family), I saw wonderful
family), I saw wonderful and important things happening: I saw people going up on stage without – or despite – performance anxiety; I saw professors and professionals mingling with students and novices, and perhaps most importantly, I saw an audience offering unconditional support to whomever was on stage. Since GNO left Chalkers Pub after the very last Wednesday jam on Canada Day this year, GNO has been on hiatus. But at the end of July, during her monthly session at Morgans on the Danforth (on the last Sunday of every month, 2 to 5pm) Particelli finally announced that GNO would be returning weekly, this time on Tuesdays from 7 to 11pm, at 120 Diner on Church (Ori Dagan can be thanked for that booking). Unfortunately, there will be no longer be a drummer in the house band – and Louis Sr.’s services will be missed – but aside from that, everything will be the same. The same great bassist, the same great pianist. The same great vibes. And the same amazing community. Particelli is excited about it, as we all are. “We look forward to seeing everyone in September,” she said. Laura Swankey is the kind of singer who will offer up variations so tastefully you could swear they were in the published melody. I first encountered her last fall when she attended a monthly jam at Habits Gastropub hosted by drummer Harrison Vetro. When I went on stage, somebody called Stella by Starlight, somebody else counted it in, and we were off. Swankey began “The soooong the robin sings ....” And before the end of the head, I was a fan. Since then, I’ve attended a bunch of her shows, and found that in addition to playing straight ahead gigs – in which she will play a mix of standards and originals – she also performs “free music” (the quotation marks are there because all music, free music included, has parameters, and I am a little skeptical of the notion that free music is all that separate from other music). At gigs where she joins and is joined on stage by people like Emily Denison (trumpet), Christine Duncan (voice), Andrew Furlong (bass) and others, music is played that I, to be frank, don’t fully understand. But I like it. Patterns do emerge, and my brain, being conditioned and steeped in tonal music, tries to make tonal sense of it; but ultimately, that isn’t the point. At one such show, though, Swankey surprised me with a wonderful rendition of Smile; she sang it slowly, sleepily, over a drone created by the guitar, with the trumpet playing a challenging counterline. It was one of the most engaging live performances I’ve seen in this city. A description on paper would not do it justice. You’ll have to go and check her out in the clubs. And luckily, this month, you can! Swankey will be performing a few days this month. On Saturday, September 12 at the CMC (Canadian Music Centre), she will be participating in the one-year-anniversary celebration of OPUS:TESTING, a bi-monthly composition workshop that started in June 2014. Swankey describes the event: “Six break-out groups from different disciplines [will come] together for the day to create some kind of improvisation art presentation.” The presentation is happening between 6 and 7pm. The next evening, she’ll be playing more straight ahead music at Gate 403 with Connor Walsh on bass and Leonard Patterson on drums - a chordless trio, in which the horn is a voice. And finally, on September 16, Swankey will be appearing with The Wind and the Water, an a cappella quartet which will be performing music by Rachel Cardiello, as part of the Dead Dad’s Club premiere. The group also includes Aimee Butcher, Belinda Corpuz and Danielle Knibbe. “These three women are fantastic musicians and I love singing and creating with them,”, Swankey said. Details are forthcoming on The Wind and the Water’s Facebook page. These gigs will be coming on the heels of Swankey’s return from Banff, where she worked with Billy Hart, Ingrid Jensen, Vijay Iyer, Tyshawn Sorey and many more. I think we can be confident that the “amazing and life-changing” experiences she had in Banff will be reflected in her September gigs. I have always enjoyed the types of singers who use their voices with Jazz Bistro, The 251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299 jazzbistro.ca September 1 8pm Jill Peacock (voice) Quartet with Adrean Farrugia (piano), Pat Collins (bass), 4 th member TBA . September 2 8pm Hump Day Blues with Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley. September 3, 4, 5 8pm(Thurs)/9pm(Fri, Sat) Howie Silverman (piano) Quartet with David Caldwell (sax), Steve Wallace (bass), Don Vickery (drums) (Thurs, Fri)/(Sat). September 6 7pm Arash Behzadi CD Release . September 9 8pm Hump Day Blues with Scott Cushnie – Professor Piano . September 11, 12 9pm Levon Ichkhanian (guitar) Quartet with David Atkinson (keys), Pat Kilbride (bass), Wilson Laurencin (drums) . September 16 8pm Hump Day Blues with Jack de Keyser . September 17, 18, 19 9pm Joe Sealy: The Nearness of You (Thurs)/(Fri, Sat). September 20 7pm The Sondheim Project: Alex Samaras (voice), Bobby Hsu (sax), Adrean Farrugia (piano), James McEleney (bass), Morgan Childs (drums) . September 22 8pm Lily Frost residency . September 23 8pm Hump Day Blues with Harrison Kennedy . September 27 7pm Whitney Ross-Barris (voice) with Mark Keiswetter (piano), Ross MacIntyre (bass), Morgan Childs (drums) . September 29 8pm Andra Henderson . September 30 8pm Sugar Brown CD release . Jazz Room, The Located in the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo. 226-476-1565 kwjazzroom.com (full schedule) All shows: 8:30pm-11:30pm unless otherwise indicated. Attendees must be 19+. September 4 Larry Larson’s Jazz Guys . September 5 Kieran Overs’ Eleven . September 11 Jaron Freeman-Fox and the Opposite of Everything (Vancouver) . September 12 Andrew Downing’s “Otterville” . September 18 Dave Wiffen Quartet . September 19 A Sondheim Jazz Project . September 25 Monsoon . September 26 Peter Hum Quintet (Ottawa) CD release – “Alpha Moment” . September 27 4pm Special Sunday Matinee: Dave Young Quintet . Joe Mama’s 317 King St. W 416-340-6469 joemamas.ca Every Tue 6pm Jeff Eager. Every Wed 6pm Thomas Reynolds & Geoff Torrn. Every Thurs 9pm Blackburn. Every Fri 10pm The Grind. Every Sat 10pm Shugga. Every Sun 6:30pm Organic: Nathan Hiltz (guitar); Bernie Senensky (organ); Ryan Oliver (sax), Morgan Childs (drums). KAMA 214 King St. W. 416-599-5262 kamaindia.com (full schedule) All shows: 5pm-8pm. La Revolucion 2848 Dundas St. W 416-766-0746 restaurantlarevolucion.com (full schedule) Local Gest, The 424 Parliament St. 416-961-9425 Lula Lounge 1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307 lula.ca (full schedule) September 11 7:30pm Plakaso Free. September 17 7:30pm Jordana Talsky Trio + Fern Lindzon Trio ; 9:30pm Mar Aberto: Passage on an open sea of sound . September 18 7:30pm Carlos Cardozo Trio Free. September 24 7:30pm Oh Symphronica Music & Words of Canada ; 10pm 47SOUL .September 25 Adis Rodriguez Quartet Free. September 30 Santeries + Picadillo (Spain) Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club 951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440 manhattans.ca (full schedule) All shows: PWYC. September 2 John Zadro. September 5, 20 David Hollingshead (5th with Alyssa Dupuis). September 6, 17 Stan Chang. September 8, 22 Brad Halls September 9, 23 Jokela & Vogan (9th with Charlie Cooley). September 10 Karyn Kirkwood Trio. September 12 Soulphonic. September 15, 29 Thomas Hammerton. September 24 Joni Nehrita Duo. Mezzetta Restaurant 681 St. Clair Ave. W 416-658-5687 mezzettarestaurant.com (full schedule) All shows: 9pm, (unless otherwise noted). Monarch Tavern 12 Clinton St. 416-531-5833 themonarchtavern.com (full schedule) September 14 7:30pm Martin Loomer & His Orange Devils Orchestra . Monarchs Pub At the Eaton Chelsea Hotel 33 Gerrard St. W. 416-585-4352 monarchspub.ca (full schedule) All shows: 8pm-midnight. No cover. September 2 Sean Meredith-Jones. September 3 The Gary Kendall Band. September 9 The Ault Sisters. September 10 JW-Jones. September 16 Fergus Hambleton. September 17 Harpdog Brown. September 23 The Patrick Panus Quartet. September 24 Jack de Keyzer. September 30 Brownman’s tribute to Freddie Hubbard. 46 | Sept 1 - Oct 7, 2015 thewholenote.com
the same improvisational spirit as any good horn player – Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughan, and company. Swankey is in that company. She, like many singers, (including the aforementioned Sheila Jordan, who studied with Lennie Tristano) studied with at least one instrumentalist; during her time at U of T, she studied with saxophonist, Toronto jazz scene fixture and Shuffle Demon Mike Murley. Swankey describes those lessons as “Amazing! I felt very connected to him as a person and the way he teaches and approaches his playing. Mike is a very lyrical and soulful player.” One more gig I need to mention. Sadly, I won’t be present at either of the two listed performances – at the Jazz Bistro September 28 and the KW Jazz Room September 19 – of saxophonist and arranger Bobby Hsu’s A Sondheim Jazz Project. But I feel the need to convince as many people as possible to go in my place. In addition to the fantastic musicianship of the band, and the tremendous voice of Alex Samaras, Hsu is doing something important with this group. It’s a given that a lot of jazz standards have their origins in Broadway musicals (many of which failed, despite the success of the songs that later rose from the ashes). What Hsu’s group is doing, in bringing songs into the jazz world (from a composer whose work is not nearly present enough in it), is a natural extension of the tradition we all already knew existed. A Sondheim Jazz Project does it with dedication and love, and it’s very entertaining. I cannot wait to see you all in the clubs this fall. Bob Ben is The WholeNote’s jazz listings editor. He can be reached at jazz@thewholenote.com. Morgans on the Danforth 1282 Danforth Ave. 416-461-3020 morgansonthedanforth.com (full schedule) All shows: 2pm-5pm. No cover. September 27 Lisa Particelli’s ‘Girls Night Out’ Jazz Jam. Musideum 401 Richmond St. W., Main Floor 416-599-7323 musideum.com (full schedule) September 1 8pm Russ Nerwich . September 20 8pm The Steve Koven (piano) Trio with Rob Clutton (bass), Anthony Michelli (drums) . September 23 8pm Fawn Fritzen . Nawlins 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 Jim Heineman Trio. Every Thu 8pm Nothin’ But the Blues w/ guest vocalists. Every Fri 8:30pm All Star Bourbon St. Band. Every Sat 6:30pm Sam Heinman; 9pm All Star Bourbon St. Band. Every Sun 7pm Brooke Blackburn. Nice Bistro, The 117 Brock St. N., Whitby. 905-668-8839 nicebistro.com (full schedule) Old Mill, The 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-236-2641 oldmilltoronto.com The Home Smith Bar: No reservations. No cover. food/drink minimum. All shows: 7:30pm-10:30pm September 4 Fern Lindzon (piano, voice) Trio with George Koller (bass), Nick Fraser (drums). September 5 Adrean Farrugia (piano) Trio with Pat Collins (bass), Ernesto Cervini (drums). September 10 Bob DeAngelis (clarinet, sax), Trio with Danny McErlain (piano), Ron Johnston (bass). September 11 John MacMurchy (sax, flute) Trio with Mark Kieswetter (piano), Ross MacIntyre (bass). September 12 Lina Allemano (trumpet) Trio with Ryan Driver (voice, piano), Rob Clutton (bass). September 17 Jesse Barksdale (guitar) Trio with Jon Meyer (bass), Ethan Ardelli (drums). September 18 Broadsway: Heather Bambrick (voice), Julie Michels (voice), Diane Leah (piano, voice). September 19 Dave Caldwell (sax, flute) Quartet with Mike Allen (guitar), Pat Collins (bass), Don Vickery (drums). September 24 Sophia Perlman (voice) Trio with Adrean Farrugia (piano), Mark Cashion (bass). September 25 John Alcorn (voice) Trio with David Restivo (piano), Steve Wallace (bass). September 26 Mark Kelso (drums vocals) Trio with Brian Dickinson (piano), Kieran Overs (bass). Paintbox Bistro 555 Dundas St. E. 647-748-0555 paintboxbistro.ca (full schedule) Pilot Tavern, The 22 Cumberland Ave. 416-923-5716 thepilot.ca All shows: 3:30pm. No cover. September 5 Alexis Baro (trumpet, flugelhorn) Quintet CD RELEASE PARTY with Stan Fomin (piano), Yoser Rodriguez (bass), Jeff King (sax), Amhed Mitchel (drums). September 12 Steve Holt (piano) Quartet with Kirk MacDonald (sax), Kieran Overs (bass), Barry Romberg (drums). September 19 The Travelling Wall-Baries: Alex Dean (bari sax), Shirantha Beddage (bari sax), Chris Gale (bari sax), Jeff McLeod (organ), Andy Scott (guitar), Morgan Childs (drums). September 26 Sugar Daddies. Poetry Jazz Café 224 Augusta Ave. 416-599-5299 poetryjazzcafe.com (full schedule) All shows: 9pm Reposado Bar & Lounge 136 Ossington Ave. 416-532-6474 reposadobar.com (full schedule) September 2 9:30pm Spy vs. Sly vs. Spy: James Robertson (guitar), Sly Juhas (drums), Michael Herring (bass). September 3, 4 10pm Reposadists Quartet: Tim Hamel (trumpet), Jon Meyer (bass), Jeff Halischuck (drums), Roberto Rosenman (guitar), with Sandy Alexander (voice). Reservoir Lounge, The 52 Wellington St. E. 416-955-0887 reservoirlounge.com (full schedule). Every Tue 9:45pm Tyler Yarema and his Rhythm. Every Wed 9:45pm Bradley and the Bouncers. Every Thu 9:45pm Mary McKay. Every Fri 9:45pm Dee Dee and the Dirty Martinis. Every Sat 9:45pm Tyler Yarema and his Rhythm. Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, The 194 Queen St. W. 416-598-2475 therex.ca (full schedule) Call for cover charge info. September 1 6:30pm Harley Card Quintet; 9:30pm Chris Gale Hosts Classic Rex Jam. September 2 6:30pm Richard Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Steve Amirault’s 70s Project. September 3 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:45pm Manuel Valera (NYC) & Groove Square. September 4 4pm Hogtown Syncopators feat. Terra Hazleton; 6:30pm Sara Dell Group; 9:45pm Manuel Valera (NYC) & Groove Square. September 5 12pm The Sinners Choir; 3:30pm Chris Hunt Tentet; 7:30pm The Bacchus Collective; 9:45pm NYC’S Arthur Sadowsky. September 6 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; 3:30pm Club Django; 7pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Ethio-Jazz Project. September 7 6:30pm U of T Jazz Ensembles; 9:30pm Brooklyn’s Progger. September 8 6:30pm Harley Card Quintet; 9:30pm Chris Gale Hosts Classic Rex Jam. September 9 6:30pm Richard Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Steve Cole. September 10 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:45pm New York’s Joel Frahm & Dan Loomis with Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop. September 11 4pm Hogtown Syncopators feat. Terra Hazleton; 6:30pm Sara Dell Group; 9:45pm New York’s Joel Frahm & Dan Loomis with Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop. September 12 12pm Laura Marks & Friends; 3:30pm Paul Reddick - Blues; 7:30pm The Bacchus Collective; 9:45pm Eric St. Laurent Group. September 13 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; 3:30pm Dr. Nick & The Rollercoasters; 7pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Jacob’s Cattle. September 14 6:30pm U of T Jazz Ensembles; 9:30pm Mike Malone & The Writers Jazz Orchestra. September 15 6:30pm Harley Card Quintet; 9:30pm Chris Gale Hosts Classic Rex Jam. September 16 6:30pm Richard Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Andrew Boniwell Group. September 17 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:45pm Annual Birthday Tribute to John Coltrane -- Pat LaBarbera & Kirk MacDonald Quintet. September 18 4pm Hogtown Syncopators feat. Terra Hazleton; 6:30pm Sara Dell Group; 9:45pm Annual Birthday Tribute to John Coltrane -- Pat LaBarbera & Kirk MacDonald Quintet. September 19 12pm Danny Marks & Friends; 3:30pm Jerome Godboo; 7:30pm The Bacchus Collective; 9:45pm Annual Birthday Tribute to John Coltrane -- Pat LaBarbera & Kirk MacDonald Quintet. September 20 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; 3:30pm Red Hot Ramble; 7pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Three Blind Mice. September 21 6:30pm U of T Jazz Ensembles; 9:30pm Dave Young / Terry Promane Octet. September 22 6:30pm Harley Card Quintet; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jazz Jam - Hosted by Humber College Faculty Ensemble. September 23 6:30pm Richard Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Nick Fraser Four. September 24 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:30pm Dave Neill CD Quintet. September 25 4pm Hogtown Syncopators feat. Terra Hazleton; 6:30pm Sara Dell Group; 9:45pm Mike Downes Quartet. September 26 12pm Danny Marks & Friends; 3:30pm Laura Hubert Group; 7:30pm The Bacchus Collective; 9:45pm Mike Downes Quartet. September 27 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; 3:30pm Freeway Dixieland Band; 7pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Peter Hum (Ottawa). September 28 6:30pm U of T Jazz Ensembles; 8:30pm John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra. September 29 6:30pm Harley Card Quintet; 9:30pm Danjam Orchestra (New York). September 30 6:30pm Richard Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Danjam Orchestra (New York). Salty Dog Bar & Grill, The 1980 Queen St. E. 416-849-5064 (full schedule) Sauce on the Danforth 1376 Danforth Ave. 647-748-1376 sauceondanforth.com All shows: No cover. Every Mon 9pm The Out Of Towners: Dirty Organ Jazz. Every Tue 6pm Julian Fauth. Seven44 (Formerly Chick n’ Deli/The People’s Chicken) 744 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416-489-7931 seven44.com (full schedule) September 7 7:30pm Advocats Big Band No cover. September 14 7:30pm The Big City Big Band No cover. September 21 7:30pm George Lake Big Band No cover. September 28 7:30pm Mega City Swing Band. Stori Aperitivo 95 King St. E 416-361-0404 stori.ca (full schedule) Toni Bulloni 156 Cumberland St. 416-967-7676 tonibulloni.com (full schedule) No cover. Saturday shows: 9pm. food/ drink minimum. Sunday shows: 6pm. food/drink minimum. Tranzac 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137 tranzac.org (full schedule) 3-4 shows daily, various styles. Mostly PWYC. Every Mon 10pm Open Mic Mondays. Every Thurs 7:30pm Bluegrass Thursdays: Houndstooth. Every Fri 5pm The Foolish Things (folk). This month’s shows include: September 1 10pm Peripheral Vision. September 4 7:30pm Tania Gill, with special guests Lina Allemano, Rob Clutton, Nico Dann. September 6, 20 5pm Monk’s Music. September 8 7:30pm Aurochs; 10pm Bedroom. September 13 10pm The Lina Allemano Four. September 15 10pm The Ken McDonald Quartet. September 16, 30 7:30pm Tom Richards Quartet. September 25 10pm The Ryan Driver Sextet. September 29 10pm Nick Fraser Presents. thewholenote.com Sept 1 - Oct 7, 2015 | 47
