Jazz on the Tube’s Ken McCarthy interviews John Ernesto of Berks Jazz Fest.
Berks is a world class, community-supported jazz festival that takes place every spring in southeastern Pennsylvania. One commentator has called it the “biggest jazz festival in the world.”
With over 100 performances spread out over ten days it may well be.
For ten days, jazz takes over bucolic Berks county, with Reading, Pennsylvania (about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia) at its center.
Music first
Unlike some commercially oriented jazz festivals that hire big stars from the popular music world to generate maximum revenues, Berks, which is operated by the Berks County Arts Council, keeps the focus on jazz in all the flavors and shapes in takes.
Now in its 28th year, the festival offers student musicians educational and performing opportunities and professionals with unique creative set ups while making a major economic contribution to its community.
The festival is popular among the musicians themselves who like the laid back atmosphere that’s all about the music.
A very short list of this years headliners includes Randy Brecker, Maceo Parker, Deedee Bridgewater, and Gerald Veasley.
“I’ve been to a lot of jazz festivals around the world and none of them compares to Reading (Berks.)” – Michael Tozzi, veteran Philadelphia jazz DJ.
If you’re a jazz festival lover, this is one that should definitely be on your radar Berks Jazz Fest.
Jazz on the Tube’s Ken McCarthy interviews Louis Marks of Ropeadope Records, an artist-friendly, jazz-friendly label in “East Philly” that’s blazing new trails in the art and science of connecting musicians with audiences via recorded music.
Louis and Ken discuss one of the label’s recent projects, a self-produced masterpiece by Eddie Palmieri called “Sabiduría” (“Wisdom.”)
They follow that with the story of the label’s participation in the musician-led movement to save and rebuild New Orleans after the 2005 levee failures and flood when so many TV talking heads and politicians were advocating that the city be bulldozed.
Finally, Louis shares his vision of how labels can adapt to the new business and distribution realities of the 21st century while simultaneously strengthening artists and giving fans more choice.
Music credit: The Jazz on the Tube podcast theme song is “Mambo Inferno” performed by The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Bobby Sanabria from the CD ¡Que Viva Harlem!
Tutti Player – A great tool for music students and teachers
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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There are many ways to enjoy jazz: on record (or CD), on the radio, at a club, at a festival.
On this call we talk with producer Michael Lazaroff about what is possibly the most glorious way to enjoy jazz mankind has ever created: on a cruise.
Michael’s company Entertainment Cruise Production is the #1 producer of special theme cruises on earth and they got their start producing jazz chartered cruises in 2000 featuring artists the caliber of Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea.
Artists love it because they can arrange jam sessions on board that often just aren’t possible in “real life.” They also get to chill a bit versus flying in, playing and flying out, sometimes on the same day. They also love the sound system which has been tweaked to perfection and
Pat Metheny called “as good as Carnegie Hall.”
How wonderful is the experience?
Over the years, over 12,000 guests have repeated the experience four or more times!
Once is an incident. Twice is a coincidence. Three time is a plan. When people return to an experience four times or more it has to be special. On this call, we talk about some of what makes it so.
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
