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Volume 24 Issue 3 - November 2018

  • Text
  • November
  • Toronto
  • Jazz
  • Theatre
  • Musical
  • Arts
  • Orchestra
  • Performing
  • Symphony
  • Bloor
Reluctant arranger! National Ballet Orchestra percussionist Kris Maddigan on creating the JUNO and BAFTA award-winning smash hit Cuphead video game soundtrack; Evergreen by name and by nature, quintessentially Canadian gamelan (Andrew Timar explains); violinist Angèle Dubeau on 20 years and 60 million streams; two children’s choirs where this month remembrance and living history must intersect. And much more, online in our kiosk now, and on the street commencing Thursday November 1.

C. Music Theatre Beat by

C. Music Theatre Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz! The Panto. Written, directed and visual effects by Antonio Sarmiento. Cameco Capitol Arts Centre, 20 Queen St., Port Hope. 1-800-434- 5092. $24-. Opens Nov 15, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 23. Days and times vary. Visit capitoltheatre.com for details. ●●Randolph Academy. 9 to 5, the Musical. Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, book by Patricia Resnick, based on the film. Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst St. 416-924-2243. . Opens Nov 27, 8pm. Runs to Dec 1. Tues- Sat(8pm), Sat(2pm). ●●Romulo Delgado. Opera Serenade. Romulo Delgado, tenor; and guests. Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-207-2020. . Nov 15, Dec 13, 8pm. ●●Ross Petty Productions. The Wizard of Oz. Tracey Flye, director/choreographer. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 1-855-599-9090. -7. Opens Nov 30, 7pm. Runs to Jan 5. Days and times vary. Visit rosspetty.com for details. ●●Royal City Musical Productions. Annie. Music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, book by Thomas Meehan, based on the comic strip. River Run Centre Main Stage, 35 Woolwich St, Guelph. 519-763-3000. ; (sr/st); (ch). Opens Nov 21, 7:30pm. Runs to Nov 25. Wed-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/ Sun(1:30pm). ●●Royal Conservatory. Glenn Gould School Opera. Hindemith: Hin und Züruck; Martinů: The Tears of the Knife. Peter Tiefenbach, music director; Anna Theodosakis, stage director. Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. . Nov 2-3, 7:30pm. ●●Scarborough Music Theatre. Oklahoma! Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II. Scarborough Village Community Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd. 416-267-9292. ; (sr/st). Opens Nov 1, 8pm. Runs to Nov 17(mat). Thurs-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm). ●●Stratford Festival. The Music Man. Music, lyrics and book by Meredith Willson. Donna Feore, director and choreographer. Festival Theatre, 55 Queen St, Stratford. 1-800- 567-1600. and up. Previews begin Apr 17, 2pm. Runs to Nov 3. Days and times vary. Visit stratfordfestival.ca for details. ●●Talk is Free Theatre. Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, book by John Cameron Mitchell. Five Points Theatre, 1 Dunlop St. W., Barrie. 705-792-1949. and up. Opens Nov 22, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 1. Wed/Thurs(7:30pm), Fri/Sat(8pm), Sat(2pm). ●●Theatre Ancaster. Chicago. Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. Ancaster High School, Theatre Auditorium, 374 Jerseyville Rd., Ancaster. 905-304-7469. ; (sr); (st). Opens Nov 16, 8pm. Runs to Dec 1. Fri/ Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm). ●●Theatre Aquarius. Elf the Musical. Music and lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin. Theatre Aquarius, 190 King William St, Hamilton. 905-522-7529. and up. Opens Nov 28, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 24. Tues-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(1pm). Note: also Dec 24, 1pm. ●●Theatre Sheridan. The Phantom of the Opera. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, book by Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe. Macdonald-Heaslip Hall, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville. 905-815- 4049. . Opens Nov 27, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 13. Days and times vary. Visit sheridancollege.ca for details. ●●Theatre Sheridan. The Threepenny Opera. Music by Kurt Weill, lyrics and book by Bertolt Brecht, English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein. Studio Theatre, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville. 905-815-4049. . Opens Nov 29, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 9. Tues-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm). Note: no mat Dec 2. ●●Toronto Operetta Theatre. Out of Character. Music from Latin America. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-922- 2912. -. Nov 3, 4pm. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Thursdays at Noon: Opera Spotlight. A preview of U of T Opera’s production of Weill’s Street Scene. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free. Nov 1, 12:10pm. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. U of T Opera: Street Scene. Music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Langston Hughes. Mac- Millan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. ; (sr); (st). Opens Nov 22, 7:30pm. Runs to Nov 25. Thurs-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(2:30pm). ●●Vera Causa Opera. The Fairies / Le Villi. Music by Giacomo Puccini. Featuring Contemporary School of Dance, Waterloo. Knox Presbyterian Church (Waterloo), 50 Erb St. W., Waterloo. vcopera.ca. ; free(st/ child). Opens Nov 16, 7pm. Runs to Nov 18. Fri/ Sat(7pm), Sun(2pm). ●●VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert. Werther. Music by Jules Massenet. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754. ; ; . Nov 25, 2:30pm. ●●Wavestage Theatre. Hello, Dolly! Music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Michael Stewart. Newmarket Theatre, 505 Pickering Cres, Newmarket. wavestagetheatre.com. ; (sr/st); (ch). Opens Nov 22, 7:30pm. Runs to Nov 25. Thurs-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(1pm). ●●Windsor Light Music Theatre. Elf the Musical. Music and lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin. St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, 201 Riverside Dr W, Windsor. 519-974-6593. ; (sr/st); (ch). Opens Nov 16, 7:30pm. Runs to Nov 25. Fri/ Sat(7:30pm), Sun(2pm). Note: extra show Nov 24, 2pm. ●●Young People’s Theatre. Mary Poppins. Music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, with George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, book by Julian Fellowes. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front St. E. 416- 862-2222. -. Opens Nov 5, 10:15am. Runs to Jan 6. Days and times vary. Visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca for details. Vital Role of Recurring Gigs COLIN STORY We are fortunate in Southern Ontario to have access to a large number of live-music venues. In the listings below, you will find over 30 clubs and restaurants that regularly present jazz and creative music, including Grossman’s Tavern, which celebrated its 70th birthday in September; The Rex, which has been in operation for over 40 years; and Burdock, which, having opened in April of 2015, is a mere three-years old. Mixed in among many exciting one-off events in these listings are a number of recurring gigs, most commonly once a week or once a month. These residencies form a vital part of the Toronto gig ecosystem, playing an important role for musicians, venues, and audience members alike. To begin, a working definition: to qualify as a recurring gig for the purposes of this article, a gig must happen at regular intervals and feature the same artist(s); a one-off, two-or three-night run at a club does not qualify. A residency is also functionally different than a series, in which a presenter (not necessarily the venue itself) books artists who may be representative of a certain genre or theme. A residency, as the name implies, is about the creation of a kind of home base for musicians, a (hopefully) comfortable space in which they build a show and grow over time. As guitarist and York University instructor Robb Cappelletto puts it, a residency provides an opportunity “to try out new music, new players, new gear, [and] new approaches in a real-world setting.” Cappelletto performs regularly at Poetry Jazz Café with his trio, as well as at 416 Snack Bar with the group re.verse (with bassist Damian Matthew and drummer Chino De Villa). There are a number of different residencies that take place in Toronto on a regular basis. In addition to a full calendar of (typically) standalone shows that take place in the late slots throughout the week, The Rex has a number of different residencies every month. If you visit on a Friday at 4pm, you’ll hear the Hogtown Syncopators; on Saturday at noon, the Sinners Choir; on Sunday at noon, the Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; on Mondays at 6:30, U of T Jazz Ensembles (at least throughout the school year); and, on the last Monday of every month, the John MacLeod Rex Hotel Orchestra, which features many of Toronto’s more established musicians. The Rex also features month-long weekly residencies in early evening slots; often dubbed “Rexidencies” on social media promotional material, these short-term weeklies are unique in the Toronto club scene. In November, watch out for the Brodie West Quintet on Tuesdays, JV’s Boogaloo Squad on Wednesdays, Kevin Quain on Thursdays, and the James Brown Trio on Fridays. Beyond The Rex, many other local venues support residencies. At The Tranzac, the JUNO-nominated band Peripheral Vision (Don Scott, guitar, Michael Herring, bass, Trevor Hogg, saxophone, Nick Fraser, drums) hosts the first Tuesday of every month at 10pm. As Peripheral Vision typically books a band to play an opening set, this residency is also something of a series, as there is a curatorial component beyond the musical work that the band undertakes. Bassist Michael Herring plays regularly on Wednesdays with a guitar trio at the tequila bar Reposado, which also features its house band – the Reposadists – on Thursdays and Fridays. At Poetry Jazz Café, in Kensington Market, artists such as the guitarist Luan Phung, vocalist Joanna Majoko, vocalist/pianist Chelsey Bennett, guitarist Robb Cappelletto and singer/guitarist Dan McKinnon play monthly gigs. The structure provided by regular performances can give musicians the 60 | November 1 - December 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

Dan McKinnon Robb Cappelletto JEN SQUIRES opportunity to focus on growth and development in a manner that isn’t always accessible in one-off gigs. Having a residency at Poetry, says McKinnon, “was pivotal to my development as a musician, bandleader and artist. Since that first gig over three years ago, my group won the 2017 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search, the Amy Louie Grossman’s Music Scholarship, and recently put out a well-received album this spring. None of this would have been possible if not for the residency I had at Poetry.” The issues: There are many positive aspects to Toronto’s many fine residencies, but they are not without their issues. The first, and most obvious, is financial: for most of the aforementioned gigs, there is no financial guarantee. Musicians are typically compensated by passing the hat, through a percentage of bar sales, and occasionally through a percentage of a cover charge. This is not to say that it isn’t possible to make a fair fee playing in a residency – it can sometimes be the case, on a good night, that a group earns more than they may have if they were playing for an average preset guarantee – but it is certainly not always the case. There can also be other, unforeseen musical consequences of playing the same music with the same people in the same venue over an extended period of time. Nick Teehan, who held residencies at The Cameron House and The Rex for a number of years, makes the point that while playing consistently “really cemented the sound of [his] band,” providing “a regular audience who knew what to expect,” it also, unexpectedly, made the recording process harder. It “took a lot of effort to re-configure the songs” for the studio, Teehan says, as “some of the energy we felt was propelling our shows didn’t sound so great in a studio setting.” Even with these issues, however, residencies are an important part of any healthy live-music scene, and, for most of the musicians who spoke to me about this column, participating in a residency is an overwhelmingly valuable, positive experience that fosters the growth both of individual musicianship and of the community at large. So, this month: check out a residency! As an audience member, it may become your regular gig, too. MAINLY CLUBS, MOSTLY JAZZ QUICK PICKS !! NOV 1, 9:30PM: Saxophonist Jeff LaRochelle celebrates the release of his new album Lenses Extend at Burdock; with opening set from singer/guitarist Sabine Ndalamba. !! NOV 6, 10PM: JUNO-nominated modern jazz quartet Peripheral Vision plays at The Tranzac in the November installment of their monthly residency. !! NOV 7 AND 8, 9:30PM: Leading alto saxophonist Dave Binney returns to The Rex for two evenings with his new quartet. !! NOV 30, 9PM: Guitarist Robb Cappelletto brings his electric trio to Poetry Jazz Café as part of his monthly residency. Colin Story is a jazz guitarist, writer and teacher based in Toronto. He can be reached at www.colinstory.com, on Instagram and on Twitter. D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz) 120 Diner 120 Church St. 416-792-7725 120diner.com (full schedule) All shows: PWYC (- suggested) Alleycatz 2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865 alleycatz.ca All shows: Call for cover charge info. Mondays 8:30pm Salsa Night with DJ Romantico with free lessons No cover before 10:00pm. Tuesdays 8:30pm Bachata Night with Weekly Guest DJ with free lessons Ladies free before 10:30pm. Wednesdays 7pm Midtown Blues Jam hosted by Andrew “Voodoo” Walters. Thursdays 8pm Canadian Discovery Series. Fri & Sat 9:30pm Funk, Soul, R&B Top 40 cover after 9pm. Sat 3pm-6pm Matinee Jazz. Nov 1 Alicia Cinnamon. Nov 2 Gyles Band. Nov 3 Lady Kane. Nov 8 Ray Robinson. Nov 9 Parkside Drive. Nov 10 Sound Parade. Nov 15 Veronica Tynes. Nov 16 Gyles Band. Nov 17 York Jazz Ensemble (matinee), Disco Party w/Escapade (evening). Nov 22 Mel Dube. Nov 23 Lady Kane. Nov 24 Blonde Ambition. Nov 29 Carlos Morgan. Nov 30 Lady Kane. Artword Artbar 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 905-543-8512 artword.net (full schedule) All shows at 8pm unless otherwise noted. The Blue Goose Tavern 1 Blue Goose St. 416-255-2442 thebluegoosetavern.com (full schedule) Bloom 2315 Bloor St. W. 416-767-1315 bloomrestaurant.com All shows 7pm 19+. Call for reservations. Nov 29 Michael Dunston Trio. Burdock 1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033 burdockto.com Ticket prices vary by show, but typically -; check website for individual show prices. Nov 1 9:30pm Jeff LaRochelle w/ Sabine Ndalamba. Nov 2 9:30pm Chris Antonik & Ashley Belmer. Nov 3 3:30pm Space Chums w/ The Freckles, 6:30pm Alex Mason w/ Clementine, 10pm Minor Empire. Nov 4 3:30pm The Fuddles, 6:30pm Emm Gryner, Luke Michielsen & Chris Trapper, 9:30pm Jerelle w/ Special Guests. Nov 5 6:30pm Stephanie Laing, 9:30pm Highgate Road. Nov 6 9:30pm Rabbys World. Nov 7 9:30pm Andrea Ramolo. Nov 8 9:30pm Ten Kills The Pack w/ Jena Gogo & Jay Mitchell Nov 9 6:30pm Danielle Knibbe w/ Alyson McNamara, 9pm Tamara Williamson w/ Charles Spearin (9pm show at 201 Geary). Nov 10 6:30pm Jordan Hart & Emily Shultz. Nov 12 8pm Dark Day Monday 09 / Everyday Magic. Nov 13 9:30pm Charlie Looker (Psalm Zero), Tryal & Clarinet Panic. Nov 16 6:30pm Ken Tizzard. Nov 17 6:30pm Marshall Veroni w/ Cold Tea. Nov 19 6:30pm Will Melville. Nov 21 6:30pm Rachel Beck, Mark Fossen & Annie Sumi, 9:30pm Daniel Isaiah & Blunt Chunks. Nov 24 6:30pm Gregg Lawless. Nov 25 6:30pm and 9:30pm Christine Fellows w/ John K. Samson. Nov 26 9:30pm Mayer/ Purcell, Jeremy Voltz & Taylor Hubbard. Nov 28 9:30pm The Koven Collective. Cameron House 408 Queen St. W. 416-703-0811 thecameron.com Castro’s Lounge 2116 Queen St. E. 416-699-8272 castroslounge.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover/PWYC C’est What 67 Front St. E. (416) 867-9499 cestwhat.com (full schedule) All concerts are PWYC unless otherwise noted. Nov 2 9pm George Westerholm & The Wild Wildcats. Nov 3 3pm Victor Monsivais Trio. Nov 4 7pm Roveena w/ Ben Pelchat. Nov 8 9pm Jack Walker. Nov 9 9pm Metronome Chomsky. Nov 10 3pm The Hot Five Jazzmakers, 9pm Julia Tynes. Nov 16 9pm Surefire Sweat. Nov 18 7pm The Fairest and Best. Nov 22 8pm Shawn Kerr. Nov 23 9pm Felix’s Belt. Nov 24 3pm Little Rambunctious ft. Tom thewholenote.com November 1 - December 7, 2018 | 61

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