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One of the most exciting concerts to take place at Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest each year is the RMF Project Penske Jazz Jam, where music students from all over Berks County share the stage with professional artists to play together.
This year the event will be held on Monday at 6 p.m. in the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading’s small ballroom. And the artist clinicians will include saxophonists Albert Rivera and Eric Marienthal; bassists Luques Curtis and Gerald Veasley; and pianist/composer Zaccai Curtis, who won a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album in February for his “Cubop Lives!”
This event began in 2006 as a component of Berks Jazz Fest’s educational efforts, and it evolved into the getJazzed program, established in 2016, which holds clinics and other events in the public schools to introduce youngsters to the art of jazz.
The program is directed by Berks County saxophonist/educator Mike Eben and his wife, Millie, who head the getJazzed program.
Rivera has been an important guest leader in the getJazzed program since 2016, along with local music teachers and band directors and other guest artists. Rivera said his involvement with Berks Jazz Fest started in 2008, when he played at Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base, and when the opportunity came up to be a part of the educational program, “It was a no-brainer.”
“Any type of music festival that includes education is awesome,” Rivera said. “Not every jazz festival does that. For me, the reason education is as big a part of my life as the performance part is that most of the students probably won’t be professional musicians, but they will be a new generation of fans of jazz and other types of music. The only way to make them fans is to introduce them to jazz, teach the history, get them on stage.”
Later, he said, these students will attend concerts, donate to and volunteer for the presenting organizations and form the audiences that professional performers cannot live without. And even if they don’t pursue careers, music students can play music their whole lives as amateurs, in local bands and in jam sessions.
Rivera’s introduction to music as a child growing up in the Bronx, N.Y., was through his school’s music program.
At the age of 10, he said, “I had an awesome introduction with this teacher, and in a couple of weeks I was, like, ‘This is what I want to do.’”
He continued his studies at the famous LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts, and later at the New School University Jazz and Contemporary Music Conservatory, both in New York City. In the summers, he attended the Harlem School of the Arts and the Litchfield Jazz Camp in Connecticut.
Litchfield turned out to be a lifelong partnership for Rivera. He had the chance to study and perform onstage with other students at Litchfield Jazz Festival (Berks Jazz Fest artistic director John Ernesto saw him perform in 2006 during a visit to the festival, and they met briefly).
Rivera still teaches there, and is one of the directors of the Litchfield camp. He also conducts workshops, clinics and other educational programs throughout the country.
During his years at the camp, he met the Curtis brothers, Mark Whitfield, Jean Caze and others, who have been featured on his four albums.
RMF Project Penske Jazz Jam
“We played at the 30th anniversary opening night of Berks Jazz Fest,” he said. “And Zaccai and Luques also will be working with the young musicians coming to the getJazzed Scholastic Fest on April 8-9.”
Rivera, Zaccai, Luques and Dave Ballou will perform a special set of Latin Jazz to kickoff the RMF Penske Project Jam.
Rivera’s time in Reading began with the Berks Awards Night ceremony on Thursday, where he guided and supported the scholastic ensembles So What and 2.5.1, performed.
Rivera also will be part of Veasley’s Unscripted Jams today and Saturday. After gigs in New York and Connecticut on Sunday, he will be back for the rest of the week.
In addition to the RMF Project Penske Jazz Jam, Rivera will be working with students from 16 school bands attending the third annual getJazzed Scholastic Jazz Fest at the DoubleTree.
Rivera heads an all-star team of clinicians/educators that includes Veasley, Eric Marienthal, the Curtis brothers, Dave Ballou, Tim Gross, Carl Zeplin, Bennie Sims, Cliff Starkey and Larry Marshall.
“Every year at Berks Jazz Fest, I make it a point to visit local schools and work with kids,” he said. “I just put it out to the teachers and if they want me to come I make it happen. I just want to do it.
“The best thing about working with kids is that, a lot of times, when they’re really young, you see this energy that kids have, that as we get older, we kind of lose. When you’re in fourth and fifth grades, you’re still in awe of life. So when I’m showing them my sax, and playing for them, and then getting them to clap and sing, they’re shy at first, but then you see those lightbulbs going off, and the appreciation.
“And that’s awesome, because they’re probably going to remember a version of that day. You never know what will start them on that path. I owe everything to music, and I’m so grateful for that. And I want to give back.”
More information
For a complete guide to Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest 2025, visit www.berksjazzfest.com, where you can view the schedule along with artist bios, news and other information, including how to purchase tickets through the festival’s own system.
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