TD Canada Trust Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival

The TD Canada Trust Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival will once again be the highlight of summer in the city, this year running from June 24 to July 3, 2005. TD Canada Trust returns as the Toronto festival’s title sponsor for the second year of a four year multi-million dollar commitment to 10 jazz festivals across the country. Bringing cool music to hot summer days and nights, the festival will present more than 350 concerts over 10 days on more than 30 different stages.

Appealing to both hepcats and squares, there will be free daytime concerts and workshops in several venues, internationally renowned marquee acts in the evenings, and late night club action for the supermurgitroid.

New for 2005 is the BenQ World Stage, located at Nathan Phillips Square, adjacent to the Mainstage marquee. Reflecting the diverse evolution of jazz music around the globe, the BenQ World Stage will feature free performances by artists from New Orleans, Africa, France, Italy and many more.

The Youth Stage this year will be located at Oscar Peterson Place, formerly the TD Centre Court, and will present free afternoon performances by students and faculty from Humber College, University of Toronto and York University music programs.

Also new for 2005, daily workshops will be presented in a small pavilion on Nathan Phillips Square. Hosted by visiting and local musicians these free early evening sessions offer the opportunity to learn techniques and explore the roots of jazz music. As part of this series, intimate interviews with selected musicians followed by open Q&A sessions will be presented in Artist Talkbacks – a unique opportunity for aficionados to get interactive with their favourite musicians.

Late Night Jazz at The Rex (194 Queen Street West) and Sage Restaurant (1033 Bay Street) lets the party continue until the wee hours of the morning.

For more information visit: www.torontojazz.com

Media Contact:

Debbie Rix, [email protected]

Anna Tom, [email protected]

416-928-2033, ext 21