GETJAZZED@BERKS

Carol Albert
Pianist/composer Albert is a contemporary jazz artist who established herself in 2017 with her “Fly Away Butterfly” album.

Prior to that, the classically trained pianist, composer and producer received an Emmy nomination for her acclaimed work composing for television, and released many recordings in the singer/songwriter, solo piano and New Age genres.

Her 2020 album “Stronger Now” has had tremendous success, including several top-five singles. Her 2022 single, “Paradigm Shift,” will be the title song on her upcoming album.

Since the pandemic lockdown, Albert has performed at the Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival (California), Elkhart Jazz Festival (Indiana) and the Berks Jazz Fest.

Albert has earned accolades from prominent organizations, including nominations for Artist of the Year by the Smooth Jazz Network in 2019 and 2020.

Randy Brecker
Legendary trumpeter Brecker, who came from a musical family in suburban Philadelphia that included his late brother, saxophonist Michael Brecker, has built a formidable career playing jazz, rock and R&B.

After studying at Indiana University, he moved to New York City, where he joined Clark Terry’s Big Band and other prominent bands. He was part of Blood, Sweat & Tears, then the Horace Silver Quintet and The Jazz Messengers.

Brecker’s first solo album was “Score” (1968), with his brother Michael on sax. He formed the fusion quintet Dreams with Michael, and in 1975, the famous Brecker Brothers Band, whose six albums garnered seven Grammy nominations by 1981, when they parted to pursue solo careers. They reunited in 1992 for a world tour and “The Return of the Brecker Brothers,” which received three Grammy nominations. Their 1994 “Out of the Loop” was a double Grammy winner.

After Michael’s death in 2007, Randy went on to win four more Grammys, as he continued to record and tour. His discography boasts 19 albums as a leader, eight as the Brecker Brothers, and countless recordings as a collaborator and sideman.

Dr. Daniel E. Cherry
Cherry is the associate professor of trombone at West Chester University, where he directs the Statesmen Jazz Ensemble, leads student jazz combos, and performs with the Faculty Jazz Group.

He received his Bachelor of Music degree in trombone and voice performance from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in trombone from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

Prior to his teaching career, Cherry was principal trombonist of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra (WV) and has performed with orchestras throughout the country.

He is an active chamber musician, and has appeared at the International Trombone Festival, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, as well as several international tours.

Ray Fuller
Iconic guitarist Fuller has worked with renowned artists including Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Regina Belle, Boney James, Branford Marsalis, and many others.

A graduate of Chicago's Kenwood Academy of the Arts, and later The American Conservatory of Music, Fuller had already been considered an A-list record producer and jingle writer in the Chicago area while still in high school. At 19, he toured South Africa with the Staples Singers, where seeing Apartheid deeply affected him.

After moving to Los Angeles, his career took off. In addition to his recording and world tours, his guitar has been heard on many TV and film soundtracks. His second solo album, titled "Epiphany," will be released soon.

Matt Gallagher
Gallagher is one of the most sought-after lead trumpet players in Philadelphia, Pa. and on the East Coast. After earning his undergraduate degree in music education from West Chester University and a master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of the Arts, Gallagher has performed as lead trumpet with many professional bands and orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, several Broadway pit orchestras, and artists like Michael Bublé, The Temptations, Diana Krall and many more. He is a Yamaha Trumpet Artist.

Gallagher is currently the principal trumpet player for The Philly Pops Orchestra,

Broadway Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center and is the music director of the Philly Pops Big Band.

He is the studio lead trumpet player at NFL Films, and he has recorded for Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez and others. He is the trumpet department chair and directs the award-winning “Z” Big Band at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Matt is equally committed to both performing and teaching.

Everette Harp
Houston-born Harp started his career touring with Teena Marie and Anita, and later worked with Stanley Clarke, Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, Dianne Reeves and many other stars.

When he released his eponymous debut album in 1992, he was already combining contemporary jazz with edgier funk and other urban sounds.

Harp, who has released nine studio albums on his own, also formed the group Jazz Funk Soul with the late guitarist Chuck Loeb and keyboardist Jeff Lorber. They released two albums, in 2014 and 2016 (a year before Loeb’s death from cancer).

Dr. Kevin Kjos
Dr. Kjos is the Director of Jazz and Commercial Studies and professor of trumpet at Kutztown University, where he teaches Jazz Ensembles I and II, Rock Ensemble I, and applied trumpet.

While at KU, the Jazz and Commercial program has been honored by DownBeat magazine Student Music Awards four times.

Kjos holds a Bachelor of Music in theory/composition and a Master of Music in trumpet performance from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, where he studied with the internationally recognized jazz and trumpet pedagogue Robert Baca.

He holds a Doctorate of Music from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington, where he studied with legendary jazz pedagogues David Baker and Dominic Spera and trumpet with John Rommel and William Adam.

As a composer, he has won grants for both composition and recording. He is the author of two books about teaching: Teaching Through Imitation, A Jazz Ensemble Guide and Reflections on the Teaching of William Adam.

Kjos was recently honored with the President's Award from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for outstanding alumni achievement.

Dave Lazorcik
Drummer and percussionist Lazorcik is a lifelong resident of Lebanon (PA). After a three-year stint in the NYC Army Band, he studied percussion and received his B.A. in music.

Dave also attended the renowned drum school, Drummers Collective, in New York. He had private studies with Joe Morello and Gary Chester. He has performed with several nationally acclaimed jazz artists and enjoys playing throughout Central Pennsylvania, as well as private teaching.

Dave served as the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz executive director for 13 years.

Nick Lombardelli
Lombardelli is a Philadelphia-based trombonist, composer and arranger who serves as the trombone department chair at the University of the Arts.

He has performed with artists like Cory Wong, Ben Folds, Jamie Cullum, Adam Blackstone, Nestor Torres, Larry McKenna, John Swana and Pablo Batista.

Nick has also written or arranged music for Cynthia Erivo, Adam Blackstone, The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philly POPS, Elliot and Brad Mason, and his own group, including compositions for his debut album, “Secret Suite,” an improv-focused through-composed work.

Bobby Lyle
Lyle, a pianist and organist who is familiar to many BJF audiences from prior appearances, started his career in 1973 when he won an international organ competition sponsored by the Yamaha Music Corporation.

Part of the award was the company’s sponsorship of his debut album, “Bobby Lyle Plays the Electone GX707.” Soon he was touring with Sly and the Family Stone, and in the 1980s, he toured with the great guitarist/singer George Benson. He also served as music director for Bette Midler, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker and Phyllis Hyman.

As a solo artist, he has recorded 17 albums, the latest of which is “Ivory Flow” (2021) on his own label, New Warrior Music.

Eric Marienthal
A native of Southern California, Marienthal graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying with the legendary saxophonist and pedagogue, Joe Viola.

In 1980 he started his career performing with trumpeter Al Hirt, and then, on his return to Los Angeles, became a member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, recording six CDs and garnering two Grammy Awards.

Later he joined Jeff Lorber Fusion, and he has performed with a seemingly endless string of major artists. Marienthal has recorded 15 albums as a soloist.

Ed McCartan
Guitarist McCartan studied piano as a child, and trumpet from fourth grade through college. At 14, he gravitated to the guitar. At Mansfield University, he was a guitar major. While attending Mansfield he was a member of the orchestra, pit orchestra, and several concert and wind ensembles.

He was also a member of several pit orchestras at other colleges, including Ithaca. He was a member of the rock group Excalibur, which performed around Mansfield and New York state.

After graduation from Mansfield, McCartan moved to Allentown, where he began performing with several local rock and blues ensembles. He continued his musical education studying with jazz great Jimmy Bruno. As a member of the Ed McCartan Trio and Relatively Speaking, he performed at numerous jazz festivals and private events. Currently he is working with the rock band Alias, the funk band Lucky 7 Band, and with rock duos Street Box Strummer and the AcoustiKatz.

John Riley
Riley began playing drums at age 8, played in the school band and studied privately with Tom Sicola. At 12, John began playing in rock bands and heard his first jazz recordings.

John began studying with Joe Morello in 1971 and went on to attend the University of North Texas. While at UNT, he played in, toured, and recorded with the famed One O'clock Lab Band.

After earning his Bachelor of Music degree, he moved to New York City in 1976 and soon joined the Woody Herman Band. In New York, he freelanced with Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and many others.

Riley holds a Master of Music degree in jazz studies from the Manhattan School of Music, where he is on the faculty. He also teaches at Kutztown University, and is an Artist in Residence at Amsterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. John is the author of The Art of Bop Drumming, Beyond Bop Drumming, The Jazz Drummer's Workshop, The Master Drummer DVD, and has taught master classes around the world.

Tony Moore
Twenty-five years ago, drummer Moore was gigging and studying Industrial Arts & Technology at Tennessee State University in Nashville, when he got the call for his first professional gig, touring with the Bobby Jones Gospel Show.

Since then, he has moved to Los Angeles and worked with the top names in jazz, R&B, pop, hip-hop, funk, blues and gospel. He spent a decade touring and recording with saxophonist Gerald Albright and has worked with superstars that include The Jazz Crusaders, The Isley Brothers, Gladys Knight, Jonathan Butler, Tupac Shakur, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Boney James, Euge Groove, Jeff Golub, and Randy Brecker.

Most recently, Moore has been touring internationally with guitar legend Robben Ford, Grammy winning singer Diane Schuur, and guitarist George Benson.

Moore’s studio credits also include Gladys Knight’s Grammy-winning “One Voice” (2005), “Dreamgirls: Music for the Motion Picture Soundtrack” (2006), and Bobby Lyle’s “Joyful” (2002).

Albert Rivera
Born in the Bronx, saxophonist Rivera was introduced to jazz at LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts. He earned a degree from the New School University Jazz and Contemporary Music Program in 2005.

Since then, he has played at New York venues like Sweet Rhythm, Zinc Bar, Cleopatra’s Needle, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola and more. He has worked with vocalists Sheila Jordan, Rene Marie and Jay Clayton.

In 2005, he joined his mentor and teacher at New School, pianist Junior Mance, for a guest appearance at The Litchfield Jazz Festival. In 2008, he appeared there again with the Winard Harper Sextet. He was a recipient of the 2009 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award.

Rivera, an enthusiastic jazz educator, is Director of Operations at The Litchfield Jazz Camp in Connecticut, and he is on the faculty of SUNY Purchase Jazz Conservatory.

Gabriel Severn
Severn began bass lessons at seven, and a few months later he joined a young Motown tribute band. He gained attention on social media at age 11 with his viral video playing Jaco Pastorius’ demanding bass solo in the Weather Report tune, "Havona," followed by many more. He became the first Markbass Rising Star, joined the Ernie Ball Music Man family of artists, and developed a custom line of bass strings made by Carlos Pavicich in France.

Severn played in a variety of bands, and just after his 12th birthday he formed the jazz fusion trio, Teen Town. The trio received a 2019 DownBeat Student Music Award and the 2020 "Best Jazz Band" Award from the Central PA Music Hall of Fame. They have toured throughout Pennsylvania and have opened for several major artists. Teen Town's debut album, “A Month of Sundays,” was released in 2022.

He performed his award-winning original composition with the U.S. Navy Commodores at the Jazz Education Network Conference. He has studied with Victor Wooten, Anthony Wellington, Gerald Veasley, and Adam Nitti. He has received awards and scholarships from Victor Wooten’s Bass & Nature Camp, Berklee College of Music’s Groove School and others.

Rob Stoneback
Stoneback is the leader, trombonist and composer/arranger of the 19-piece Rob Stoneback Big Band, which plays swing and other genres of jazz and dance music.

The band, based in the Lehigh Valley, has performed throughout the mid-Atlantic states, including at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Stoneback toured as a trombonist with the Tommy Dorsey Band, and performed in a local big band and a rock band before starting his own big band more than four decades ago.

Gerald Veasley
Veasley’s musical odyssey has taken him to the top of the contemporary music world as a bassist, bandleader, composer, producer and educator.

His performance as a bassist has been top-shelf, as his memorable work with the late Grover Washington Jr., Joe Zawinul, and the Jaco Pastorius Big Band attests. He has recorded and/or performed with many of the world’s top artists in various genres, including the late Chuck Loeb, Special EFX, Pieces of a Dream, McCoy Tyner and many more.

He currently has a residency at SOUTH Jazz Kitchen, where he is curator of the “Unscripted Jazz Series.” Veasley tours and records with his own band, which has recorded nine albums. He is on the faculty of the University of the Arts and is founder and artistic director of Gerald Veasley’s Bass Boot Camp.