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Volume 25 Issue 4 - December 2019 / January 2020

  • Text
  • Faculty
  • Performing
  • Musical
  • Arts
  • Jazz
  • Theatre
  • Symphony
  • December
  • January
  • Toronto
Welcome to our December/January issue as we turn the annual calendar page, halfway through our season for the 25th time, juggling as always, secular stuff, the spirit of the season, new year resolve and winter journeys! Why is Mozart's Handel's Messiah's trumpet a trombone? Why when Laurie Anderson offers to fly you to the moon you should take her up on the invitation. Why messing with Winterreisse can (sometimes) be a very good thing! And a bumper crop of record reviews for your reading (and sometimes listening) pleasure. Available in flipthrough here right now, and on stands commencing Thursday Nov 28. See you on the other side!

of productivity. Not for

of productivity. Not for all, and not for very long, but the prospect remains one of Christmas’ central myths: to “dream by the fire” with a loved one is to return, however briefly, to the carefree days of youth, to enjoy a holiday from the outside world, to finally, at the end of the calendar year, have some time – a few days, a week, maybe, between December 24 and January 2 – to focus on ourselves, to be present, to enjoy the company of an intimate few. This is the promise of so much secular holiday music: chestnuts roast on an open fire as we enjoy the play of being exposed to the elements from the comfort of a comfortable middle-class home. We have ourselves a merry little Christmas and imagine that our troubles are miles away, out of sight; we come home for Christmas, if only in our dreams. The core component of any secular Christmas celebration, we are told, is a collective, wistful imagination of Christmas. Christmas music plays a key part in the yearning for contentment that fuels our holiday daydreams, but its ubiquity, from November 1 onwards, can corrupt its intended effect. In the hands of retailers eager to drive the holiday sales that have become essential to their survival, Christmas music becomes one of the tools with which nostalgia is weaponized as a sales tactic. Come mid-December, at the time when the holidays are actually in sight, we’ve spent six weeks of mental energy fending it all off: Mariah Carey at the grocery store, Michael Bublé in the mall, the insipid, twee, ukulele-and-sleigh-bell chime of every YouTube advertisement for poorly made clothing. To be consistently bombarded by Christmas music in so many areas of our lives is to be forced to inoculate ourselves to these songs’ nostalgic effects, and to the genuine joy that they are capable of producing in the appropriate doses (if a listener is inclined to find joy in such music). Participation in the very capitalist structures that make the secular experience of a collective Christmas break so necessary also ruins one of the holiday’s chief joys: the experience of nostalgia through music, and the precious comfort that nostalgia is capable of providing. There is, however, something to be done, if you find yourself yearning to yearn again, to recapture the joy of music that seems to have been rubbed clean of the lustre it once possessed: go listen to some musicians play Christmas music, and listen to how the songs you know are transformed, revivified, re-presented in ways that break the cynical purgatorial cycle of streaming-platform playlists, emerging, finally, alive again. Some holiday gigs are good, some bad. But in the fortuitous times when they are very good, they deliver on the basic promise of secular Christmas music: to daydream, to create the sensation of presence, to provide the listener with an opportunity to indulge in the imagination of their own history. Ultimately, the nostalgic core of this music is more involved than simply thinking fondly on the past: it is about taking a moment to reflect on our previous experiences, so that we might more happily celebrate the present moment, and move confidently forward, facing, unafraid, the plans that we’ve made for the future. This may not be true, of course. But it’s nice to think that it could be. MAINLY CLUBS, MOSTLY JAZZ QUICK PICKS !! DEC 11, 8:30PM: Jazzcast n’ Joy, Hugh’s Room. Drew Jurecka, Alex Pangman, Jeremy Ledbetter, and more, play at Hugh’s Room for Jazzcast’s December extravaganza. !! DEC 15, 4PM: The Woodhouse featuring Barbra Lica. The Jazz Room. The Woodhouse, an instrumental collective that has been playing holiday shows for over ten years, brings Juno-nominated singer, Barbra Lica, to Waterloo for an afternoon show of Christmas classics. !! DEC 21, 8PM: Dave Barrett, Hirut Cafe. Dave Barrett plays solo guitar arrangements of holiday favourites in the intimate setting of Hirut Cafe. !! DEC 21, 9PM: Robi Botos and Hilario Duran, Jazz Bistro. Now an annual event, two of Toronto’s leading jazz pianists play Christmas music, jazz standards, and music that reflects each player’s unique roots. Colin Story is a jazz guitarist, Dave Barrett 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) 8pm John Fraser Findlay. Dec 13 8:30pm Don Naduriak: Jazz of the Americas. Dec 15 5pm Holiday Spirit Cabaret. Dec 17 8pm Finger Style Guitar Association Open Stage. Dec 18 8pm The BTBs. Dec 19 8pm John Fraser Findlay. Dec 20 8pm Steve Koven Trio. Dec 21 8pm Dave Barrett Christmas Solo Guitar Show. Dec 22 8pm Clara Engel Winter Solstice Show. Dec 26 8pm Blues Jam. Dec 27 9pm Hirut Hoot Comedy Night. Dec 28 8pm Donne Roberts Duo. Dec 31 Hirut New Year’s Eve Extravaganza. Home Smith Bar – See The Old Mill Hugh’s Room Live 2261 Dundas St. W 416 533 5483 hughsroomlive.com All shows at 8:30pm unless otherwise noted. See website for individual show prices. Dec 1 Oh Susanna and Friends. Dec 4 8pm Patricia O’Callaghan. Dec 5 Luke McMaster: The Christmas Show. Dec 6 Ensemble Vivant. Dec 7 Carlos del Junco. Dec 8 10am Broadway Arts Recital, 8:30pm Quartette. Dec 11 Jazzcast n’ Joy. Dec 12 Dr. Draw. Dec 13 Craig Cardiff. Dec 14 Jack de Keyzer. Dec 15 2pm The Ault Sisters, 8:30pm Boreal Songs for the Snowy Season. Dec 16 Broadsway. Dec 17 9am Ravel, 8:30pm Bluesin’ Toronto Presents: Another Blues Christmas. Dec 18 The Mistletones. Dec 19 The Arrogant Worms. Dec 20 Kellylee Evans: Winter Song. Dec 22 Anthony Gomes. Dec 27 Suzie Vinnick. Dec 28 Don Ross. Dec 30 Wintergarten Orchestra. Dec 31 9:30pm New Year’s Eve 2020 w/ Oakland Stroke. Jan 4 Luke and the Apostles. Jan 8 Connie Kaldor and Garnet Rogers. Jan 10 Homeward Bound: The Music of Simon and Garfunkel. Jan 11 8pm A Birthday Tribute to Elvis feat. The Lustre Kings. Jan 13 Sammy Miller and the Congregation. Jan 14 Eric Andersen and Scarlet Rivera. Jan 17 Matt Weidinger: A Tribute to Van Morrison. Jan 18 Sweet Baby James: A Tribute to James Taylor. Jan 19 2pm Ken Whiteley Gospel Brunch. Jan 25 Celebrating the Music of Tina Turner. Jan 26 7:30pm Lynn Harrison. Jan 29 Albert Lee. Jan 30 Albert Lee. Jan 31 Midge Ure. The Jazz Bistro 251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299 jazzbistro.ca (full schedule) Dec 1 6pm Opimian Wine Club de Vin – Champagne & Jazz. Dec 4 9pm Irwin Hall. Dec 5 9pm Irwin Hall. Dec 8 7pm Sam Broverman’s Jewish Boy’s Christmas. Dec 10 8pm Lauren Ferraro’s Christmas. Dec 11 8pm David Rubel’s 251 Jazz Jam Session. Dec 12 9pm Mike Murley Quartet. Dec 13 9pm Genevieve Marentette: The Music of Don Franks. Dec 14 9pm Stu Mac’s Christmas Show. Dec 15 7pm Stacey MacIntyre Sings Christmas. Dec 16 8pm Christopher Wilson’s Cocktails and Candy Canes. Dec 17 8pm Christopher Wilson’s Cocktails and Candy Cane. Dec 18 8pm David Rubel’s 251 Jazz Jam Session. Dec 19 8:30pm 106 Collective Quartet. Dec 20 9pm The Freeman Brothers Band. Dec 21 9pm Robi Botos and Hilario Duran Piano Duo. Dec 22 7pm Robert Scott: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Dec 27 9pm Galen Weston Band. Dec 28 9pm Gabi Epstein’s LaPepstein Hanukkah Party. Dec 31 9pm New Year’s w/ Coldjack. The Jazz Room Located in the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo. 226-476-1565 kwjazzroom.com (full schedule) Attendees must be 19+. Cover charge varies (generally -$25) Dec 6 8:30pm Andriy Tykhonov Quintet. Dec 7 8:30pm Brian Dickinson Trio. Dec 13 8:30pm Mary-Catherine Quartet. Dec 14 3pm Saturday Afternoon Jazz Jam, 8:30pm Ted Quinlan Group. Dec 15 4pm The Woodhouse feat. Barbra Lica. Dec 20 8:30pm Tom Nagy Christmas. Dec 21 8:30pm Jason White Trio. Dec 27 8:30pm Carlos Morgan Quartet. Dec 28 8:30pm Adrean Farrugia’s Playdate. Dec 31 7pm New Year’s Eve at The Jazz Room w/ Jason White and The Jitterbugs. Lula Lounge 1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307 lula.ca (full schedule) Every Fri 7:30pm Afterwork Global Party Series free before 8pm; Every Fri 8:30pm Havana Club Fridays ; Every Sat 10:30pm Salsa Saturdays . Dec 1 6:30pm Gregg Stafford – New Orleans Stomp!. Dec 8 2pm Terreiro do Samba. Dec 10 6pm TEA Green City Celebration: Holiday Party 2019 & Ecobunk Awards. Dec 11 7pm The Double Cuts Western Swing Band: Let Us Be Frank. Dec 12 6pm Ori Dagan: The Rat Pack Songbook Show. Dec 12 9pm Badge Époque Ensemble & André Ethier: Double Album Release Party. Dec 22 6pm Dang Show: Winter SOULstice 2019. Dec 29 12pm Drag Brunch. Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club 951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440 manhattans.ca (full schedule) 72 | December 2019January 2020 thewholenote.com

Mezzetta Restaurant 681 St. Clair Ave. W. 416-658-5687 mezzettarestaurant.com (full schedule) Dec 4 9pm Jordana Talsky Duo. Dec 11 9pm Lorne Lofsky / David Occhipinti Duo. Dec 18 9pm Rebecca Enkin Holiday Show. Monarch Tavern 12 Clinton St. 416-531-5833 themonarchtavern.com (full schedule) Dec 2 7:30pm Martin Loomer & His Orange Devils Orchestra. Dec 3 8pm Belleville-Ville. Dec 7 9pm Cherry Garcia Band w/ Drupe. Jan 7 8pm Belleville-Ville. Jan 13 7:30pm Martin Loomer & His Orange Devils Orchestra. N’awlins Jazz Bar & Dining 299 King St. W. 416-595-1958 nawlins.ca All shows: No cover/PWYC. Every Tue 6:30pm Stacie McGregor. Every Wed 7pm The Jim Heineman Trio. Every Thur 8pm Nothin’ But the Blues with Joe Bowden. Every Fri & Sat 8:30pm N’awlins All Star Band; Every Sun 7pm Brooke Blackburn. The Nice Bistro 117 Brock St. N., Whitby. 905-668-8839 nicebistro.com (full schedule) Live jazz and dinner, .00 per person. Dinner from 6pm and music from 7pm to 9pm. Dec 11 Farrucas Latin Duo (Jorge & Laura). Dec 31 New Year’s Eve: Larry Bond & Bob Mills. The Old Mill 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-236-2641 oldmilltoronto.com (full schedule) The Home Smith Bar: No reservations. No cover. food/drink minimum. All shows: 7:30-10:30pm unless otherwise listed. Dec 3 Gene DiNovi. Dec 4 John MacLeod and Friends. Dec 5 Shannon Butcher Trio. Dec 6 Canadian Jazz Quartet and Friends. Dec 7 Sherie Marshall Quartet. Dec 12 Sophia Perlman & Adrean Farrugia’s Jazz Party. Dec 13 Brigham Phillips Trio. Dec 14 Brian Blain’s Blues Campfire Jam. Dec 18 Russ Little Quartet. Dec 19 Bob DeAngelis & Friends Dec 20 Carol McCartney Quartet. Dec 21 Paul Novotny Trio. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Jazz Party w/ June Garber. The Only Café 972 Danforth Ave. 416-463-7843 theonlycafe.com (full schedule) The Pilot Tavern 22 Cumberland Ave. 416-923-5716 thepilot.ca All shows: 2:30pm. No cover. Dec 7 Pat LaBarbera Quartet. Dec 14 Dan Faulk Quartet. Dec 15 Sugar Daddies Xmas. Dec 21 Tony Peebles Quartet. Dec 28 Bob Brough Quartet. Jan 4 Alexander Brown Quartet. Jan 11 Tune Town Jan 18 Terry Logan Quartet Jan 25 Norbert Botos Quartet Poetry Jazz Café 224 Augusta Ave. 416-599-5299 poetryjazzcafe.com (full schedule) Reposado Bar & Lounge 136 Ossington Ave. 416-532-6474 reposadobar.com (full schedule) The Reservoir Lounge 52 Wellington St. E. 416-955-0887 reservoirlounge.com (full schedule). Every Tue & Sat, 8:45pm Tyler Yarema and his Rhythm. Every Wed 9pm The Digs. Every Thurs 9:45pm Stacey Kaniuk. Every Fri 9:45pm Dee Dee and the Dirty Martinis. The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar 194 Queen St. W. 416-598-2475 therex.ca (full schedule) Call for cover charge info. Rex listings unavailable at time of going to press. Please consult therex.ca for details and visit thewholenote.com/just-ask for updates in early December and again at the beginning of January. The Salty Dog Bar & Grill 1980 Queen St. E. 416-849-5064 thesaltydog.ca (full schedule) Every Tue 7-10pm Jazz Night. Every Thu 8:30pm Karaoke. Every Fri 9:30pm Blues Jam - house band with weekly featured guest. Every Sat 3pm Salty Dog Saturday Matinée. Sauce on Danforth 1376 Danforth Ave. 647-748-1376 sauceondanforth.com All shows: No cover. Every Mon 9pm Gareth Parry’s Book Club. Every Tue 6pm Julian Fauth. Every Wed Paul Reddick & Friends. Every Thu 8pm Steve Koven and Artie Roth. Sat and Sun Matinees 4pm various performers. The Senator Winebar 249 Victoria St 416 364-7517 thesenator.com (full schedule) Tranzac 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137 tranzac.org (full schedule) 3-4 shows daily, various styles, in three different performance spaces. Mostly PWYC. Dec 1 3pm Howard Gladstone Trio, 7:30pm Harrington and Sweet Pea, 10pm The Woodchoppers Association. Dec 3 10pm Peripheral Vision with The Lina Allemano 4. Dec 6 7:30pm Starfires, 10pm Heavy Ethics. Dec 7 7:30pm Abigail Lapell – Early Birds. Dec 8 1pm The Toronto Improvisers Orchestra, 7:30pm Nilan Perera’s Synaptic Circus Sundays, 8:30pm Red Shift Records CD Launch Harbour featuring Anna Höstmann and Cheryl Duvall, 10pm The Lina Allemano 4. Dec 10 7:30pm Ornate Presents Tyrannick Love, 10pm Mic Touching featuring Laura McCoy and Christof Migone. Dec 11 7:30pm Brodie West Quintet, 10pm Ertel/Harrett/McCaroll- Butler/Sorbara. Dec 12 10pm Collette Savard and the Savants. Dec 13 7:30pm Nick Teehan solo, 10pm Colin Fisher/Evan Cartwright/ Ted Crosby. Dec 14 6:30pm Q&A (Tony Quarrington & Zoey Adams). Dec 15 7:30pm Diane Robins Presents: A Christmas Jam, 10 pm Makeshift Island. Dec 16 6pm The Holiday Brass Christmas Party. Dec 17 7:30pm Three Ring Circus, 10pm Aidan Funston Quintet. Dec 18 10pm Lina Allemano, Karen Ng, Rob Clutton and Blake Howard, 10pm Lauren Barnett’s Drawing Free For All. Dec 21 6:30pm Jameison Mackay with Merival and Ten Moon, 10pm Blunt Object. Dec 22 3pm Michael Laderoute with Rob Fenton, 5pm Steve Paul Simms, 7:30pm Gathering Sparks featuring Eve Goldberg and Jane Lewis, 10pm Emilie Mover with Blake. Dec 27 7:30pm Aurochs, 10pm The Ryan Driver Sextet. Dec 28 6:30pm Kyp Harness, 9:30pm Tony Peebles Trio tribute to Sonny Rollins. Dec 29 3pm Cosmic Homeostasis, 5pm Ships, 7:30pm The Space Trio, 10pm the SPECIAL INTEREST group. Jan 3 7:30pm Tania Gill Quartet, 10pm Heavy Ethics, Jan 4 7:30pm Abigail Lapell - Early Birds, 10pm Arkose. Jan 5 5pm Howard Gladstone Trio, 7:30pm Harrington, 10pm The Woodchoppers Association. Jan 7 7:30pm Tzevi Sherman and the 401 Express, 10pm Clubs & Groups ●●Dec 07 1:00: Recollectiv. A unique musical group whose members are affected by memory challenges caused by Alzheimer’s, dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or PTSD. Volunteers of all ages also form part of the band making a positive intergenerational experience for all participants. The group’s mission is to help people with memory challenges find joy and a sense of community through music-making. Meets weekly and is free with pre-registration. For information visit recollectiv.ca or call Smile Theatre at 416-599-8440. Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. Also Dec 14, 21, 28, Jan 4, 11, 18, 25, and Feb 1. ●●Dec 01 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Bach: Christmas Oratorio. For further information, visit classicalmusicclubtoronto.org or contact John Sharpe at 416-898-2549 or torontoshi@sympatico.ca. Annual membership: $25(regular); (sr/ st). Free for first-time visitors. Donations accepted for refreshments. ●●Jan 19 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Beethoven Bicentennial I. For further information, visit classicalmusicclubtoronto.org or contact John Sharpe at 416-898-2549 or torontoshi@sympatico.ca. Annual membership: $25(regular); (sr/ E. The ETCeteras Peripheral Vision with Lina Allemano 4. Jan 8 7:30pm Brodie West Quintet, 10pm Ertel/HarrettMcCarroll-Butler/Sorbara. Jan 9 10pm Collette Savard and the Savants. Jan 10 7:30pm Katherine Walker-Jones (music and performance art), 10pm Colin Fisher/Patrick Smith/Mike Gennaro/Andrew Furlong. Jan 11 6:30pm Constant Blue EP Release Party with Emma, 10pm Marilyn Lerner. Jan 12 7:30pm Nilan Perera’s Synaptic Circus Sundays, 10pm The Lina Allemano 4. Jan 14 7:30pm Ornate Music Presents, 10pm Mic Touching: Bit By Bit (Evan Cartwright), Karen Ng and Chris Wordon and Chris Wordon Stand-up. st). Free for first-time visitors. Donations accepted for refreshments. Competitions and Applications ●●DEADLINE Dec 01: Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition. Applications are being accepted now. Further information at mozartproject.ca. ●●DEADLINE Jan 06: Artists’ International Music & Dance Association. Lorenzo Bellini International Vocal Competition 2020. Audition dates: Jan 11 & 12, 2020. Registration and information: 416-250-1882 or torontoschoolofmusiccanada@yahoo.ca. ●●Jan 11 12:00noon: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Maritsa Brookes Concerto Competition. Von Kuster Hall, Music Building, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London. 519-661-3767. Free. ●●DEADLINE Feb 01: International Music Festival and Competition. All ages and levels. Piano, voice, guitar, harp, strings, woodwinds, brass, conducting, composition. Competition dates: Mar 21-Apr 5, 2020. For information: intermusic.ca or 905-604- 8854 or office@intermusic.ca. ●●DEADLINE Feb 18: Yip’s Music Festival Competition. Piano, violin, musical theatre and chamber music. Competition dates: Apr 18, 19, 25, 26, May 2, 3, 2020. For information: ymf.yips.com or 905-948-9477 x2211. thewholenote.com December 2019January 2020 | 73

Volumes 26-29 (2020- )

Volumes 21-25 (2015-2020)

Volumes 16-20 (2010-2015)

Volumes 11-15 (2004-2010)

Volumes 6 - 10 (2000 - 2006)

Volumes 1-5 (1994-2000)