Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base at the Sheraton Reading: PA's Hottest Jazz Club
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Thursday,
September 9
7:00 p.m.

Mark Hummel's
Blues Harmonica
Blowout

Doors: 6 p.m.

$25 at door or in advance

Come early, enjoy
dinner at the
Jazz Base.

Hosted by the
Crowne Plaza Reading
 

 

 




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Mark HummelThursday, September 9 / 7:00 p.m.

20th Anniversary Tour
Mark Hummel's
Blues Harmonica Blowout
featuring
Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors
Billy Branch
James Harmon
Steve Freund

Tickets: $25 at door or in advance
CLICK HERE to order advance tickets online!

Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout, featuring Billy Branch, James Harmon and Hummel, plus special guest Steve Freund and the Blues Survivors will rock the Jazz Base with some swingin' blues.

Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout series was started in 1991. It has grown to become an international event, having played festivals and theatres like Nottonden Blues Fest (Norway), San Francisco Blues Fest, Chicago Blues Fest, Ultimate Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Pocono Blues Fest, Mississippi Valley Blues Fest, American Music Fest, BB King's Club (NYC), Heritage Blues Fest, King Biscuit Blues Fest, El Dorado Blues and Brews (Reno, NV), Edmonton Blues Fest, Yoshi's NiteClub, Monterey Jazz Fest, North Atlantic Blues Fest, and many other venues.

Billy BranchMark Hummel is a road warrior -- a true Blues Survivor. Along the way, he has crafted his own trademark harmonica sound -- a subtle combination of tone, phrasing and attack, combined with a strong sense of swing. Hummel has achieved wide recognition through nearly constant touring in the US, Canada and Europe.

Billy Branch has followed a very non-traditional path to the blues. Unlike many blues artists, he isn’t from the South. Billy was born in Chicago in 1951 and was raised in Los Angeles. He first picked up a harmonica at the age of ten and immediately began to play simple tunes.

Billy returned to Chicago in the summer of ’69 and graduated from the University James Harmanof Illinois with a degree in political science. It was during these years that he was introduced to the blues.

James Harman is a one of a kind showman, vocalist, song writer, harp player and wiseguy. He has had his original songs used in 17 movies and has been nominated for 19 pestiferous W. C. Handy awards. He played harmonica on many ZZ Top releases and live with them on many international TV shows. He currently tours almost all springs, summers and falls working in as many as 23 different countries.

Guitarist, producer and bandleader Steve Freund, praised by Rolling Stone for his "masterful, no-nonsense guitar work" has relocated to the West Coast following 18 years as one of Chicago's most respected musicians.

Widely sought after for his knowledge of and fluency in the Blues idioms, Freund has earned a reputation as one of the hottest players on today's blues scene.

In 1978, he became Sunnyland Slim's main guitarist, playing just about every gig with the piano legend until the time of his death.
 


Thursday, September 16 / 7:00 p.m.

From The Hip
featuring
Mike Eben, saxophone
Roger Morgan, trumpet
Dave Santana, drums
Terry Bortman, bass
Mike Byrne, guitar
Marty Mellinger, keyboards

Tickets $10 at door

Mike Eben's From the HIP is back with another great show at the Jazz Base.

A crowd favorite at the club, From the HIP will present a night of hard bop, funk, and classic jazz. You will hear tunes from Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver and more.

Performing with the band at the Jazz Base will be keyboardist Marty Mellinger and drummer Dave Santana.
These two musicians are well-known to the local jazz community, and will bring their own brand of musicianship to the performance.

This will be a night of funky, groovy, toe-tappin' jazz. Don't miss the Hipsters in action!
 


Thursday, September 23 / 7:00 p.m.

Sixth Anniversary Celebration
Smooth Jazz 92.7 Summer Concert Series

Gerald Veasley
featuring special guests
Ken Navarro
Carol Riddick

Tickets: $23 at door or in advance
CLICK HERE to order advance tickets online!

It's hard to believe that the Jazz Base will be celebrating its sixth anniversary during this special concert featuring Gerald Veasley.

Gerald is putting together a great lineup of guests for this milestone show that will close out the Smooth Jazz 92.7 Summer Concert Series.
 


WFUV  show with LevonThursday, September 30 / 7:00 p.m.

Jim Weider's Project Perculator
featuring
Jim Weider,
guitar
Mitch Stein,
guitar
Rodney Holmes, drums
Steve Lucas, bass

Tickets $12 at door

Jim Weider, a master of classic telecaster guitar, is renowned for his rock and blues-based signature sound.

Jim Weider is among a select group of musicians with an endorsement from Fender and, for the past three decades, he's earned enormous respect from fellow musicians and music fans throughout the world.

Born and raised in the famed arts colony of Woodstock, NY, Jim received great acclaim during his long tenure (1985-2000) as lead guitarist (replacing Robbie Robertson) for Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductees -- The Band.

During 15 years of international touring with original members Levon Helm, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko, Jim was featured on numerous albums, films, videos and television appearances.

When not performing with his own band, Jim is a touring member of the Levon Helm Band.


My Photos | 2010 Press Photo | Philly GumboThursday, October 7 / 7:00 p.m.

Philly Gumbo
featuring
Randall Grass,
keyboards
Pete Eshelman,
guitar
Tim Hayes, drums
Bert Harris, bass
CC Crabtree, sax
India Rex, vocals

Tickets $10 at door

Philly Gumbo has been the foremost exponent of New Orleans music in the Philadelphia area and perhaps the only band to effectively mix New Orleans, R&B, reggae, blues, and African music.

Philly Gumbo has also been recognized by Philadelphia Magazine in the annual “Best Of Philadelphia” issue and by the Philadelphia Music Foundation.

Philly Gumbo pioneered live music at the fabled South Street music scene at the club Bacchanal and was often joined there by special guests sitting in such as Todd Rundgren, David Lindley, Teddy Royal of Fats Domino’s band, members of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ band, Kenn Kweder, Elliot Levin, Essra Mohawk and more.

Philly Gumbo kicked off the first Jambalaya Jam at Penn’s Landing and appeared many times at Jam On The River and most of the top venues in the Philadelphia area.

If you want to have a true New Orleans musical experience, then you do not want to miss Philly Gumbo.


Thursday, October 14 / 7:00 p.m.

Monkadelphia
featuring
Tony Miceli,
vibes
Tom Lawton,
piano
Jim Miller, drums
Micha Jones, bass
Chris Farr, sax

Tickets $10 at door

Over the past several years, there has been a revival and reconsideration of the music of Thelonious Monk.

No one embodies this trend better than Monkadelphia, a group of Philadelphia-based jazz musicians who play his music exclusively — a difficult challenge which they embrace with vitality, panache, and sophistication.

With Chris Farr on saxophone, Tony Miceli on vibes, Tom Lawton on piano, Micah Jones on bass, and Jim Miller on drums, this group makes the Monk legacy come alive, sustaining rapt attention throughout extended nightclub sets and concert gigs.

Their forthcoming 2010 CD is masterful, with echoes of the best groups of the 1950s and 1960s, reflecting Monk's unique contributions yet representing Monkadelphia's own approach, developed in over a decade of performing his music together.

The band comes to the Jazz Base celebrating the release of its latest
CD project -- Crepuscule.


Thursday, October 21 / 7:00 p.m.

Blues Night
Clarence Spady Band


Tickets $15 at door

Clarence Spady is back at the Jazz Base.

The last time he was at the club Spady gave the packed house a memorable performance.

Anyone familiar with Spady understands. Rarely does an artist emerge that is the REAL DEAL!

Spady touches the soul in ways that can't be explained with words.

Spady's latest CD project Just Between Us isn't your typical blues album, instead more of a mixture of supercharged-soul, raucous R&B, and slick urban blues (with muted rock & roll influences).

Spady possesses a rough-edged voice, definitely reaching at times, while nailing other performances with a distinctive vocal flair.

It is Spady's skills as a songwriter and talent as a guitarist that rise above everything else on Just Between Us, the artist creating an intelligent and unique personal style.

Spady's typically understated, and sometimes spectacular fretwork imbues each song with color, and his tales of love gone wrong, or the struggle to keep romance alive, are both well-written and universal in appeal.

This is blues music for the 21st century: lively, sophisticated, and proud of its roots.


Thursday, October 28 / 7:00 p.m.

Lynn Riley & The World Mix

Tickets $10 at door

Lynn Riley has been described more than once as "Superwoman" of the sax.

Since returning to Philadelphia after many years abroad studying and performing, Lynn Riley has performed with many great artists like Grover Washington Jr., Philly Joe Jones, David Bromberg, Rachelle Farrell, Charles Earland, Gerald Veasley, David Murray and Johnny Pacheco, as well as leading her own groups.

More recently Lynn has been expanding her composing vocabulary and style by traveling and performing in countries such as Cuba, South Africa, Bolivia and Brazil.

This multi-cultural exposure gives Lynn's music a unique traditional ethnic sound blended with her original ideas and jazz roots, culminating in a funky accessible world influenced mix.


Riley recently released her latest CD project -- Too Cool. The CD features a cool mix of delicious grooves, controlled funk, and smooth and traditional jazz influences, with a sultry swinging rhythm snaking its way throughout the album.


Thursday, November 4 / 7:00 p.m.

Night of Swinging Gypsy Jazz
Hot Club of Detroit
featuring

Carl Cafagna, saxophone
Andrew Kratzat, bass
Evan Perri, guitar
Julien Labro, accordion
Paul Brady, guitar


Tickets $15 at door

The family tree that traces its roots to the Quintette du Hot Club de France has sprouted countless branches across the globe in the 70 years since Django Reinhardt first jammed with Stéphane Grappelli.

It seems like a new city lays claim to its own Hot Club on a virtually daily basis, but the Hot Club of Detroit is undoubtedly the apple that has fallen farthest from that tree.

The blistering fretwork on the opening track of the group's third CD -- It's About That Time -- pays explicit homage to one of their six-string heroes -- just not the one you might think.

"On the Steps" is based on the chord changes of Pat Martino's "On the Stairs" (with a brief borrowing from John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" to complete the pun), and states at the outset what fans of these gypsy jazz revisionists have long known -- that Django Reinhardt is far from the beginning and end of the Hot Club of Detroit's vocabulary of influences.

"Django Reinhardt is the showerhead from which we all come down," says guitarist and bandleader Evan Perri. "But if he had lived, I don't think he would've been playing the same things he had in prior years. He was constantly evolving as a jazz musician."


Thursday, November 11 / 7:00 p.m.

The Uptown JazzUP

featuring
Erich Cawalla, saxophone/vocals
Jenifer Kinder,
vocals
Dave Fenwick,
keyboards
Lamont Bates,
bass
Omer Godinet,
drums
Tim Thompson,
trumpet
Mike Schwartz,
guitar
Dewey Wahl,
guitar


Tickets $12 at door


Thursday, November 18 / 7:00 p.m.

A Tribute to Steely Dan
The Royal Scam

featuring
Mike Caputo, vocals
Gino Amato, keyboards
Joe Montini, saxophones
Wendi Gordy, vocals
Deb De Lucca, vocals
Al Egizi, guitar
Tom Boettger, drums

Tickets $15 at door

The Royal Scam is back at the Jazz Base for another night of Steely Dan music.

The Royal Scam the world's premier Steely Dan tribute band. Playing more than 40 of Steely Dan's masterpieces, the band has helped to keep the compositions of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the spirit of rock/jazz, and the enthusiasm of fine musicianship alive in small clubs and concert venues throughout the Northeast.

Royal Scam’s attention to detail on the complex songs of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen is nothing short of outstanding.

Leader Michael Caputo has spent the last 16 years perfecting the cool and at times offbeat vocals of Fagen. Mike is a guy with a love for the music of an amazing band and he obviously enjoys sharing it with the masses, which is why The Royal Scam has become a fan favorite at the Jazz Base and the Berks Jazz Fest.


Thursday, November 25: Jazz Base Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday 
 


Dave Antonow, Nelson Hill, Dave Mohn, Eric MintelThursday, December 2 / 7:00 p.m.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Eric Mintel Quartet

featuring
Eric Mintel, piano
Nelson Hill, saxophone/flute
Dave Antonow, bass
Dave Mohn, drums
 

Tickets $10 at door

If you love Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Christmas Special, then you will love the Eric Mintel Quartet when they swing into the Jazz Base to perform their very own tribute to the music of Vince Guaraldi.

Recognized by President Clinton with a performance at the White House, several concerts at the Kennedy Center, performances on television, at prestigious jazz festivals and concert halls, Eric Mintel and the Eric Mintel Quartet continue to connect with audiences of all ages.

The quartet also will perform music from its numerous CDs. The Eric Mintel Quartet consists of Eric Mintel on piano, Nelson Hill on alto sax, Dave Antonow on bass and Dave Mohn on drums.


 
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Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza Reading
1741 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610