West Coast Jam!

presented by ijazzglobal

Allentown native Rick Braun has shared his stunning trumpet and flugelhorn stylings and his impressive vocals at nearly every Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.

Braun began developing his jazz chops as part of a jazz-fusion band at the Eastman School of Music in the 1970s. After graduating he entered the pop world as a singer and a successful songwriter for other artists. Then, returning to the trumpet, he worked as a session and touring musician with Natalie Cole, Sade, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, War and others.

Braun has collaborated on massive hits with Boney James, as a member of RnR with saxophonist Richard Elliot, and with BWB, a powerhouse trio with Grammy winners Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown. His debut album as a soloist, “Intimate Secrets” (1992) launched him as a band leader, and he released his 19th CD, “Rick Braun” in 2022.

Scottish-born saxophonist Richard Elliot moved with his family to Los Angeles when he was 3, and he was soon beguiled by R&B and Motown -- and especially by the late, legendary saxophonist Dexter Gordon, who inspired him to take up the instrument.

Elliot started as a member of the jazz/rock band KittyHawk, then Tower of Power during the 1980s in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was a member of The Yellowjackets, and participated in the “Groovin’ for Grover” concert series with Paul Taylor and Gerald Albright, in memory of the late Grover Washington Jr. His debut solo album was “Trolltown” (1986), the first of 20, most recently “Authentic Life” (2021), which features Rick Braun. He and Braun co-founded their own record label, ARTizen Music Group (now Artistry Music) in 2005.

Guitarist Peter White, born and raised in a musical family near London, U.K., learned clarinet, trombone, violin and piano from his father, who taught all four of his children various musical instruments and had them perform in the area.

White began his professional career playing the piano with Al Stewart. By that time he had mastered guitar and preferred playing it, but Stewart already had a guitarist and needed a keyboard player. He spent 20 years with that band, cowriting many songs with Stewart.

White has also performed with his brother Danny, a pianist and songwriter, on tour and in recordings with the Polish singer Basia. He launched his solo recording career in 1991 with the album “Reveillez-Vous,” and has since recorded many more.

In 2003, he established the popular “Peter White Christmas Tour,” resulting in the album “A Peter White Christmas” (2007). The tour visited Reading many times, presented by Berks Arts, most recently including White in 2019. In 2023, he returned for the show, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Remember to buy your tickets to the Buffet Dinner before the show!(opens in a new tab)

Find the artists online: Rick Braun (opens in a new tab)Richard Elliot (opens in a new tab)Peter White(opens in a new tab)