Volume 22 Issue 8 - May 2017

Beat by Beat | Mainly

Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz! Laura Marks Song Painter I first met and heard the painter and singer Laura Marks four or five years back at Lisa Particelli’s singer-friendly jam about which I’ve written before. The first time I heard Marks, my impression was that she had a nice voice but was timid. Since then, one or both of us, her voice or my ears, has matured, probably the latter. Listening more recently, I hear a cool confidence, a clear sense of purpose and an unmistakable character. That character is quaint and charming, introspective and sincere – as is demonstrated clearly on her debut album, 57 Minutes. The album is a Marks-illustrated work (Marks is primarily a visual artist), and it features the instrumental prowess of Chris Gale, Reg Schwager, Mark Kieswetter, Ross MacIntyre and Ben Riley, on sax, guitar, piano, bass and drums, respectively. Although Marks has only been playing jazz gigs about town for the last eight or nine years, her first public performance as a jazz singer happened in the early 70s at Toronto’s Poor Alex Theatre; her experiences with jazz in private reach even further back. “My dad was a jazz fan so we were exposed very early,” Marks explains. “He met Dizzy Gillespie on an airplane twice. The second time Dizzy said to him, ‘How are you, Mr. Marks?’ He remembered him.” One of the last tracks on the album is Body and Soul, a standard which all jazz musicians know, but which also happened to be an early influence on Marks: “I used to listen to the jazz programs on BOB BEN radio and when I heard Billie Holiday sing Body and Soul that was it. I started to sing jazz. I remember the moment and where I was in my parents’ house. I think I was 15.” Marks doesn’t have dazzling, virtuosic chops, but she is and has always been an artist: prone to exploring, and creating, and expressing, relentlessly and endlessly; no exceptions are made behind the microphone. I recommend you go to see her at Jazz Bistro on May 21. There’s something special about her performance, her laidback sensibility, that aforementioned character. I just love hearing her sing and I suspect you will too. Bob Ben is The WholeNote’s jazz listings editor. He can be reached at jazz@thewholenote.com. D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz) Ross MacIntyre (bass), Ben Riley (drums). May 23 8pm Peter Eldridge. May 24 8:30pm Sing!: Lovin’ That Jazz . May 25, 26 9pm Adi Braun & Andrew Beg: Guys & Dolls . May 28 7pm Marilyn Lightstone and David Warrack . May 31 8:30pm Peter Campbell: Tribute to Shirley Horn . 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+. May 5 HWO: Hammerton, Wagler & O’Neill . May 6 Avataar . May 12 Alysha Brilla & The Brillian Dollar Band . May 13 Kirk MacDonald Quartet . May 19 Dave Young Trio with Jerzy Kaplanek . May 20 Rudy Smith Quartet . May 26 Dave Woodhead’s Confabulation . May 27 Andrea Superstein Quartet . La Revolucion 2848 Dundas St. W. 416-766-0746 larev.webs.com Every Tue 9pm Duets with Peter Hill and featured guests. Every Fri Les Petits Noveaux. Every Sat 7:30pm Saturday Night Jazz (lineup TBA). Local Gest, The 424 Parliament St. 416-961-9425 Local Pub, The 396 Roncesvalles Ave. 416-535-6225 localpub.ca (full schedule) Lula Lounge 1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307 lula.ca (full schedule) May 3 8pm Lula/Panamania Big Band directed by Roberto Occhipinti . May 5 7:30pm Equilibrium Trio ; 10:30pm Yani Borrell & Dj Suave . May 6 10:30pm Moda Eterna & DJ Santiago Valasquez . May 10 7:30pm Zeynep Ozbilen “ZEST” CD Release . May 11 10:30pm Knockout . May 12 7:30pm Dominic Mancuso ; 10:30pm Charangon del Norte & DJ Suave . May 13 10:30pm Conjunto Lacalu & DJ Santiago Valasquez . May 14 10:30am Mother’s Day Brunch with the Jorge Lopez Quartet (adults)/(children). May 18 10pm Herbie FABULUS & Friends (adv)/(door). May 19 7:30pm Valeria Matzner Trio ; 10:30pm Café Cubano & DJ Suave . May 20 10:30pm Ricky Franco & The P-Crew Orchestra & DJ Santiago Valasquez . May 24 7:30pm On a Night Like This: Bob Dylan birthday tribute (adv)/(door). May 26 7:30pm Rowe and Edge Trio ; 10:30pm Papiosco y los Ritmicos & DJ Suave . Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club 951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440 manhattans.ca (full schedule) All shows: PWYC. May 4 Vittorio Mezza (piano) Trio with George Koller (bass), Ben Riley (drums). May 12 Avery Raquel (voice) Trio with Adrean Farrugia (piano), Ross MacIntyre (bass), Ben Riley (drums). Mây Cafe 876 Dundas St. W. 647-607-2032 maytoronto.com (full schedule) May 5 9pm Browntasaurus Records Showcase. May 19 9pm Nick Maclean Rehearsal Showcase. Mezzetta Restaurant 681 St. Clair Ave. W. 416-658-5687 mezzettarestaurant.com (full schedule) All shows: 9pm, (unless otherwise noted). May 3 Maureen Kennedy & Ben Bishop. May 10 Tres Kilos: Rhythm Dealers with Larry Lewis (guitar), Jonno Lightstone (clarinet, flute), Marcus Chonsky (percussion) . May 17 Lorne Lofsky & David Occhipinti. May 24 Bill McBirnie & Bernie Senensky. May 31 Daniela Nardi’s Espresso Manifesto. Monarch Tavern 12 Clinton St. 416-531-5833 themonarchtavern.com (full schedule) May 8 7:30pm Martin Loomer & His Orange Devils Orchestra . Morgans on the Danforth 1282 Danforth Ave. 416-461-3020 morgansonthedanforth.com (full schedule) All shows: 2pm-5pm. No cover. May 28 Lisa Particelli’s Girls’ Night Out East Jazz Jam. 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 Jim Heineman Trio. Every Thu 8pm Nothin’ But the Blues w/ Joe Bowden (drums) and featured vocalists. Every Fri, Sat 8:30pm N’awlins All Star Band. Every Sun 7pm Brooke Blackburn. Nice Bistro, The 117 Brock St. N., Whitby. 905-668-8839 nicebistro.com (full schedule) May 17 Zoe Chilco Duo .99 (dinner included). May 31 Larry Bond Duo .99 (dinner included). 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. May 2 In Concert & Conversation with Gene DiNovi. May 4 Ilana Waldston (voice) Jazz ‘n’ Laughs Trio with Stu Harrison (piano), Steve Wallace (bass). May 5 Canadian Jazz Quartet: Frank Wright (vibes), Ted Quinlan (guitar), Pat Collins (bass), Don Vickery (drums) feat. Chase Sanborn (trumpet, flugelhorn). May 6 Kevin Dempsey (drums) Trio with Dave Restivo (piano), Vaughan Misener (bass). May 11 Michael Dunston (voice) Trio with Gord Sheard (piano), Roberto Occhipinti (bass). May 12 Ron Davis (piano) Trio with Louis Simao (bass), Roger Travassos (drums). May 13 Brian Blain’s Blues Campfire with Roberta Hunt (piano), Alison Young (sax), Carrie Chesnutt (sax). May 18 Sherie Marshall (voice) Trio with Mike Cado (guitar), Ross MacIntyre (bass). May 19 Alexis Baro (trumpet, flugelhorn) Quartet with Jeremy 58 | May 1, 2017 - June 7, 2017 thewholenote.com

Ledbetter (piano), Yoser Rodriguez (bass), Amhed Mitchel (drums). May 20 Lorne Lofsky (guitar) Trio with Kieran Overs (bass), Barry Romberg (drums). May 25 Terra Hazelton (voice) Trio with Richard Whiteman (piano), Shawn Nykwist (sax). May 26 Hans Luchs (guitar) Quartet with Chris Madsen (sax), Clark Sommers (bass), Neil Hemphill (drums). May 27 Arlene Smith (voice) Trio with Mark Eisenman (piano), Steve Wallace (bass). Only Café, The 972 Danforth Ave. 416-463-7843 theonlycafe.com (full schedule) All shows: 8pm unless otherwise indicated. 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. May 6 Stefan Bauer Quartet. May 13 Dave Restivo Quartet. May 20 Norbert Botos (drums) Quartet with Kelly Jefferson (sax), Neil Swainson (bass), Lucian Gray (guitar). May 27 Hans Luchs 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) Every Wed Spy vs. Sly vs. Spy. Every Thu, Fri 10pm Reposadists Quartet: Tim Hamel (trumpet), Jon Meyer (bass), Jeff Halischuck (drums), Roberto Rosenman (guitar). Reservoir Lounge, The 52 Wellington St. E. 416-955-0887 reservoirlounge.com (full schedule). All shows: 9:45pm. Every Tue, Sat Tyler Yarema and his Rhythm. Every Wed The Digs. Every Thu Stacey Kaniuk, Mary McKay. Every Fri Dee Dee and the Dirty Martinis. Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, The 194 Queen St. W. 416-598-2475 therex.ca (full schedule) Call for cover charge info. May 1 6:30pm Rebecca Hennessey’s FOG; 9:30pm Mike Herriott’s Off the Road Big Band. May 2 6:30pm Trevor Giancola; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jazz Jam hosted by Chris Gale. May 3 6:30pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Zimzum. May 4 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:30pm Chris Wallace’s Many Names. May 5 4pm Hogtown Syncopators; 6:30pm Alex Dean Trio; 9:45pm NYC’S Marcello Pellitteri. May 6 12pm The Sinners Choir; 3:30pm Swing Shift Big Band; 7:30pm Justin Bacchus; 9:45pm Bruce Cassidy’s Anti-Gravity Machine. May 7 12pm Humber Community Music Student Recitals; 5pm Triple Bari Ensemble; 7pm Bugaloo Squad; 9:30pm Brooklyn’s Stefan Bauer. May 8 6:30pm Rebecca Hennessey’s FOG; 9:30pm Steve Farrugia’s Big City Big Band. May 9 6:30pm Trevor Giancola; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jazz Jam hosted by Chris Gale. May 10 6:30pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Terry Promane & Dave Young Octet. May 11 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:30pm Mexico’s A Love Electric. May 12 4pm Hogtown Syncopators; 6:30pm The A/C Unit; 9:45pm Bernie Senensky. May 13 12pm The Sinners Choir; 3:30pm Laura Hubert Group; 7:30pm Justin Bacchus; 9:45pm NYC’s John Stretch. May 14 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; 3:30pm Red Hot Ramble; 7pm Bugaloo Squad; 9:30pm Jacob’s Cattle. May 15 6:30pm Rebecca Hennessey’s FOG; 9:30pm York University Big Band. May 16 6:30pm Trevor Giancola; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jazz Jam hosted by Lucien Gray. May 17 6:30pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Denmark’s Rudy Smith with the Kieran Overs Quartet. May 18 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:30pm Denmark’s Rudy Smith with the Kieran Overs Quartet. May 19 4pm Hogtown Syncopators; 6:30pm The A/C Unit; 9:45pm Elmer Ferrer Jazz Fusion Band. May 20 12pm The Sinners Choir; 3:30pm Conor Gains; 7:30pm Justin Bacchus; 9:45pm Joe Bowden Sextet. May 21 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; 3:30pm Dr. Nick & The Rollercoasters; 7pm Bugaloo Squad; 9:30pm Justin Haynes’ Best Man. May 22 6:30pm Rebecca Hennessey’s FOG; 9:30pm Mike Malone & The Writers Jazz Orchestra. May 23 6:30pm Trevor Giancola; 9:30pm Dave Young Quintet. May 24 6:30pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Carissa Neufeld. May 25 6:30pm Kevin Quain; 9:45pm New York’s Joel Frahm with Turboprop. May 26 4pm Hogtown Syncopators; 6:30pm Vancouver’s Andrea Superstein; 9:45pm New York’s Joel Frahm with Turboprop. May 27 12pm The Sinners Choir; 3:30pm Mississauga Big Band; 7:30pm Justin Bacchus; 9:45pm Bob Brough Quartet. May 28 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band; 3:30pm Freeway Dixieland Band; 7pm Bugaloo Squad; 9:30pm Chicago’s Hans Luchs. May 29 6:30pm Rebecca Hennessey’s FOG; 8:30pm John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra. May 30 6:30pm Trevor Giancola; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jazz Jam hosted by Chris Gale. May 31 6:30pm Victor Bateman Trio; 9:30pm Chris Lesso’s Modus Factor. Salty Dog Bar & Grill, The 1980 Queen St. E. 416-849-5064 thesaltydog.ca (full schedule) Every Tue, Wed Jazz Night. Sauce on the Danforth 1376 Danforth Ave. 647-748-1376 sauceondanforth.com All shows: No cover. May 6 Stephen Stanley. May 13 Ted Peters. May 20 John Borra & Sam Ferrera. May 27 Tommy Hawk. Seven44 (Formerly Chick n’ Deli/The People’s Chicken) 744 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416-489-7931 seven44.com (full schedule) All shows: 7:30pm. Every Mon Big Band night. Tranzac 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137 tranzac.org 3-4 shows daily, various styles. Mostly PWYC. Every Mon 10pm Open Mic Mondays. Every Fri 5pm The Friends of Hugh Oliver (folk). This month’s shows include: May 2 10pm Peripheral Vision. May 7, 21 5pm Monk’s Music. May 9 10pm Michael Davidson. May 10, 31 7:30pm Brodie West Quintet. May 12 10pm Nick Mclean Quartet. May 14 10pm The Lina Allemano Four. May 16 10pm Ken McDonald. May 17 10pm Josh Cole Quartet. May 21 7:30pm Diane Roblin. May 26 10pm Ryan Driver. May 30 10pm Tanya Gill Quartet. E. The ETCeteras Competitions ●●Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM). OSM Manulife Competition, 2017 edition. Open to woodwinds, brass and voice. Offers over 0,000 in prizes and scholarships every year to talented young Canadian musicians. Competition takes place November 21-25. Information: 514-840-7400 x7415; osm.ca. Registration deadline: May 12, 2017. Galas and Fundraisers ●●May 10 6:00: VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto. VIVA! España! Gala Fundraising Dinner. Featuring music from Man of La Mancha and Spanish songs during the cocktail hour. Performers include VIVA!’s Chamber Choir, baritone Cairan Ryan, tenor William Ford, mezzo Rebecca Claborn and the voice and guitar duo of Laura Fernandez and Noah Zacharin. Arts & Letters Club of Toronto, 14 Elm St. 416-788-8482. 5. ●●May 25 9:00: Canadian Opera Company. Operanation. An array of interactive installations involving food, fashion, cocktails and visual art, including a live musical performance by rising young stars of the COC Ensemble Studio in collaboration with a contemporary artist. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. operanation.ca. 0. ●●May 31 8:00: Esprit Orchestra. Benefête Seven. An evening to benefit Esprit Orchestra. Includes wine, sweets and savouries. Guest artists: Krisztina Szabó, mezzo, and principal players from Esprit Orchestra. Cocktail attire. PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower, 18 York St., 26th floor. 416-815- 7887. 0 (patron); 5 (regular). ●●June 04 1:00-5:00: Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Face to Face and Fabulous. Reception, followed by luncheon and entertainment by violinist Aisslinn Nosky, the NSO Story Quartet and music director Bradley Thachuk. Fundraising event to benefit the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. The Pavilion, Trius Winery at Hillebrand, 1249 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake. 905-687- 4993 x221. 5. Lectures, Symposia ●●May 14 2:00: Classical Music Club of Toronto. Kurt Weill: Seven Deadly Sins. A selection of recordings relative to one of the early works of the great 20 th century composer. For information and location contact John Sharpe 416-898-2549. (annual membership fee); no charge for first-time visitors. Nominal donation accepted to cover cost of refreshments. ●●May 16 6:00: Music Gallery / Canadian Music Centre. All In: Creating Safer Spaces For Music. Facilitators Syrus Marcus Ware and Kira-Lynn Ferderber will examine gender, racial and accessibilty impacts on safety, then provide actionable advice. An educational, not discussion-based, format intended for venue owners/staff and presenters, but the public is welcome to attend. The Music Gallery, 197 John St. 416-204-1080. Free. VENUE CHANGE. New venue TBD. Call or check website. ●●May 22 10:00am-11:00am: Jewish Music Week. Sephardic Music: Medieval Roots. A presentation with ethnomusicologist Dr. Judith Cohen exploring what is – and isn’t – known about the music and musical life of the communities in medieval Spain. The Council House, 4700 Bathurst St. 416-638-4492. Free, ticket required. www.sephardicsongs.eventbrite.ca ●●May 23 10:00am–11:00am: Jewish Music Week. Nine Jews Who Changed Jazz. Using recorded examples, Larry Green of Jazz- FM’s Jazzology program introduces us to the music of nine jazz greats. Columbus Centre, Carrier Gallery, 901 Lawrence Ave. W. 416- 638-4492; www.jewishmusicweek.com. Free. ●●May 26 10:00am-11:00am: Jewish Music Week. Music of Canada’s Oldest Synagogue: The Spanish and Portuguese. Cantor Eyal Bitton talks about the melodies of Canada’s oldest congregation established 1768. The music of this synagogue reflects Canadian Jewish history and Sephardi and Ashkenazi influences. Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave. 416-638-4492; www.jewishmusicweek.com. Free. ●●May 29 7:30: Congregation Darchei Noam. Jewish Music and Musicians: The Life and Music of Irving Berlin. First of a three-part series of music and conversation with musicologist Mike Daley. 864 Sheppard Ave. W. 416- 638-4783. , for series (members); , for series (non-members). Register online: www.darcheinoam.ca and save . Also June 5 & 12. ●●June 05 7:30: Congregation Darchei Noam. Jewish Music and Musicians: Klezmer Music: Its Development and Relationship to Jazz. See May 29 listing. Second of a threepart series. Masterclasses ●●May 06 1:00-3:00: Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir. Guest Masterclass with Soprano Joanne Lunn. Focusing on baroque vocal technique. Open to the public. Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-9562 x241. Participants (includes concert ticket); auditors free (donations appreciated). ●●May 27 12:00 noon: SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival. Masterclass with New York Voices. Little Trinity Church, 425 King St. E. 416-694-6900. or day-pass. thewholenote.com May 1, 2017 - June 7, 2017 | 59