In the jazz listings by Sophia Perlman Saxophone fans have a rare treat this month, with two world-renowned saxophone players performing in Toronto within a week. Jerry Bergonzi appears at the Montreal Bistro for three nights from February 2-4. The quartet is rounded out by local fixtures Brian Dickinson, Jim Vivian and Ted Warren. Warren and Dickinson will return to the Bistro, February 6, when David Liebman makes an appearance with Humber College Faculty, in advance of his concert at the college on February 8. lndie music award nominee Dave Young plays at the Rex February 23 and 24 with the Spencer Barefield Quartet. The awards will be handed out at The Docks on March 1, and Young's Quartet is nominated in the "Favourite Jazz Artist Group" alongside Sandro Dominelli, Ranee Lee & Oliver Jones, Joel Miller and the Brad Turner Trio. Elizabeth Shepherd may be a relative newcomer to the scene, but over February there's a wealth of opportunity to see this versatile pianist/vocalist. In addition to her weekly gig at Zazou, she will be appearing at a venue new to our listings, Commensal (Feb 3), The Red Guitar (Feb 12), Gate 403 (Feb 26). Personally, I'm also looking forward to performing alongside her as a part of Babes in Jazzland at the Montreal Bistro (Feb 8). Venue Spotlight: The Red Guitar Although vocalist Corry Sobol only opened this club a short while ago, it is already Elizabeth Shepherd gaining a reputation among music lovers and musicians alike as intimate and affordable. Located in Mirvish Village, The Red Guitar features live jazz Wednesday to Sunday, featuring solo piano on Sundays (this month Richard Whiteman, Elizabeth Shepherd and David Virelles) followed by a midnight student jam, and a special "Anything But Jazz Tuesdays" series. For Sobol, running the Red Guitar is a dream come true -- a room that she herself would feel comfortable singing in, as well as a venue that could feature music from right across the jazz spectrum - "and where ever else the idiom travels," she adds enthusiastically. Tim Posgate, local guitarist, programs the regular Wed-Sun jazz, while Sobol books the ABJ events. "It's a lot of work," she says, "but very exciting with so many talented musicians living in Toronto!" The Facts: The Red Guitar, 603 Markham St, www.theredguitar.com Music: Jazz and improvised Wed-Sun, Anything But Jazz Tues. Sets at 9 and 10:30 unless otherwise noted . Cover: plus tax unless otherwise indicated. Reservations (6pm-8.30pm): 416-913-4586. Menu: Appetizers, soups, pannini, mains, desserts, espresso, LLBO. Booking info: Jazz, Tim Posgate: bookings@theredguitar.com All else, Corry Sobol: corry@theredguitar.com. Due to time constraints, only artists who can presently be offered a booking will be contacted. All applications will be kept in mind for future dates. Other: Visa,Mastercard; no debit. Not wheelchair accessible. Dave Snider Music Centre 322 5 Yon ge St. PH (416) 4 8 3- 58 2 5 e Ma i I: s nid c rm us ic@ s nid c rmu s ic .co m www .s n id c rmu s ic .co m One of Toronto's Oldest Music Stores ... With The Best Selection of Pop, Jazz & Broadway Sheet Music in the city - For Beg inners and Professionals - Come in and browse over 25,000 sheet music publications. We have a wide array of Woodw ind, Brass, Keyboards, G uitars and Accessories. Music Lessons offered on site. BAND Stand by Merlin Williams It seems lately that the only thing I can rely on consistently is change. I was expecting to make my annual trip to the U.S. Navy Saxophone Symposium, and have wonderful things to report about how great the Navy band was - I didn' t go. Twelve hours drive, each way , by myself? Nope. I do have a trip south of the border planned though. I'll be attending the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show in Anaheim, one of the largest exhibits of musical instruments and sheet music in the world . I have a feeling it'll be like setting me loose in an immense toy store. I'll be sure to take pictures! I've written before about February being a great month to brush up on one's skills. Long & McQuade traditionally presents a series of clinics featuring prominent woodwind and brass artists during this month. I haven't seen any listings at press time, but it's worth giving them a call to find out what's going on. Speaking of clinics, Gary Armstrong Woodwinds just hosted a clinic with bassoonist Nadina Mackie Jackson in January --"The Bassoonist & the Mic" dealing with why we record, and how to prepare physically, mentally and practically for the process. Nadina also played several unaccompanied works for bassoon, to all our delight. The Toronto Wind Orchestra, led by music director Tony Gomes, presents Spiritual World - an inner exploration through the eyes of band composers. As is usual with TWO, the programming is eclectic and fascinating - outstanding but seldom-performed repertoire. Featured works include Fanfare for Band and Antiphonal Brass by Texan composer Fisher Tull; Prevailing Winds by the American composer Ned Rorem, a man equally well known for his words and music; Apotheosis of this Earth by the Czech-born composer Karel Husa; and Passing Bell by the late Warren Benson. The concert takes place at The RCM at 90 Croatia Street, 1 block west and south of Bloor & Dufferin, on Wed, February I at 8pm . (The TWO is also taking part in a reading of new wind works at Upper Canada College on February 4. Admission is free .) Other notable concerts this month include The U of T Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band on Feb. 3, the Hannaford Street Silver Band with guests autorickshaw on Feb. 5, the Mississauga Pops Concert Band on Feb. 12, and the Northdale Concert Band in a free concert at the Scarborough Civic Centre on Feb. 19 . If you're west of the city, you'll be interested in hearing the University of Western Ontario Symphonic Band on Feb. 22. If you miss that, the UWO Wind Ensemble is playing the following day. The Wellington Winds are presenting a Mozart Celebration on Feb. 26 and Mar. 5 in Waterloo and Kitchener respectively. Please make sure to check the complete listings in this month's WholeNote. Full details on these and many other concerts are there. And if like me, you don't mind taking in the occasional concert by one of those fine wind groups that have strings sitting in front of them, the TSO is performing Prokofiev's Symphony #5 in early February. That work has some of the finest wind writing I' ve ever heard. Woodwind doubler Merlin Williams is an Artist/Clinician for Jupiter Music Canada. If you would like an upcoming band event to be featured in the Bandstand column, feel free to contact Merlin by e-mail, merlinwilliams@sympatico.ca or phone 416-803-0275. 1~HARKNETT Musical Services Ltd. MUSIC BOOKS BEST SELECTION OF POPULAR & EDUCATIONAL MUSIC Piano - Guitar - Instrumental Mid-Town Store Brass - Woodwind - String Instruments - Guitar Buy direct from the Distributor 416-423-9494 AUIHORIZED DEALER FOR: 943 Eglinton Ave. E. (W. of Leslie) Armstrong, Artley, Besson, Benge (Next door to Robert I.owrey's Piano Experts) Boosey & Hawkes, Buffet, Conn Getzen, Jupiter, Keil worth, King Main Store Ibanez Guitars, Scher! & Ruth String Inst. www.harknettmusic.com 905-477-1141 2650 John Street ijust North of Steeles) WWW, THEWHOLENOTE.COM EBR UA RY
On OPERA by Christopher Haile January 30 sees the most anticipated event of the 2005-06 opera season with the opening of "Gotterdammerung", "The Twilight of the Gods", the final opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle. Running 5 hours 30 minutes with two intermissions, it is the longest single work in the standard repertoire. As with all the operas in this the first-ever Canadian Ring Cycle, Michael Levine will be the designer and COC General Director Richard Bradshaw will conduct. The task of stage direction falls to Tim Albery, the well-known British director and Toronto resident. Toronto audiences saw his "Peter Grimes" for the COC in 2003, his "Rodelinda" in 2005 and his production of the play "Nathan the Wise" for Soulpepper in 2004. An interview with Albery on January 6 discovered more about him and his approach to W agner' s work. Though directing . projects take him f' , to Europe and all h over the US, Albery lives in Toronto because that is where his Canadian wife, choreographer Patti Powell, works and where their f 2006 COURSES Opera 's most memorable characters - In quest of the Operatic Dons of Spain (8,i:1 M 12 wo-··1ct1 1·1 M-e r I VP.~: 2.00~. l)pcra Courses and Opera '1 ours with fain Scott 4 Tuesdays Feb 14 - Mar 7 2:30 · 4:30 pm or 7:00 · 9:00 pm at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club The Frve Key Th emes of Wagner's Rng 2006 TOURS 5"' Annual Verd ls Ila~ Chautauqua and Glmmerglass 5 afternoons July 16- 21 3:00 · 5 :00 pm In conjunction with Classie al Pursuits June 20- July 3 Aug 3 - Aug 10 EBRU ARY -
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