The 28th Annual Berks Jazz Festival in my humble Home Town of Reading, PA., will be kicked off by Bob Baldwin pianist and composer with over more than two decades of Bona Fides as one of the chief progenitors of true urban jazz, will lead the headline New Urban Jazz Party to kick off the Berks Jazz Festival on March 31st. The New Urban Jazz Party will feature Walter Beasley, Marion Meadows, and Tom Browne.

The New Urban Jazz Party showcases Baldwin in the thick of his element fusing funky contemporary jazz with gospel, hip-hop and Brazilian — all with a strong dose of heavy urban flavoring.

Walter Beasley is an acclaimed alto and soprano saxophonist, vocalist and educator who has been a veritable musical renaissance man for over three decades.

Marion Meadows is an internationally renowned soprano saxophonist and composer who has released multiple albums.

And Tom Browne, AKA “Mr. Jamaica Funk,” is a gifted trumpeter who rose to prominence for his top-charting single “Funkin’ For Jamaica” in 1980.

BRECKER BROTHERS TRIBUTE CONCERT

Following the Saturday night opening Jazz Party, will be a Brecker Brothers Tribute Concert featuring of course, Bad Ass Randy Brecker, Dean Brown, Bill Evans, Keith Carlock and Tom Kennedy. The Super Band is performing Sunday, April 2, at 3 p.m. at the Miller Center for the Arts.