Jazz Fest 2008 - Thursday, April 3

11:30am - Erich Cawalla and Friends -
with Jenifer Kinder, Don Walker, Mike Humbert

Jazz Lunch - L'Arte della Vita

Singer/saxophonist Erich Cawalla has been entertaining audiences since 1998. Erich maintains a busy performing schedule with The Uptown Band at fairs, festivals, clubs and private parties, but also finds time to freelance with other bands as well as maintain his solo career. Erich is a native of Shillington, Pennsylvania.

6pm - Annual Meet & Greet -

The Abraham Lincoln Hotel - Lobby and Mezzanine

The annual "Meet & Greet" for festival fans will be held on Thursday, April 3, at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel starting at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby and mezzanine areas.
If you have tickets for the Nick Colionne/Brian Simpson concert set for 7:30 p.m. in the Lincoln ballroom and/or the Berks All-Star Jazz Jam set for 10 p.m. at the Sheraton Reading Hotel, you are invited to attend the "Meet & Greet" with numerous artists.
It's a great opportunity to get autographs and photos taken with your favorite jazz artists.

7:30pm - Nick Colionne and Brian Simpson -

Presidential Ballroom at The Abraham Lincoln Hotel - ($32 ticketed)

Nick Colionne:

Nick Colionne's sustained chart-topping Radio history combined with his incredible live performances have propelled him to the upper echelons of smooth jazz stardom. Most recently, he won the International Instrumental Artist of the Year Award by the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards; the 2006 winner was Trumpeter Chris Botti.

Nick Colionne's latest CD Keepin' It Cool on Narada Jazz found the first single "Always Thinking of You" propelling him to the top of the charts once again. This single was #9 for the year 2006 on Radio and Records, and Nick was the #9 Artist of the Year. On the charts for 45 weeks, and Top 10 for an amazing 19 weeks, this single was also # 1 for 2006 on Radio Waves Monitor Chart (Internet Airplay) and #1 on the World Jazz Top 20 Chart. In fact, Nick is on every major top 10 list for 2006! The second single, "If You Ask Me", went top 20 and his newest single, the title track "Keepin' It Cool" is currently climbing the charts. The CD has received rave reviews around the world.

With the release of his previous CD Just Come On In, Nick Colionne joined the ranks of today's premiere jazz artists. His first single "High Flyin'" was Top 10 for 2004, reached #2 on the R&R Smooth Jazz, #1 on the radio streaming internet airplay charts per RadioWaves.com, and #1 on the World Jazz Top 20 Singles charts compiled by Top-40 Charts.com. Just Come On In's second single "It's Been Too Long" quickly climbed the R&R chart, was selected as one of the top 5 songs for summer by R&R, and reached #2 on the World Jazz Top 20 Singles chart as well as #16 on R&R. Both are among the most played in Recurrent.

Brian Simpson:

A longtime studio musician, musical director, and touring keyboardist to stars as diverse as Janet Jackson and Dave Koz, Brian Simpson’s breakthrough as a solo artist with his Rendezvous Entertainment debut It’s All Good was the genre’s major story of 2006. Focusing once again on compelling acoustic piano melodies, bright jazz improvisations and spirited f

unk grooves, Simpson keeps the extraordinary momentum hopping--and, true to the moniker he chose for the new album, soaring--with Above The Clouds.

Placing his success in pop aside, Brian Simpson has always been a working jazz musician. He has toured with some of the greats of recent jazz history, including George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, George Howard, Billy Cobham, and Gerald Albright. Along with Mr. Duke, Brian has had another major influence, both on and off the stage. Brian has been the musical director for jazz saxophonist Dave Koz for the past 10 years, and most recently, musical director for the "Dave Koz and Friends Cuise" as well as the "Smooth Jazz Cruise" hosted by Wayman Tisdale.