Presenting more than 150 concerts during the first half of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival there was more music than any one person could hope to handle. With names such as Freddy Cole, Elizabeth Shepherd, Dave Brubeck, Holly Cole, Mike Relm, Manteca, Hilario Duran, Jean Luc Ponty, Chris Botti, and David “Fathead" Newman, the possibilities were endless. Here are some shows you will be kicking yourself if you missed.
Together again after nine long years, Manteca opened the Festival and kicked off their reunion tour with Toronto as their first stop. For those in attendance it felt like they never left. Late Friday night Revival was the place to be. At the stroke of midnight, Mike Relm started his set and got everyone in a frenzy with mash ups of Charlie Brown and classic black and white movies. You have never seen scratching like this before. Opening for trumpeter Chris Botti Saturday night, Kellylee Evans, once described as a mix between Sade-meets Erykah Badu-meets Norah Jones, brought the crowd to its feet with her mix of jazz, soul, R&B and blues. Representing China for the first time ever at the jazz festival, vocalist Coco Zhao singing in Mandarin was treat to hear in any language. Proof that jazz has no borders. David “Fathead" Newman and Freddy Cole were also shows not to miss, selling out both of their two night engagements at the The Pilot and Live@Courthouse, respectively. French music was all the rage on Sunday as the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival gave a nod to Quebec's Fete National. With performances from Jean Luc Ponty, Denis Colin, Nikki Yanofsky and Michel Donato, the French spirit was alive on the square. The next night, Don Byron shook the Courthouse with the music of Junior Walker as he closed the show with Shotgun. Dancing in the aisles of the club, the crowd was just not ready for the night to end. History was made when jazz icon Dave Brubeck performed at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts as the first ever non opera / ballet performance at the venue. As part of the GRANDMASTERS Series, Brubeck received a standing ovation Monday night before the first note was even played.
If you missed any of these shows, fear not, the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival continues until Sunday, July 1. With over 150 concerts left, there is bound to be something for every musical taste. Do not make the same mistake twice and come enjoy Canada's Best Jazz Festival.
Wednesday, June 27 - Aki Takase; Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood; Julie Michels; Dhafer Youssef; Marcus Belgrave
Thursday, June 28 - Mike Murley; Roy Hargrove; John Alcorn; Slide Hampton; Rob McConnell
Friday, June 29 - Keith Jarrett; Joshua Redman; Delfeayo Marsalis; Louise Pitre; Antibalas; Kid Koala; Brubeck Braid
Saturday, June 30 - Derek Trucks; Louise Pitre; No Name Jazz Sextet; Vijay Iyer, Robin Nolan; PJ Perry
Sunday, July 1 - Mavis Staples, Chris Jagger; Rebirth Brass Band; Sean Lennon; Ashley Wey; From Ragtime to Swing
For more information contact All About Jazz.
