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Volume 11 Issue 3 - November 2005

  • Text
  • Toronto
  • November
  • Jazz
  • Theatre
  • December
  • Musical
  • Index
  • Concerto
  • Ensemble
  • Choir

Coalition news roundup

Coalition news roundup continued from page 33 discussion of issues surrounding a dedicated centre for new music in Toronto. Just visit www. torontohearandnow .com/forum to participate in the discussion or at the very least to find out the range of views other people have on this vital topic. A LOOK THROUGH THE LISTINGS shows new music intermingling with more traditional musical programming this month. There are premiere performances of new works on the programs of the Korean Canadian Symphony, the Orpheus Choir, Talisker Players, the TSO, and Music Toronto, among others. Check the concert listings (or the "Quick Picks" on page 63) for the abovementioned concerts. Other concerts of note: Saturday, November 12th, New Music Concerts presents A Scelsi Centenary at the Music Gallery. November 23rd, the Goethe­ Institut presents a concert of German and Japanese new music, including works by Stockhausen, Takahashi and others. The following day, the Women's Musical Club of Toronto presents a concert of new works for trombone featuring the great Canadian trombonist Alain Trudel. At the very end of the month, both U ofT and York University have free concerts of works by student composers. At U of T, the concert is November 29th. York' s is on November 30th. If you value energy and innovation over polish, you will get a lot from these diamonds in the rough. Jazz Notes by Jim Galloway Up The Lazy River This is the time of year when I post my column from somewhere in Europe, in the middle of my annual trip, although to say I am on the road again is not entirely correct, because for a good part of this trip I am on water - and I don't mean that my drinking habits have changed! Far from it, because as I write this I am in the heart of wine country, sailing on the river Moselle midway through a trip that takes me from Coblenz in Germany to Nancy, France. I am in the company of a boatload of jazz fans and a small European Community of musicians from Switzerland, Scandinavia, France, Britain and Germany. The ambiance is very relaxed and friendly especially since quite a few of the passengers are repeaters and so friendships are renewed, stories exchanged and newcomers put at ease. All the public announcements are made in German and French but most of the crew and many of the passengers speak English. I get by with my somewhat less than fluent French so that communication is, if at all, only a minor problem. The ships that are in service on this type of river cruise are perfect examples of how to make the best use of a minimum amount of space. They are long and narrow - narrow because they have to navigate the locks system on the rivers and the rivers themselves can be quite narrow in stretches, and long to make up for the fact that they don't sit deep in the water and are restricted to 3 or 4 decks. I suspect that if the ship sank you might get no more than wet feet! We are on the Swiss Ruby, an intimate ship with accommodation for no more than 86 passengers and cabins where space is very definitely at a premium. But the food is good, the scenery magnificent and the public areas of the ship very attractively set up. On this trip the mornings have been misty with a fog hanging over the river and it is a bit like being in the middle of a Turner painting - but the sun soon bums off the fog and the passing vineyards and picturesque towns are revealed. The guiding light of this week of rhythm on the river is Markus Rindermann, a gentle giant of a man from Bern, Switzerland, with a passion for jazz, who started his Riverboat Cruises some 20 years ago. It is a simple formula, used by jazz parties everywhere - take a group of musicians, in this case 12, and play mix and match. With creative programming, choosing a variety of themes and interesting combinations of musicians it is possible to make each night a little different. Daytime there are stops along the way to explore the towns and villages and, in general, a good time is had by all. There are afternoon sessions and after dinner concerts making it a pretty good way to enjoy jazz, beautiful countryside and local wines and beers. Dollars and sense There is big money to be made in music, but it goes to a very small percentage of all those who try to make a career in the business. For the most part musicians "get by" and often supplement their incomes by teaching more aspiring musicians to enter the already saturated job market, which is why my advice is always this - Don't think of a career in music unless you have that fire in the belly, because it can be a long, hard road with no guarantees of even a small pot of gold. So when musicians get together it is no surprise that invariably, at some point, the conversation turns to work, or lack of it, and how there is less live music and therefore fewer gigs than there used to be. The riverboat trip was no exception - we talked about the scene in our respective countries, but here is some food for thought served up by the French musicians taking part in the discussion. In France, if you have proof of 43 contracted and declared (for tax purposes) engagements in the previous 10 month period, you are eligible for unemployment benefits based on the total of your earnings in the previous period and up to a maximum of75 euros per day! The payments are good for, I believe, 6 months, at which time you can reapply. The concept of the programme is to encourage the arts - to actually encourage them. Compare that to our priorities in Canada where music programmes are being cut back because the arts are considered a non-essential luxury, rather than a necessary part of a full life. Closing note: If you like to dance to big band music, my Wee Big Band, all seventeen of us will be at The Old Mill on Friday November 25. It's the last chance to hear us in Toronto this year, so if you feel like kicking up your heels, or cutting up a rug or just having a good time, come on by . Happy (live) listening. Featuring some of Toronto's best jazz musicians with a brief reflection by Jazz Vespers Clergy Sunday, November 20 - 4:30 p.m. THE ROBI BOTOS TRIO Saturday, Dec 10, 2005 • 2 PM Back to Ad Index St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts F.ortickets, call (416) 366-7723 www.torontoallstarbigband.com Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street (north of St. Clair at Heath St.) 416-920-5211 Admission is free. An offering is received to support the work of the church, including Jazz Vespers . .... .. I

INSIDE THE JAZZ LISTINGS BYS OPHIA PERLMAN I REFUSE TO BE one of those people who begin recommending Christmas shopping ideas, even before the leaves have fallen. I will however point out that several Toronto musicians are celebrating the release of new Cds over the month of November. The Rex hosts David Buchbinder's release for Shurum Burum Jazz Circus. Joining him are a wide array of musicians from a variety of musical backgrounds - including bassist Roberto Occhipinti, saxists Pol Cousee, Peter Lutek and Perry White, pianist Greg de Denus, violist Bridget Lamarche­ Brow n, cellist Carina Reeves and guitarist Levon lchkhanian, playing original compositions which fuse jazz and improvisation with klezmer and middle eastern influences. (Nov 10, 11). Also at the Rex this month, saxist Jon Kay and his ensemble The Peddlers release their new album (Nov 30). FOLLOWING HIS 2003 Juno win for his album "Tales from the Blue Lounge", Richard Underhill releases "A Moment in Time" at the Montreal Bistro (Nov 15). Underhill's swinging compositions, are played by a stellar ensemble - including 21-year-old Cuban piano prodigy Luis Guerra, alongside Bob Brough, Mike Milligan, Craig Earle, Joe Poole, Daniel Barnes, Davide Direnzo, William Carn and Chris Gale. Also at the Bistro this month, chamber jazz ensemble Runcible Investors Group· p R E Nighflife JAZZ T UR featuring Dione Nov 15 Richard Underhill CD Release Spoon celebrates Rainbow Lake, a recording which features standards by Gershwin and Weill, and original compositions by Andrew Downing, Tim Postgate and various members of the ensemble. The instrumentation which includes cello, viola, piano, clarinet and voice, showcases the ensemble's rich orchestration paired with a great sense of swing, and a playful sense of humour. (Nov 28). And as always, you don't need a C.D. to celebrate - our jazz scene is an excuse for a party in itself. Check the listings (pages 62-63) for more great music. s E N T s FESTIVAL WIND ORCHESTRA Gennady Gefter, Conductor ~Jilagic Musical selections include Suite of Old American Dances, The Barber of Seville and Seasonal Favourites. Tuesday, December 1 3 at 8 p.m. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street (at Heath, 2 blocks north of St. Clair, close to nc & municipal parking) Adults ; Students 0 To reserve tickets, call 905-881-4255 Fax 416-491-5282 or visit www.festivalwindorchestra.com Handicapped accessible Dave Snider Music Centre 3225 Yonge St. PH (416) 483-5825 cMa ii: snidermusic@snidermusic.com www.snidermusic.com One of Toronto's Oldest Music Stores ... With The Best Selection of Pop, Jazz & Broadway Sheet Music in the city - For Beginners and Professionals - Come in and browse over 25,000 sheet music publications. have a wide array of Woodwind, Brass, Keyboards, Guitars and Accessories. Music Lessons offered on site. \' cdsm~ '7 music Fine quality instruments & accessories to suit any budget - Woodwinds, Brass, Strings & Percussion Expert Instrument Repairs in one of North America's largest and best-equipped facilities Comprehensive Band & Orchestra Rental Program with over 9,000 instruments in inventory York Region's Largest Music School serving over 1,200 students SALES • RENTALS • REPAIRS • LESSONS • PRINT MUSIC Back to Ad Index

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