philadelphia

A2 Sunday, March 22, 2009 reading Eagle, Reading, Pa.“it’s a real treat to play with metro.they are great composersand producers and themusic’s so adventurous.”veasley, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The roots of his music run deep in his soul.Veasley started playing the bass at age 12 and recallslearning a great deal from jam sessions at home with friendsof his musically inclined parents. His parents’ hard workinspired him, and his outstanding high school career earnedVeasley a four-year full academic scholarship to the Universityof Pennsylvania. During his third year, Veasley lost his father.To deal with the loss, he focused on music. Veasley taughthimself how to improvise, transcribe solos and studied chordprogressions, and he took up studying classical guitar toexpand his range as a musician.“When my father died, I had a hard time coming to gripswith the loss, and the music proved very therapeutic,” he said.“I thought, ‘If music can have that kind of healing effect on me,maybe I can spend my life creating music that can do thesame for others.’ ”He came to appreciate Weather Report and Return toForever as much as he appreciated Earth, Wind & Fire andSmokey Robinson. Veasley has cited Jaco Pastorius, AnthonyJackson and Stanley Clarke as his main influences on electricbass.In the 1980s, Veasley had developed into a versatile andreputable sideman and session player. He joined longtimementor and friend Grover Washington Jr.’s band in 1986 andplayed on six of the sax player’s recordings.“Grover was a gentle human being who I think about everyday,” Veasley said. “I feel like a steward of his legacy, alegacy of honest, heartfelt music. It’s better to play one notethat sounds like you, than a hundred that sound like someoneelse.”Having held the music of Weather Report and Pastoriusin such high regard, Veasley was delighted when, in 1988,Weather Report co-founder and legendary jazz fusion pioneerJoe Zawinul hired him as a sideman. Veasley toured the worldwith his idol until 1995.“That was a real education, on and off the bandstand,” hesaid.He has recorded and/or performed with McCoy Tyner, TheDixie Hummingbirds, Odean Pope, Special EFX, labelmateJoe McBride, Teddy Pendergrass, Phil Perry, Chieli Minucci,Dianne Reeves, George Howard, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind& Fire, Kenny Blake, Pamela Williams, Eric Marienthal, OnajeAlan Gumbs, Omar Hakim and many more. He has sharedstages and tours with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.Since 1992’s Look Ahead, Veasley has released Signs,Soul Control, Love Letters, On the Fast Track, Velvet, andYour Move on the Heads Up label.Love Letters (1999) was Veasley’s last album to featureGrover Washington Jr. before his death at the end of thatsame year. Washington had appeared on all of Veasley’s soloalbums, and Veasley paid tribute to his friend and mentor with“Goodnight Moon,” a tune on his 2001 release, On the FastTrack.When not teaching or wowing audiences, Veasley isproducing for other artists. He produced part of saxophonistAndrew Neu’s new album.“We’re just finishing up,” Veasley said. “At a young age, he’salready a master.”With his skill and versatility apparent both on and off thestage, it’s easy to see why Veasley is such a favorite here atBerks.For more information: www.geraldveasley.com;www.geraldveasleysjazzbase.comif you go...saturday, march 28The Music of Stevie Wonder:Gerald Veasley Band with Najee, Nnenna Freelon,Joe McBride and the Berks Jazz Fest HornsReading Crowne Hotel • 10:30 p.m. • $39thursday, april 2Berks All-Star Jazz Jam, featuring Rick Braun, Chuck Loeb,Brian Bromberg, Chieli Minucci, Paul Jackson Jr., DaveWeckl, Bobby Lyle, Mitch Forman, Kim Waters, Steve Cole,Jeff Kashiwa, Nelson Rangell and moreReading Crowne Hotel • 10 p.m. • $39saturday, april 4Metro featuring Chuck Loeb, Mitch Forman, Dave Weckl,Randy Brecker, Gerald Veasley, Bob FranceschiniGerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Reading Crowne Hotel7 p.m. and 10 p.m. • $35Enjoy Greater Reading duringthe VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest1958-2009Jody Rex, 50, a local artist,school teacher and longtimeBerks Jazz Fest volunteer,passed away on March 10 aftera brave battle with brain cancer.Rex gave her time and talentsto many organizations, includingthe Berks Arts Council, BerksArts Alliance, Reading SchoolDistrict, RCP and Genesiustheaters, and Art Plus Gallery.She approached each day withoptimism and passion for life.She will be missed by theBerks Jazz Fest family.about this section. . .This section is a product of the Marketing/Promotions Department ofReading Eagle Company, publisher of the Reading Eagle.Lisa N. Johnson designed and organized the section. Dana L. Hoffmanedited and coordinated the section. Both are of the Marketing/PromotionsDepartment.R. Andrew Lepley provided photography. Also contributing to thesection were Jonathan Widran, Cat Davis, and Berks Arts Council staff.Welcome one and all to the 19th annual VF Outlet Berks JazzFest!Our festival this year is jam packed with a variety of jazz events,thanks to our general manager John Ernesto, who works on thefestival year-round to make sure we have one of the most excitingfestivals in the nation.Be sure to stop and shop at the VF Outlet Village on your way toany of the Jazz Fest concerts. VF Outlet has graciously donated theuse of their shuttles to transport hotel guests to and from the variousvenues and to the VF Outlet Village. Look for the colorful shuttlepass -- with a $5 off a $50 purchase coupon at VF Outlet -- at thehotels and venues. With over 70 stores, there is fantastic shoppingto be done at the Village!While you’re here in Greater Reading, be sure to explore all ofthe businesses along the Penn Corridor, running along Penn Streetand Penn Avenue from City Park, Reading, out to Wyomissing,who have “Welcome Berks Jazz Fest Fans” signs in their windows.Many will have special discounts to coincide with the festival.There’s plenty to do while you’re here during Jazz Fest week, oryou can “take a ride” back to Berks County for a future visit. All ofthe Corridor activities are listed on www.PennCorridor.com.We have a number of unique shops, historic sites and activitiesyou will want to visit, including The Pagoda atop Mount Penn, whichlast year celebrated its 100th birthday; the GoggleWorks Centerfor the Arts in Reading, one of the largest arts centers of its kind inthe United States; and the Reading Public Museum in West Reading,with a world-class collection of art and antiquities, as well as aplanetarium and 25-acre park.I’d like to thank all of our corporate sponsors for their tremendoussupport of this outstanding event, our Board of Directors, ourmore than 300 volunteers and the Berks Arts Council full-time, parttimeand seasonal staff who make this festival possible.The Berks Arts Council is not just the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest.We are engaged all year in a variety of other community programsyou’ll want to check out! Visit www.berksarts.org to see all that wedo.If you enjoy the festival, please consider showing your supportby joining the Berks Arts Council. We have membership informationavailable at all of the Jazz Fest venues.Have a great time at the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest!Connie LeinbachExecutive Director, Berks Arts Council