TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2011
Toronto, Canada
June 24-July 3, 2011

2011 marked the 25th anniversary for a festival that is a key stopping point for artists coming to Canada. Organizers always have to strike the right balance when booking top names and other talented international artists.

A key change from previous years was the relocation of the big white tent—housing all the Mainstage concerts—from Nathan Philips Square, in front of City Hall, to the park square located between Roy Thomson Hall and Metro Hall. More lawn area provided more comfort to check out the free afternoon shows on the adjacent stage. Venues hosting the better-known names ranged from the Enwave Theatre, near the lake, to Koerner Hall and the Sony Centre, while the Glenn Gould Studio was the spot for unique piano solo showcases by Randy Weston Randy Weston
b.1926
piano , Jacky Terrasson Jacky Terrasson
b.1966
piano , Vijay Iyer Vijay Iyer
b.1971
piano , and Kenny Barron Kenny Barron
b.1943
piano .

Friday, June 24, 2011

To ease into the end of the work day on this Friday afternoon, Quotes Bar and Grill was a lovely and quiet environment for some classic easy swing. The Canadian Jazz Quartet, featuring guitarist Gary Benson, vibraphonist Frank Wright Frank Wright
b.1935
sax, tenor , bassist Duncan Hopkins Duncan Hopkins
and drummer Don Vickery were joined by New York tenor saxophonist Harry Allen Harry Allen
b.1966
saxophone . With such classics as Jerome Kern's "The Way You Look Tonight," "Laura" and "Tenderly," Allen's superb technique, combined with melodic emotion and depth, was crystal clear. An intimate live setting such as this allowed the audience to relax while hanging on to every note. For balance, the group also played classics such as Billy Strayhorn Billy Strayhorn
1915 - 1967
piano 's fast, bluesy ballad, "I'm Checking Out (Goom-Bye)." Three wonderful sets closed fittingly with "That's All," from the Great American Songbook.

In order to create a real street party atmosphere for this year's occasion, Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin

vocal , the Queen of Soul, was the key headliner for a free concert. It's never easy being an opening act, but, when the lead singer with Jordan John & The Blue Angels asked the crowd if they wanted to hear one more, it was worth a little smile when the crowd answered with a resounding "No!" The large band brought together musicians who came with Franklin, as well as top locals such as Juno Award-winning trumpeter {John MacLeod and saxophonist Alex Dean. At the start of the show, the band warmed things up, before Franklin finally came onstage to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd. Recognizing the context of the festival, she selected "Cherokee" as her first song. From there it was one favorite after another. She chose not to include "Respect"—and she didn't need to, with everything that she had to offer. She delivered R&B hits including "Baby, I Love You," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," and "Moody's Mood for Love," in honor of the late NEA Jazz Master James Moody James Moody
1925 - 2010
reeds . She also played piano on "Bridge Over Troubled Water," a quieter tune, before picking up the pace with what could have been a gospel revival meeting, all the way to another classic, "Freeway of Love."

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Dave Holland Dave Holland
b.1946
bass kicked off the Jazz By The Lake series, over at the Enwave Theatre, for an early evening show on June 25. A frequent visitor to Toronto, Holland is one of those busy musicians who has accomplished much yet continues to devote a considerable amount of time to composition for various band formations. All the members of his standard quintet bring their own technical adeptness and individuality to the whole. The quintet's Toronto performance clearly demonstrated the collective personality that fans were expecting. Holland assumed the centre of the formation, and acted as a cheerleader for his relaxed fellow musicians. A brief issue with feedback had trombonist Robin Eubanks Robin Eubanks
b.1955
trombone commenting jokingly: "Hey, that's in the key of the song!"

On the post-bop "Cosmosis," Chris Potter Chris Potter
b.1971
reeds switched from tenor saxophone to soprano, in order to push the high notes of this vibrantly swinging tune. During his solo, Eubanks added a quick Miles Davis Miles Davis
1926 - 1991
trumpet reference that did not go unnoticed by Holland, who visibly enjoyed the trombonist's improvisational ideas. "The Sum Of All Parts" showcased the trombonist's engaging style, as well as his double voicings, used during the more intense measures.

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