A monthly jazz concert series brought to you by the Yocum Institute for Arts Education.
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Let’s be honest – it’s hard to find those moments of personal escape, and sometimes we have to schedule them into our lives. Yocum Institute takes you to a place where the imagination is thriving, and our new Jazz on the Avenue series allows you to invest in yourself while supporting the quality of life and arts education in our community.
We strive to make the arts accessible to all and our sponsors allow us to keep ticket prices low. Thank you for supporting our sponsors.
LOCATION: All concerts are held inside the Schumo Theater at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education.
TICKETS: to order, visit: yocumartsevents.ticketleap.com
PARKING: Free
Upcoming Concerts
Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Mike Eben Celebrates the Music of Doc Mulligan
The band will feature Eben as band leader and saxophonist, along with saxophonist Greg Wilson, trumpeter Rob Diener, trombonist John Loos, guitarist Carl Zeplin, pianist Marty Mellinger, bassist Kevin MacConnell and drummer Dave Lazorcik.
This special Jazz on the Avenue concert at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education will honor the legacy of Berks County’s “musical patriarch,” Robert “Doc” Mulligan, a radiologist at the Reading Hospital for many years, and better-known as a jazz trombonist and arranger.
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Mulligan, who passed away in 2021, performed with and wrote and arranged music for many groups in the Berks County area, including the Reading Big Band, the Dave Stahl Big Band, and the Bobby Mercer Road Show.
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In 2005, Mulligan received the inaugural Frank Scott Award from the Berks Jazz Fest. He was one of the founders of the festival’s educational program, now called GETJAZZED.
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Mike Eben is a saxophonist and retired instrumental teacher who taught in the Muhlenberg School District. He performs and records with his band, From the Hip. He chairs the GETJAZZED educational component of the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest and hosts two jazz camps each summer.
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Tickets: $20, At the door: $25
Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 7:00 p.m.
Seth Ebersole Quartet
featuring Gina Benalcazar, Colin Mekell, Jack Synoski, Austin Wagner
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Concert will be a homecoming for saxophonist Seth Ebersole, a Governor Mifflin graduate who now is a member of the prestigious U.S. Air Force’s Airmen of Note based in Washington, D.C.
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In early 2022, Technical Sergeant Ebersole became the baritone saxophonist with the Airmen of Note, Seth holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Saxophone from Temple University, where he studied with Dick Oatts and Timothy Warfield. He earned a Master of Music degree from Michigan State University
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Tickets: $20, At the door: $25
Past Concerts
Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023 - Mike Eben Celebrates the Music of Doc Mulligan featuring Greg Wilson, Rob Diener, John Loos, Carl Zeplin, Marty Mellinger, Kevin MacConnell, Dave Lazorcik Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 - Seth Ebersole Quartet featuring Gina Benalcazar, Colin Mekell, Jack Synoski, Austin Wagner Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 - The Hot Club of Reading featuring Josh Taylor, Chris Heslop, Ken Gehret, Trey LaRue, Mike Nikolidakis Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 - Aaron Rudderow Quartet featuring Aaron Rudderow, Justin Morell, Michael Dobson, and Skip Moyer Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 – Mike Eben presents Tribute to Doc Mulligan featuring Rob Diener, John Loos, Greg Wilson, Carl Zeplin, Marty Mellinger, Steve Meashey, Dave Lazorcik Sunday, May 15, 2022 – An Evening of Acoustic Fusion with One Alternative Saturday, April 30, 2022 – Reading Pops Orchestra Big Band Sunday, April 10, 2022 – Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Presents John Rozum: Tribute to Buddy Rich Saturday, April 2, 2022 – Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest: A Night of Gypsy Jazz Jason Anick & Henry Acker Quartet Plus The Hot Club of Reading Featuring Josh Taylor, Chris Heslop, Ken Gehret, Trey Larue, Josiah Taylor Friday, March 25, 2022 – Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest: A Night of Brazilian Jazz Minas Presents Beatles In Bossa Nova Featuring Orlando Haddad, Patricia King with Special Guests Andrew Neu, John Swanna and Jim Stager, Tom Cohen Friday, February 18, 2022 – The Nathan Bellott Trio, Featuring Nathan Bellott, Simon Wilson, and Evitar Slivnik Friday, January 28, 2022 – Dynamic Piano-Bass Duo with Alex Kauffman & Steve Meashey Sunday, December 19, 2021 – A Jazzy Holiday with Trading Four, Featuring Isaiah Nygard, piano; Joel Evans, drums; Cormick Costello, bass; Sashank Sridhar, saxophone Friday, November 12, 2021 – Evening of Swinging Bop, Mike Eben’s From the Hip, Featuring Roger Morgan, trumpet; Mike Byrne, guitar; Marty Mellinger, keyboards; Terry Bortman, bass; Dave Santana, drums; and Mike Eben, saxophones. Friday, October 15, 2021 – A Night of Piano Jazz, Lars Potteiger Trio, featuring Jerry Laboranti, saxophone; and Tom Hilliker, bass. Friday, August 6, 2021 – Three Flights Up Featuring Isaiah Nygard, piano; Cormick Costello, bass; and Aaron Rudderow, drums. The trio were the recipients of the 2021 Chuck Loeb Memorial Scholarship. Sunday, December 27, 2020 – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 Chuck Loeb Memorial Scholarship Winners, Trading Four featuring Sashank Sridhar, Joel Evans, Isaiah Nygard, and Cormick Costello Sunday, December 20, 2020 – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 The Hot Club of Reading featuring Josh Taylor, Ken Gehret, Chris Heslop,Trey LaRue, and Josiah Taylor Saturday, March 28, 2020 – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Concert, ROARING 20s JAZZ ORCHESTRA and BEN MAUGER’S VINTAGE JAZZ BAND Saturday, March 21, 2020 – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 Berks Jazz Fest Night, Kelly Powers Trio Saturday, February 22, 2020 – Dixieland Jazz, PARIS WASHBOARD Friday, January 17, 2020 – Get JazzED, NATHAN BELLOTT BAND Friday, December 27, 2019 – Swinging Holiday Show, The Hot Club of Reading featuring Josh Taylor, Ken Gehret, Chris Heslop,Trey LaRue, and Josiah Taylor Friday, November 15, 2019 – Music from Landmark Jazz Album, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Tribute featuring Mike Eben, Ken Kemmerer, Chris Heslop, Marty Mellinger, Dave Lazorcik, Bob Meashey, Steve Meashey, Rob Stoneback, Al Stokes, and Rob Diener Saturday, November 9, 2019 – Dynamic Piano Duo: Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi Friday, October 18, 2019 – Celebrating Dave Brubeck’s Centennial, Eric Mintel Quartet featuring Nelson Hill, Jack Hegyi, and Dave Mohn Friday, September 27, 2019 – An Evening of Jazz Standards, Lars Potteiger New York Trio featuring Dmitry Ishenko and Rob Mitzner Friday, August 9, 2019 – Chuck Loeb Memorial Scholarship Winners, Trading Four featuring Sashank Sridhar, Joel Evans, Isaiah Nygard, and Cormick Costello Friday, July 19, 2019 – CD Release Concert, Mike Eben’s From the Hip featuring Marty Mellinger, Roger Morgan, Dave Santana, Terry Bortman, and Mike Byrne Friday, June 21, 2019 – The Monnette Sudler Quartet featuring Sumi Tonooka, Richard Hill, and Leon Jordan, Sr. Friday, May 17, 2019 – Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo
A Tremendous Thank You to our Jazz on the Avenue Sponsor
