Thursday April 2 brought us the Berks All-Star Jazz Jam.  The stage wasn’t big enough for all the players, there were so many!!!  The All-Star Jazz Jam featured the who’s who of smooth jazz from guitarists Chuck Loeb, Chieli Minucci, Matt Marshak, and Paul Jackson Jr.; saxmen Kim Waters, Steve Cole, Jeff Kashiwa, Richard Elliot, Eric Darius, and Nelson Rangell; trumpet and flugelhorn players Rick Braun and Leon Jordan Jr.; on electric and acoustic bass were Gerald Veasley and Brian Bromberg; Bobby Lyle and Mitch Foreman were most impressive on a variety of keys; drummer Dave Weckl deserves high praise for keeping time for over two hours, with such versatility, power, and hot groove.

Chuck Loeb led these talented artists through a wide variety of jazz styles, changing it up from traditional and straight ahead jazz to contemporary and smooth jazz.  In duets, trios, quartets, quintets, and full band, we were treated to some very hot jazz.  The entire group opened the show with an amazingly tight rendition of Charlie Parker's "Now's The Time."  Next Jeff Kashiwa and Leon Jordan Jr. did righteous justice to Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower,” with Brian Bromberg on stand up bass. A funkier side of Miles Davis was next with "So What." Gerald Veasley, Richard Elliot, Matt Marshak, and Leon Jordan Jr. were able to step out in some impressive solo work. This version of "On Broadway" was a guitar players’ showcase with Chuck Loeb, Paul Jackson Jr., and Chieli Minucci tearing it up. Bringing it down, Nelson Rangell sat on a stool and whistled, yes whistled with his lips, a cool intro to Herbie Hancock's "Canteloupe Island" and then played piccolo; the band opened it up to a full blown rendition. Closing the show with the full band, Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" brought the audience to their feet!  It was a very impressive show, revealing a different side of these “smooth” jazz artists’ talents, especially hearing the straight ahead standards at the beginning of the show.