Mission & Board

Our Mission

Berkshires Jazz is a nonprofit organization with a two-fold mission to preserve Jazz — America’s indigenous art form — and nurture its growth.

We do this by presenting high-quality jazz programs, fostering jazz education, and promoting the local jazz scene in Berkshire County.

Berkshires Jazz was formed in 2009 by the committee that plans the annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival.

“We want to be all over Berkshire County, all year long. We want to nurture the jazz scene in the area.”
— Ed Bride, Berkshires Jazz President

Berkshires Jazz holds concerts all year long throughout Berkshire County.

Many of our events are free, and all events are offered at accessible prices thanks to the support of generous sponsors and donors.

View Performances

Interviews with Our Founder

Check out this short video featuring our president and founder, Ed Bride, on the mission and history of Berkshires Jazz, and our bustling series of events and programs celebrating the past, present, and future of this truly American art form.

Below are additional interviews with Ed about Berkshires Jazz.

  • Video Interview

    Giving Voices is a monthly talk show hosted by PCTV and WTBR-FM Board President Sue Doucette, and devoted to informing the community about the works and activities of community nonprofits.

  • Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Video Interview

    It is a passion that started when he was young, and Ed Bride has carried his love for jazz just about everywhere he's gone. In the process, he's enriched his own communities, whether it was at his alma mater Villanova decades ago, or in a movement in the Berkshires that has brought world-class talent here as well as cultivating young musicians. The vision Ed had for a lighting up the Berkshires with jazz has led to a staple organization, Berkshires Jazz. Also, Pittsfield and the Berkshires have now become a place of jazz lore with moments between the late Phil Woods and his protege Grace Kelly, the late Dave Brubeck rehearsing with musicians from Pittsfield High School and so much more. In this episode, Ed talks about how he fell in love with jazz first hearing the music of Stan Kenton, his work with the Villanova Jazz Festival, a Stan Kenton 50th birthday radio show that Ed hosted back then (we've got clips!), how he met his wife, Marguerite (Marge), the music he plays at night on the piano, a wonderful anecdote on how the late Ellen Ruberto set the tone for starting the Pittsfield City Jazz Festival, the contributions of many passionate volunteers and board members, infusing jazz into the schools, developing young jazz talent and more.

Our Board

  • Edward Bride

    President

  • Chuck Walker

    Vice President

  • Marilyn Gerhard

    Secretary

  • Barbara Seddon

    Treasurer

  • Peter Coombs

  • Lou Costi

  • Ted DiPietro

    Production Manager

  • Chris Dodig

  • Paul Garvey

  • Peter Lazes

  • Marsha Rose McDermott

  • Glenn Myers

  • Art Niedeck

  • Craig Smith

  • Phil Tierney

  • Andy Wrba

Special Advisors to the Board

  • Jen Glockner

    Director of the Office of Cultural Development for the City of Pittsfield

  • Tracy Wilson

    Board Member Emerita

  • Andy Jaffe

    Musician

  • Willard Jenkins

    Jazz Writer, Historian & Presenter

  • Andy Kelly

    Chairman of the City of Pittsfield’s Cultural Development Commission