the philadelphia bassist frank scott is woven into fabric of berks jazz fest award / 5 he VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest brings new names to jazz This year, Veasley is bringing Berks fans the Music of are great composers and producers, and the music’s so smooth jazz 92.7 and blues fans every year. But each year, audiences also Stevie Wonder. Veasley will be joined by special guests Na- adventurous. live broadcast Tlook forward to the perennial Berks favorites. jee, Nnenna Freelon, Joe McBride and the Berks Jazz Fest “Chuck and I, we go way back. He produced part of Bassist Gerald Veasley is certainly a prime favorite, and Horns. The show is set for Saturday, March 28, at 10:30 (Veasley’s 2008 Heads Up release) Your Move. I always schedule / 12 a part of the Berks Jazz Fest family. p.m. and will be broadcast live on Channel 69 WFMZ. admired him as a producer.” He is the perfect blend of performance and personality. “I have an affinity for Stevie Wonder music because it Fans also will find Veasley jamming with Rick Braun, A Philadelphia native, was my favorite music growing up,” Veasley said. “I invited Loeb, Brian Bromberg, Chieli Minucci, Paul Jackson Jr., 10-day schedule by dana l. hoffman the charismatic Veasley people who share the same love for Stevie.” Dave Weckl, Bobby Lyle, Mitch Forman, Kim Waters, of events / 10, 11 has played at the festival He said vocalist Nnenna Freelon put her own twist Steve Cole, Jeff Kashiwa, Nelson Rangell and more at the in many capacities over the years, with his band, as part on Wonder’s songs on her album Tales of Wonder, and always-popular Berks All-Star Jazz Jam, Thursday, April 2, of his own Electric Mingus Project, as a special guest to saxman Najee recreated an entire album of Wonder tunes, at 10 p.m. at the Reading Crowne Hotel. severn records other artists including Pieces of a Dream, as a member of Najee Plays Songs from the Key of Life: A Tribute to Education has been an important part of Veasley’s the Heads Up Super Band, and, as part of the Channel 69 Stevie Wonder, an all-instrumental interpretation of a Stevie career as well. He will host his ninth Bass Boot Camp at brings soul and WFMZ live broadcast for the past three years as well as Wonder 1976 classic album. the festival, from March 27-29 at the Reading Crowne blues to fest / 18 the very popular All-Star Jazz Jam. “Joe McBride is an artist in the mold of Stevie Wonder,” Hotel. He’ll be joined by legendary bassists Victor Wooten, Veasley is also one of the founders of Gerald Veasley’s Veasley said. “Music is just pouring through his skin.” Bryan Beller, Chris Farr, David Dyson, Andrew Gouché, Jazz Base in the Reading Crowne Hotel. The Jazz Base Veasley also can be seen as part of Metro, a fusion Adam Nitti, T.M. Stevens, Richard Waller III and Anthony joyce cooling is a venue for many Berks Jazz Fest concerts, as well group led by guitarist Chuck Loeb and keyboardist Mitch Wellington as faculty for the two-day intensive workshop. as great jazz shows every Thursday throughout the year. Forman, Saturday, April 4, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the He also teaches bass students in his home studio. NAMI benefit / 19 He released a live album, At The Jazz Base!, which was Jazz Base. recorded at the club in November 2004. “It’s a real treat to play with Metro,” Veasley said. “They VEASLEY, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 19th annual festival guide published by READING EAGLE A2 SUNDAY, March 22, 2009 READING EAgle, Reading, PA. VEASLEY, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 & Fire, Kenny Blake, Pamela Williams, Eric Marienthal, Onaje Alan Gumbs, Omar Hakim and many more. He has shared it’s a real treat to play with metro. The roots of his music run deep in his soul. stages and tours with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. “ Veasley started playing the bass at age 12 and recalls Since 1992’s Look Ahead, Veasley has released Signs, they are great composers learning a great deal from jam sessions at home with friends Soul Control, Love Letters, On the Fast Track, Velvet, and of his musically inclined parents. His parents’ hard work Your Move on the Heads Up label. and producers and the inspired him, and his outstanding high school career earned Love Letters (1999) was Veasley’s last album to feature Veasley a four-year full academic scholarship to the University Grover Washington Jr. before his death at the end of that music’s so adventurous. of Pennsylvania. During his third year, Veasley lost his father. same year. Washington had appeared on all of Veasley’s solo ” To deal with the loss, he focused on music. Veasley taught albums, and Veasley paid tribute to his friend and mentor with himself how to improvise, transcribe solos and studied chord “Goodnight Moon,” a tune on his 2001 release, On the Fast progressions, and he took up studying classical guitar to Track. expand his range as a musician. When not teaching or wowing audiences, Veasley is “When my father died, I had a hard time coming to grips producing for other artists. He produced part of saxophonist with the loss, and the music proved very therapeutic,” he said. Andrew Neu’s new album. “I thought, ‘If music can have that kind of healing effect on me, “We’re just finishing up,” Veasley said. “At a young age, he’s maybe I can spend my life creating music that can do the already a master.” same for others.’ ” With his skill and versatility apparent both on and off the He came to appreciate Weather Report and Return to stage, it’s easy to see why Veasley is such a favorite here at Forever as much as he appreciated Earth, Wind & Fire and Berks. Smokey Robinson. Veasley has cited Jaco Pastorius, Anthony For more information: www.geraldveasley.com; Jackson and Stanley Clarke as his main influences on electric www.geraldveasleysjazzbase.com bass. In the 1980s, Veasley had developed into a versatile and reputable sideman and session player. He joined longtime mentor and friend Grover Washington Jr.’s band in 1986 and if you go... played on six of the sax player’s recordings. “Grover was a gentle human being who I think about every saturday, march 28 day,” Veasley said. “I feel like a steward of his legacy, a The Music of Stevie Wonder: Gerald Veasley Band with Najee, Nnenna Freelon, legacy of honest, heartfelt music. It’s better to play one note Joe McBride and the Berks Jazz Fest Horns that sounds like you, than a hundred that sound like someone Reading Crowne Hotel • 10:30 p.m. • $39 else.” Having held the music of Weather Report and Pastorius thursday, april 2 in such high regard, Veasley was delighted when, in 1988, Berks All-Star Jazz Jam, featuring Rick Braun, Chuck Loeb, Brian Bromberg, Chieli Minucci, Paul Jackson Jr., Dave Weather Report co-founder and legendary jazz fusion pioneer Weckl, Bobby Lyle, Mitch Forman, Kim Waters, Steve Cole, Joe Zawinul hired him as a sideman. Veasley toured the world Jeff Kashiwa, Nelson Rangell and more with his idol until 1995. Reading Crowne Hotel • 10 p.m. • $39 “That was a real education, on and off the bandstand,” he saturday, april 4 said. Metro featuring Chuck Loeb, Mitch Forman, Dave Weckl, He has recorded and/or performed with McCoy Tyner, The Randy Brecker, Gerald Veasley, Bob Franceschini Dixie Hummingbirds, Odean Pope, Special EFX, labelmate Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Reading Crowne Hotel Joe McBride, Teddy Pendergrass, Phil Perry, Chieli Minucci, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. • $35 Dianne Reeves, George Howard, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind Enjoy Greater Reading during the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest Welcome one and all to the 19th annual VF Outlet Berks Jazz last year celebrated its 100th birthday; the GoggleWorks Center 1958-2009 Fest! for the Arts in Reading, one of the largest arts centers of its kind in Our festival this year is jam packed with a variety of jazz events, the United States; and the Reading Public Museum in West Reading, thanks to our general manager John Ernesto, who works on the with a world-class collection of art and antiquities, as well as a Jody Rex, 50, a local artist, festival year-round to make sure we have one of the most exciting planetarium and 25-acre park. school teacher and longtime festivals in the nation. I’d like to thank all of our corporate sponsors for their tremen- Berks Jazz Fest volunteer, Be sure to stop and shop at the VF Outlet Village on your way to dous support of this outstanding event, our Board of Directors, our passed away on March 10 after any of the Jazz Fest concerts. VF Outlet has graciously donated the more than 300 volunteers and the Berks Arts Council full-time, part- a brave battle with brain cancer. use of their shuttles to transport hotel guests to and from the vari- time and seasonal staff who make this festival possible. Rex gave her time and talents ous venues and to the VF Outlet Village. Look for the colorful shuttle The Berks Arts Council is not just the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest. to many organizations, including pass -- with a $5 off a $50 purchase coupon at VF Outlet -- at the We are engaged all year in a variety of other community programs the Berks Arts Council, Berks hotels and venues.