BERKS COUNTY, Pa. – When you think of Berks Jazz Fest, the iconic logo immediately comes to mind. It’s simple, bold and recognizable.
“Even though some of the sponsors have changed, we’ve kept the original look of it all through the 35 years,” said local musician, Mike Anderson.
Anderson is also a retired advertising executive with a focus on graphic design. He came up with the concept all those years ago and the rest is history.
“It’s become a brand and that’s what it should be,” Anderson said.
While marketing and design were his work; music is his passion.
“I do play with a local band that does a lot of carnivals and things like that in the summer, but I sit in with different bands once in a while,” explained Anderson.
He is part of Berks Horns, a three-piece horn section, and every year when Jazz Fest rolls around, they get involved.
“Mostly the artists will send us charts or sometimes they’ll ask us to do a few based on the MP3s that they send us,” said Anderson. “So, we have the music ahead of time, sometimes, and a lot of time we get together as a horn section for a sectional rehearsal before that.”
“Usually, we do one soundcheck with the band the day we’re playing and we’re part of that band that night,” added Anderson. “It really gives us a chance to come up from the minor leagues to the major leagues once a year and it’s very rewarding.”