Results for "Toronto"

Sophia Smith

The Sophia Smith Quartet combines a mixture of traditional jazz elements with original modern jazz compositions. Sophia’s compositions create a unique blend of memorable melodies, lush harmony and improvisation, inspired by the compositions of Kenny Garrett, Chris Potter and Pat Metheny. The bright, yet warm sound of Sophia’s alto saxophone lends to the feel-good vibe of her compositions, which leave audiences uplifted. Listeners often describe the quartet’s music as unique since it appeals to many different musical tastes - it is rooted in the jazz tradition and has a deep exploration of structured and free improvisation, but at the same time, it has a fresh twist that is accessible to music lovers of all kinds due to the intriguing, sing-able melodies and pleasing sonorities

Take Five with Alex Bird

by AAJ Staff
May 3, 2020

Meet Alex Bird Alex Bird is a singer/songwriter and actor in Toronto, ON. With a swinging style and an indescribable charm, Alex and his “Jazz Mavericks" are currently working on an entirely new chapter in the Great American Songbook, with their soon to be released, all original debut album, “Whisky Kisses" (Summer 2020). “The Way She ...

Angela Turone & Chris Platt

Born: June 19, 2010

Angela Turone and Chris Platt are Canadian musicians that have been collaborating since 2014. Angela and Chris met in their hometown, Toronto, while completing their studies in the jazz performance program at the University of Toronto. There, they discovered a common love and appreciation for Brazilian music and came together as an ensemble. With Angela on vocals and piano and Chris on guitar, they seek to explore the diverse and beautiful music of Brazil, performing their creative interpretations of repertoire from the bossa nova, samba and jazz genres. Their 2020, FACTOR-funded album Sounds of Brazil is a reflection of Angela and Chris’ deep interest in Brazilian music and how it intertwines with their jazz roots

Take Five with Bartosz Hadala

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2020

Meet Bartosz Hadala Bartosz Hadala was born in Stalowa Wola, Poland and started his musical education at the age 7 at the local School of Music. Still as a teenager he participated in competitions, workshops and festivals. He became the youngest finalist in the Mieczyslaw Kosz International Jazz Piano Competition at the age 15. Two years ...

Alex Bird And The Jazz Mavericks: 'Whisky Kisses' (Single)

May 1, 2020

TITLE TRACK FROM UPCOMING DEBUT ALBUM “WHISKY KISSES” Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks have been turning heads across the Toronto Jazz scene, and now they bring to you one more single, “Whisky Kisses”, the title track from their upcoming, all original debut album (Summer 2020). It is a song that is very much needed right ...

Bartosz Hadala Group Releases 'Three Short Stories'

April 30, 2020

Polish-Canadian pianist and composer Bartosz Hadala is thrilled to announce the release of his new jazz album, Three Short Stories, the highly- anticipated follow-up to his critically- acclaimed and successful debut jazz album, The Runner Up (featuring Randy Brecker & Antonio Sanchez). Three Short Stories invites the listener to share Hadala's deeply personal journey through a ...

Todd Pentney

Harrison Argatoff

Harrison Argatoff is a Canadian tenor saxophonist and composer based in Toronto. A 2018 graduate of The University of Toronto’s jazz program, his music combines the study of jazz, classical, and free-improvised music to to cultivate a versatile, controlled, yet distinctly personal sound. Having grown up a Doukhobour, in the interior of British Columbia, teachings of pacifism, communal music making, and respect for life and nature deeply influence his personal and artistic endeavours.

Trumpeter Lina Allemano branches out

by John Eyles
March 8, 2020

Nowadays, Canadian-born-and-educated trumpeter, composer and bandleader Lina Allemano commutes between Toronto and Berlin, as she has flourishing bands in each location. In Toronto, her acoustic Lina Allemano Four released its first album in 2003, on her own Lumo records, and has had a stable line-up of trumpet, alto sax, bass and drums since 2005, which has ...

Dennis Kwok

Born: May 14, 1997

Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator, Dennis Kwok, exists at the intersection of bebop, contemporary classical, free improvisation, and pop music. Originally from Calgary, his interest in jazz and improvised music led him to pursue studies at Humber College, where he completed his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Saxophone. A versatile woodwind doubler, Dennis has been featured as part of the 2020 TD Toronto Jazz Festival Discovery Series, occupied musician-in-residence at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in 2021, and backed JUNO-award winning artists, such as The Tenors, Jackie Richardson, and Allison Au. Dennis has also been active in musical theatre orchestras, including productions of Follies (Royal Conservatory of Music), Chicago (Stratford Festival), 1922 (Shaw Festival), Escape to Margaritaville (Theatre Calgary) and Mean Girls (Mirvish).