Peter White is a perennial favorite at Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. His Christmas Show has become a tradition for many and whets the audience appetite for more Peter White music during the annual Berks Jazz Fest. Peter says the first music he ever played at the ripe old age of 7 was Christmas music on the piano. His Dad taught him how to play and introduced him to Christmas favorites. Growing up in England in the 60’s it was the Beatles that started him on his guitar journey. A journey that led him to Abbey Road Studio at the age of 20 to record ‘The Year Of The Cat’ with Rod Stewart. That was followed by a tour that brought him to America at age 21 performing with Rod Stewart at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Listening to another English Band, ‘Acoustic Alchemy’, he was inspired to continue writing his own music and pursue a solo career. Peter talks about the power and challenge of collaborative work with other artists and the gratitude he feels when audience members share their own stories of the impact of hearing his music. For Peter playing and writing music is all about listening!

Carl Zeplin is a Kutztown Area High School Music Teacher and Chris Gallagher is a member of the Berks County All Star Jazz Band and will be performing at Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Chris was one of Carl’s students when he was in middle school. Chris says he learned determination and how to ‘keep moving forward’ from Mr Zeplin. Carl’s favorite age group is the middle school students. He says they don’t put up barriers and are willing to take risks. Both talk about the benefits and opportunities that jazz music has provided in their lives. Tune in and find out how jazz influenced their life path.

Matt and Dave Cullen answer the 5-question lightning round that is the hallmark of each Backstage Pass for the 2018 Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Some of the musical roots they discussed in part one of the Cullen Brothers Backstage Pass come up again in their responses. Their insights allow a peak into the impact of jazz music and the opportunities that are presented when music is a key part of your life. Tune in to find out their favorite Jazz Fest Memories, their mentors and their legacies.

You’ll enjoy this story and the Cullen & Company show on April 12 when Craig Thatcher, Chico Huff, Cliff Starkey and Pete Fluck join Matt and Dave Cullen at the Inn At Reading. Don’t miss it!

We have been going backstage but this time we went back home with the Cullen Brothers, Matt and Dave! They reminisce about the favorite rooms in their house and how those settings set the stage for their musical careers. They talk about growing up with 10 kids in a home that was really a garden where musical seeds were planted and all 10 kids had their moment on a variety of instruments including piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, French horn and drums. This family rivals the VonTrappe Family when it comes to sharing music.

As joy and unabashed smiles dance across their faces, they share their memories and admiration for the other’s talents. They talk about the musicians that make up Cullen & Company with excited anticipation that is quite contagious.

An important component of school music programs is the opportunity to introduce students to all types of music including jazz. They are the future consumers of music and will keep it alive! A great interview and a great addition to Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest!

Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest does not start until the Groovemasters take the stage at The Peanut Bar. This marks the 27th year you will find Bennie Sims at the helm of The Groovemasters. Bennie Sims is a self taught musician who couldn’t read music, but he could hear and ‘feel’ the music. He picked up a guitar and his career was launched! Bennie takes a stroll down memory lane with us sharing stories about the evolution of his career, his mentor, and lots of musicians he has worked with and continues to make music with today. In addition to performing internationally Bennie is a sought-after producer who is also writing his own music and performing. There is a new song in the works right now!

Bennie is currently producing Erich Cawalla’s first solo album, “The Great American Songbook” and will also be part of Erich’s quartet on stage with The Reading Pops. Bennie says “It’s breathtaking to be part of the music on stage with an orchestra”. Bennie talks about ‘feeling’ the music in whatever setting he finds himself: as a writer, producer, or part of a quartet or a large orchestra.

The Groovemasters only play about 3 or 4 times a year these days. So it’s pretty special when they re-group for the start of the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. That’s when these old friends get together and exhale and enjoy some time on the playground. Bennie says it’s like ‘home’. Enjoy this conversation and make your plans now to come home with Bennie Sims at the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.

Education is a key component and part of the mission of the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Raeann Rowlin is a Commercial Music Major and Grant Fickes is a Mathematics Major at Kutztown University. Both will be performing with the KU Jazz Ensemble at the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest at The GoggleWorks. Raeann plays trumpet and has always played jazz music. Grant started playing traditional classical music on the alto sax. Both students were introduced to music in the Fourth Grade. These students personify the impact of the ‘Music In The Schools’ Program. Raeann and Grant have a great deal of passion for Music and Jazz in particular. They discuss their mentors, and talk about what jazz music means to them and how it impacts their life. Look out music fans, here they come!

Levi Landis, Executive Director of The GoggleWorks Center For The Arts has long staged the Juried Art Exhibit in the Schmidt Gallery on the Second Floor. That’s the visual arts component of the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. This year The GoggleWorks will showcase the performing arts as well. Levi always asks, “How can we be a resource for the local community. The GoggleWorks is a beautiful space to see events, go to weddings. Now we will bring the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest to our stage.”

Levi brings his experience working with music festivals to the mix. He says, “Any time anyone thinks about the arts in the community The GoggleWorks wants to be part of the conversation. And now part of the music!” If you’ve never stopped in to The GoggleWorks, here’s another reason to visit … The Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest will stage the KU Jazz Ensemble in The GoggleWorks Boscov’s Film Theatre. The performance will start with a student group followed by a faculty group from Kutztown University. It is an intersection of education, arts and music at The GoggleWorks in Downtown Reading.

Marvanne Kouvaros wants “everyone to have a smile on their face and a tummy that is full”!   When you go backstage at the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest you are bound to find Marvanne Kouvaros.  She was a school teacher and working with RHS Marching Band when she was first invited to volunteer with Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest to help move equipment.  She wasn’t sure she could do it but was told, “Sure you can! You’re a teacher who works with children. Children need to be corralled and so do musicians at times!”

That was over 20 years ago.  Today Marvanne Kouvaros is the Head of Hospitality and works closely with Gary Spencer and the production team making sure every venue is staffed and stocked with the proper necessities for each of the musicians.

While food is her main concern she has been known to go above and beyond that job description.  If an artist needs something and she can make it happen she does.  Marvanne Kouvaros recalls making special elixirs and even taking musicians on shopping sprees.  At Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, everyone really is one big happy family!

Lots of ‘Firsts’ in this #BackstagePass for the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Cammie Harris, Executive Director of the Women’s Club of Reading Center for the Arts, makes a connection with Josh Taylor, guitarist with The Hot Club Of Reading, to stage a gypsy jazz event at the WCR Center for the Arts. The character and history of the building meshes with the passion and history of gypsy jazz kept alive by the Hot Club Of Reading. Josh Taylor talks about the impact of this music in particular the way Josiah Taylor, his son, has caught the jazz bug and the ripe old age of 16! Cammie is equally passionate about preserving and promoting the WCR Center for the Arts as an intimate venue to celebrate the music in Berks County. Find out what drives their passion in this #BackstagePass.