 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, the Rob Stoneback Big Band; the return of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band; and the considerable blues talents of Maria Muldaur, Bonerama, the Clarence Spady Band, Campbell Brothers and Eric Bibb. 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, Cafe, Brian Dunne, Carl Burnett and Tim LeFebvre. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |