JAZZ/BLUES/STREET ART
JAZZ/BLUES/STREET ART Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz! School’s Back So Time to Play! COLIN STORY It’s September, and, for students and faculty members of the Toronto jazz community, it’s time to head back to school. While not all who play jazz in Toronto teach or study, the scene is still very much tied to the academic calendar, and, as the pervasive humidity of summer gives way to the first crisp whispers of autumn, everyone is suddenly back in town, venues return to their regular post-festival-season programming, and a variety of new musical ventures are suddenly at hand. September heralds the coming of a new artistic year, and, in the spirit of yearly reassessment and rejuvenation, September prompts the jazz community to undertake new projects. Despite the persistent sentiment that performance opportunities for jazz musicians are shrinking by the minute, it is reassuring that the past few years in Toronto have seen new jazz programming efforts in festivals, clubs and other venues. These larger efforts reflect the ideals found, at the best of times, in post-secondary music programs: namely, that new opportunities and resources should be developed not for the gains of the individual, but for the betterment of the community. TUJF: One of the best examples of this community spirit comes in the form of the Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival, now in its fourth year (having had its inaugural run in 2015), running from September 4 to 8. Helmed by David M.J. Lee, Dave Holla and Eunsang Edwin Yu – all of whom attended post-secondary jazz programs in Toronto – the festival’s mandate is to “bring attention to the younger generation of musicians” in Toronto, with an emphasis on musicians currently enrolled in (or recently graduated from) post-secondary music programs at the University of Toronto, York University and Humber College. This mission is commendable, as it can take a considerable amount of time for young jazz acts to establish themselves and book the larger shows necessary to the process of audience development; by programming a number of these acts together, the TUJF has created both a valuable opportunity for musicians and a compelling package for audiences who, in other circumstances, might not connect with these performers for several years. With main festival grounds at Mel Lastman Square and additional performances at Jazz Bistro, Memorial Hall, and The Frog: A Firkin Pub, all of the TUJF performances and masterclasses are open to the public and free to attend. In addition to performances from young musicians, Toronto jazz mainstays Mike Downes and Larnell Lewis are also playing with their respective bands. (Both Downes and Lewis, it should be noted, are also prominent jazz educators, and are on faculty at Humber College.) In addition to these performances, highlights from the festival include The Anthology Project, playing at 8:30pm on September 6, guitarist Luan Phung, playing with his quintet at 6pm on September 7, and Montreal pianist Marilou Buron, whose sextet will be playing at 6pm on September 8. Other notable attractions, according to the 2018 festival map: food trucks, a VIP section, and multiple bouncy castles. Check out listings in this issue of The WholeNote and tujazz.com for full schedule and additional information. Kensington Market Jazz: September will also feature the third annual edition of the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, another relatively new enterprise started by local musicians looking to fill a gap in pre-existing jazz programming. Led by Molly Johnson, Ori Dagan, Genevieve Marentette, and Céline Peterson, the KMJF will take place from September 14 to 16, with a large number of different artists in various formats, from solo pianists (including Nancy Walker, Robi Botos and Ewen Farncombe) and guitarists (such as Margaret Stowe, Harley Card and David Occhipinti) to full big bands (including the John MacLeod Orchestra, the Brian Dickinson Jazz Orchestra and the Toronto Jazz Orchestra), with all manner of acts in between. One of the most interesting aspects of the KMJF is its engagement with Kensington Market businesses in the creation of new performance spaces: while many shows will be taking place at venues that present music throughout the year, including Poetry Jazz Café, The Heavyweights Brass Band return to this year's Kensington Market Jazz Festival. Supermarket and LOLA, a large number of shows will be held at businesses that are not regular music venues. Some, like the coffee shop Pamenar and the Hotbox Lounge and Shop, are venues that do host live events, although they do not usually present jazz. Other businesses, like the discount suit shop Tom’s Place, are functioning as special venues specifically for the festival. Beyond the shows previously mentioned, highlights include Joanna Majoko, playing at 1pm on September 15, Tania Gill and Friends, playing at 5pm (also on September 15), and Anh Phung, who will be playing at 6pm on September 16. Please check out listings in this issue and kensingtonjazz.com for full schedule – and please note that ticketed events are cash only (although the festival features both free and ticketed shows). Apart from new programming at emergent jazz festivals, September sees the return of post-secondary ensembles to the Toronto club scene, with representation from U of T, York and Humber: U of T jazz ensembles resume their weekly slot on Mondays at 6pm at The Rex, the Humber College Faculty Jazz Jam will be taking place at 9:30pm on September 18 (also at The Rex), and the York Jazz Ensemble will be 50 | September 1 – October 7, 2018 thewholenote.com
performing in the matinee slot on September 22 at Alleycatz. Beyond school-associated acts, there are several other exciting shows taking place throughout the month, including Sam Kirmayer, at Jazz Bistro, on the 16th; The Rex’s Annual Birthday Tribute to John Coltrane, with the Pat LaBarbera and Kirk MacDonald Quintet, on September 20, 21 and 22; Christine Duncan, Laura Swankey and Patrick O’Reilly at the Tranzac, on September 23; and the Nick Fraser Quartet at The Emmet Ray, on September 24. September marks the beginning of a rich artistic cycle within the improvised music community that will play out through summer 2019. For the concert-going public – from the most casual fan to club regulars – September is a wonderful opportunity to become reacquainted with your favourite performers, check out a few new venues, and set the tone for the rest of the 2018/19 scholastic year, regardless of your own educational status. Enjoy. MAINLY CLUBS, MOSTLY JAZZ QUICK PICKS !! SEP 7, 6PM: Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival: Luan Phung Quintet. Drawing from the work of Boulez and Schoenberg as well as the jazz tradition, guitarist Luan Phung brings his exciting quintet to Mel Lastman Square for a free show at the TUJF. !! SEP 16, 6PM: Kensington Market Jazz Festival: Anh Phung. Equally at home playing orchestral music and the music of Jethro Tull, flutist and singer Anh Phung performs at LOLA as part of the KMJF. !! SEP 20 to 22, 9:30PM: The Rex’s Annual Birthday Tribute to John Coltrane: Pat LaBarbera & Kirk MacDonald Quintet. An annual event at The Rex featuring master saxophonists Pat LaBarbera and Kirk MacDonald leading a Pat LaBarbera (left) and Kirk macDonald world-class quintet, celebrating Coltrane’s life and music. !! SEP 23, 10PM: Christine Duncan, Patrick O’Reilly, and Laura Swankey at The Tranzac. Leading improvising vocalist Christine Duncan is joined by guitarist Patrick O’Reilly and vocalist Laura Swankey for an evening of new music at The Tranzac. Colin Story is a jazz guitarist, 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) As we work towards listing club events with our main listings in an integrated searchable format, some listings here are less complete than they were previously. Please visit the website addresses provided for specific venues or use the phone number provided for more detailed information. We apologize for this temporary inconvenience. 120 Diner 120 Church St. 416-792-7725 120diner.com (full schedule) All shows: PWYC (- suggested) Alleycatz 2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865 alleycatz.ca All shows: Call for cover charge info. Mondays 8:30pm Salsa Night with DJ Romantico with free lessons No cover before 9:30pm. Tuesdays 8:30pm Bachata Night with Weekly Guest DJ with free lessons Wednesdays 7pm Midtown Blues Jam hosted by Andrew “Voodoo” Walters. Thursdays 8pm Canadian Discovery Series. Fri & Sat 9:30pm Funk, Soul, R&B Top 40 cover after 9pm. Sat 3pm-6pm Matinee Jazz. Sep 1 Ms Jo’s Little Big Band (matinee), Lady Kane (eve). Sep 7 Gyles Band. Sep 8 Octokats (matinee), Latisha and Musical Friends (eve). Sep 14 URequest Live. Sep 15 Danny’s 11 (matinee), Red Velvet (eve). Sep 21 Lady Kane. Sep 22 York Jazz Ensemble (matinee), Disco Night w/Escapade (eve). Sep 28 Gyles Band. Sep 29 The Metro Big Band (matinee), Lady Kane (eve). Artword Artbar 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 905-543-8512 artword.net (full schedule) All shows at 8pm unless otherwise noted. The Blue Goose Tavern 1 Blue Goose St. 416-255-2442 thebluegoosetavern.com (full schedule) Bloom 2315 Bloor St. W. 416-767-1315 bloomrestaurant.com All shows 7pm 19+. Call for reservations. Sep 27 Allison Au Trio Burdock 1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033 burdockto.com (full schedule) Sep 1 Zoe Guigueno w/ Alex Lukashevsky. Sep 6 Colin Story w/ Mack Longpré. Sep 23 Dennis Kwok Jazz Orchestra. Cameron House 408 Queen St. W. 416-703-0811 thecameron.com Castro’s Lounge 2116 Queen St. E. 416-699-8272 castroslounge.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover/PWYC C’est What 67 Front St. E. (416) 867-9499 cestwhat.com (full schedule) All concerts are PWYC unless otherwise noted. Sep 8 Bossa Tres. Sep 15 The Hot Five Jazzmakers. Sep 28 Felix’s Belt. Sep 29 The Hot Five Jazzmakers. Emmet Ray, The 924 College St. 416-792-4497 theemmetray.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover/PWYC Grossman’s Tavern 379 Spadina Ave. 416-977-7000 grossmanstavern.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover (unless otherwise noted). Every Wed 10pm Action Sound Band w/ Leo Valvassori. Every Sat 4:30pm The Happy Pals Dixieland Jazz Jam. Every Sun 4pm New Orleans Connection All Star Band; 10pm Sunday Jam with Bill Hedefine. Sep 25 7th Annual Amy Louie Grossman’s Music Scholarship Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2050 Danforth Ave. 416-551-7560 hirut.ca (for full schedule) Every Sun 3pm Hirut Sundays Open Mic. Sep 4 8pm Finger Style Guitar Association. Sep 14 8pm E=Jazz and Latin Jazz w/ Don Naduriak & Friends. Sep 18 8pm Finger Style Guitar Association. Sep 22 6pm 100,000 Poets for Change Literary Fundraiser. Sep 28 9pm Hirut Hoot Comedy Cabaret Home Smith Bar – See Old Mill, The Hugh’s Room 2261 Dundas St. W 416 533 5483 hughsroom.com All shows at 8:30pm unless otherwise noted. See website for individual show prices. Sep 5 Don MacLean & Albert Frost AKA CanAfrica Blues & Tim Bastmeyer. Sep 6 Luca Ciarla & Etnopolois. Sep 7 Songs In The Key Of Stevie Wonder. Sep 8 Friends of Fiddlers Green. Sep 11 Songwriter Sessions. Sep 12 Emily Stam & Filippo Gambetta. Sep 15 Ron Nigrini. Sep 19 Oakland Stroke. Sep 20 Martha Chaves. Sep 21 Bobby Dean Blackburn. Sep 22 Micah Barnes. Sep 23 Darcy Stamp. Sep 25 Folk Music Ontario Fundraiser feat. Julian Taylor. Sep 26 Christina Martin Sep 27 Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys. Sep 28 The Occasional Angels. Sep 29 Jenie Thai w/ Dala and Jane Siberry. Sep 30 Skerryvore. Jazz Bistro, The 251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299 jazzbistro.ca (full schedule) Jazz Room, The Located in the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo. 226-476-1565 kwjazzroom.com (full schedule) All shows: 8:30-11:30pm unless otherwise indicated. Attendees must be 19+. Cover charge varies (generally -) Sep 7 Jason Raso and The Standard Fusion Company. Sep 8 Luca Ciarla Quartet. Sep 9 Antonino De Luca Trio (4pm-7pm). Sep 13 Robi Botos, Mike Downes, Larnell Lewis (8pm-11pm). Sep 14 Mike Murley/David Braid Quartet. Sep 15 Dave Thompson Quintet. Sep 21 Rob Fekete Quintet featuring Laura McNabb. Sep 22 Mike Downes Quartet. Sep 23 Pat LaBarbera’s John Coltrane Tribute (4pm-7pm). Sep 27 Samuel Blais Quartet (8pm-11pm). Sep 28 Elizabeth Sheppard Quartet. Sep 29 Stefan Bauer Quintet. 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 10:30pm Havana Club Fridays ; Every Sat 10:30pm Salsa Saturdays . Sep 5 7pm Die Winterreise. Sep 6 7pm 13th Annual Patsy Cline Birthday Show. Sep 9 6:30pm An Evening with Karrin Allyson. Sep 13 9pm A Fantastik Night with Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra. Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club 951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440 manhattans.ca (full schedule) All shows: PWYC. Every Tue Open Stage hosted by Paul and Jamie. Mây Cafe 876 Dundas St. W. 647-607-2032 maytoronto.com (full schedule) Mezzetta Restaurant 681 St. Clair Ave. W. 416-658-5687 thewholenote.com September 1 – October 7, 2018 | 51
