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Volume 9 Issue 6 - March 2004

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JAZZ NOTES by Jim

JAZZ NOTES by Jim Galloway In Canada the dust has settled on this year's jazz poll activity and the awards have been distributed. Jazz polls are almost as old as Downbeat Magazine which was first published in 1934 and I thought it might be interesting to look back and do a little "pollen" count. Gone, but not quite forgotten is Metronome Magazine, which used to vie with Downbeat for the cachet ofbeir,g the most popular jazz mag. . But jazz polls were not confined to music publications and in the 1940s Esquire Magazine added an annual jazz poll to its, for the day, spicy pages. Louis Armstrong won the first Esquire Jazz Band Poll for trumpet, Coleman Hawkins for tenor sax and Billie Holiday was vocalist of the year. This led to the first jazz concert ever given at the Metropolitan Opera House. (It was recorded, but not released in the States, eyentually being made available years later in Japan.) Plnyboy Magazine got into the act as Well, but on a few occasions came up with some "interesting" winners ~ this was a jazz poll remember- such as Henry Mancini for bandleader, 1964-66, Barbra Streisand, female vocalist, 1965-66 and my favourite, Peter, Paul and Mary in the vocal group category, 1964-66! It is less widely known that in 1930 the tabloid New York Daily Mirror began running a contest to poll its readers about which was the most popular radio orchestra. Enter Ozzie Nelson -yes, Ricky Nelson's father.At the time, Ozzie Nelson led one of the most popular swing and dance bands in the New York area - Downbeat praised the band for its "subtle suggestion of melodic beauty and rhythmic patterns" - and in 1930 he had his own radio show. The radio station did its best to promote him in the Daily Mirror poll, but he was up against the nationally famous Rudy Vallee as well as the Mason's New Orleans All-Stars. self-proclaimed "King of Jazz", Paul A born entertainer, he is not shy Whiteman. about singing a few numbers as Ozzie's manager found out that well although Chicago born dealers received credit for unsold Marilyn Mellor will handle most papers by returning only the front of.the vocal chores. Her promo pages of the unbought copies. Now, material quotes Billy Connolly as the ballot forms were on the back saying she is "stupendous." page of the Mirror, so Nelson's Backing Steve and Marilyn will manager managed to get his hands be some of our leading local mu~ .on hundreds of back pages f Jm sicians. uns~ld copies and sent in tb Jal- Also in a concert setting, the lots. Guess who won. As a 1 ;sult R b M C 11 T t t hi h th b d land d . . . o c onne en e w c e an e some prestigious en- · . k . 1 r 1 hi h gagements and a series of national 1fisil eeprnthg aTre a ive Y g thpro- . , e on e oronto scene ese network broadcasts. Ozzie Nelsons da ill b c tu · d M h b d d I All f . ys w e ,ea re on arc an was ma e. a matter O oprn- 8th at the Sounds Of Toronto . ion. Jazz Series at Ontario Science MARCH AIRS Centre. The band has the unmistakable McConnell sound in its beautifully crafted arrangements and a formidable array of soloists. At the tail end of March, 30th and 31st respectively, if you feel like a small expedition to . the Markham Theatre or the Heritage Theatre in Brampton you can catch Cleo Laine and John Dankworth. Nowadays Cleo has the higher profile- - my The month gets off to a busy start beginning with perennial favourites, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band making their annual pilgrimage to Toronto, appearing at Massey Hall on the 5th of March. The band gets its name from Preservation Hall, one of the jazz landmarks in New Orleans and has been referred to by one music critic as "a bridge across the ages -a link between the present day and the heyday of traditional New Orleans music." Not a suspension bridge I might add, but a traditional structure designed to carry us across the years to days. when the music called jazz was a lot easier to defrne. Some of the early creators of this style of music are still with the group whose ages range from around 30 to late 80s. A remark made to me by a fellow musician some years ago when Ii.earing a version of the PHJB summed it up quite well. "It's a nostalgic journey listening to them. " So is a visit to Massey Hall. The following night the Classic Jazz Society, who are to be admired for their passionate dedication to early jazz, will present another evening at Estonian House on Broadview Avenue, this time featuring Steve and Marilyn Mellor. Steve. used to play clarinet in the Max Collie band in England and subsequently in Phil Dave Snider Music Centre 3225 Yonge St. PH (416) 483-5825 eMarl : s n i derm usic@snidermusi c.corn www. sn ide rmusic .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. We have a wide array of Woodw.ind, Brass, Keyboards, Guitars and Accessories. Music Lessons offered on site. Rob McConnell punning mind makes me think of the song "There Is Nothing Like A Dame" - but I can remember many years ago hearing Johnny, (not John) Dankworth and his Orchestra in London when he was the star and Cleo was the band singer - but a really good one. Happy (live) listening. In the Listings ... pages 52,53 At time of press, the winners of the National Jazz A wards have not been announced (making it somewhat difficult to make a comprehensive list as to where and when they'll be playing around town this month). Check out their website at www. nationaljazzawards.com for a list of all the winners and nominees. Both the hosts for this year's awards are giving concerts in Toronto this month - Ranee Lee appears at the Glenn Gould Studio on March 13 d1, and Denzel Sinclaire appears at Top 0' the Senator, March 18 1 ' - 21" Nominated in several categories is Vancouver based trombonist, pianist and composer, Hugh Fraser, who plays at Top O' the Senator March 301' through April 3,d with his "Toronto Quintet" - Perry White, Don Thompson, Phil Dwyer and Ter.ry Clarke. Not only have saxophonist Mike Murley and guitarist David Occhipinti both been nominated for the jazz awards, but their new C. D. "Duolo;;ue" has been nominated for best Traditional Jazz Album at this year's Juno Mike Murley Awards in Ed!ronton. The two of them play at Rhodes Restaurant, along with bassist Andrew Downing, March 6dl. One ofMurley's other projects - Metalwood, is nominated for a Juno in the "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" category. And the Rex is featuring two award winners of yet a different sort this month - Raoul and the Big Time (March 5) and Godboo and Rotundo (March 20) are recipients of the Toronto Blues Society's Maple Blues Awards. Sophia Perlman WWW .THEWHOLENOTE.COM MARCH 1 - APRIL 7 2004

Page·aiitry & Processions Sunday, March 14, 2004, 3 p.m. Jane Mallett Theatre· Richard Struass' Fest Musik der Stadt Wein sets the stage as James Curnow, the distinguished American composer and band director leads the HSSB is a programme of musical pageantry and grandeur. Featured works will include Patrick Cardy's Kalenda Maya and Curnow's own Trittico. This event will also feature the HSSB's second call for compositions in the form of a march. Four finalists will be chosen and these works will receive their premier performances. A distinguished panel of Canadian musicians w ill award cash prizes from the concert stage. Call the St. Lawrence Centre Box Office at 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754, or book on-line at www.stlc.com www.hannafordbarid.com "'"'' """-' .. (.X."'~ ,_,,~.:>•m:-.,-,.,..:u:? torontoa rtscouncil ........................... ...,. YAMil,~· Yamaha Canada Iii Music ltd. - Long&McQuade Musica11nstuments L~i:_!l:.ll.V ~OC.11"\..."!f!:;:ri,1 Tiu: SOCAN F()/111d11tio11 /11 Fmufotim, SOCAN William Littler, The TorontoStar Deloitte & Touche Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada July 3-July 16, 2004 Programs available in piano, violin, cello, flute, harp, guitar, recorder, Suzuki Teacher Training, Adult lessons, Teen Program, Music Theatre Production "Ruddigore;' Young Adult and so much more ... For piano teachers and independent learners: Mastering the Piano©: Beginnings to Artistry (formerly the Complete Piano Pedagogy Program) by Carole Bigler and Valery Lloyd-Watts Part I (revised}: Basic Tools for Mastering the Piano July S-9, 2004 In just one week you will learn every strategy you need to become a successful piano teacher, performer or both. Whether you are just beginning or have had many years of experience, · you will learn proven procedures and techniques that will transform your performance and/or teaching. Part II (revised): On the Path to Mastering the Piano July 12-July 16 This section emphasizes specifically designed procedures and strategies to make the learning of challenging repertoire more accessible and enjoyable. Included are the Bigler-Lloyd-Watts Music Learning Cycle ( ear, eye, hand and mind) applied to individual learning styles plus proven strategies for mastery in the Elements in Creating an Authentic and Compelling Musical Performance©. MORE THAN MUSIC 275 Ontario Street, Suite 306, Kingston ON K7K 2X5 TEL: 613-542-1486 • FAX: (613) 542-7550 EMAIL: mtm@kingston.net .... Additional information is available online at www.morethanmusic.com. BIGLER-LLOYD-WATTS ·---··-·-·-·-··-·······-·········-----····-·--·---···-······ ···-····· .. ... an innovative approach to learning through music MARCH 1 - APRIL 7 2004 WWW,THEWHOLENOTE .COM 25

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