The 21st Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival is a force to be reckoned with. Hundreds of thousands of jazz lovers come to see some 1500 musicians in 350 concerts over the 10 days of the festival.
The Grandmasters Series at the brand new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts showcases living jazz masters including Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock. Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette will also play in a trio. The dazzling Laila Biali Trio will open for The Dave Brubeck concert.
Toronto-based pianist/composer Adrean Farrugia will bring his sensitive, creative music to six festival gigs. He will also share a stage with vocalist Sophia Perlman and duo dates with guitarist Lorne Lofsky, saxophonist Bob Brough and vocalist Beverly Taft. For sound samples and to find out more about this artist, visit www.myspace.com/adreanfarrugia.
There is something magnetic about Elizabeth Shepherd; her sensitive compositions are delivered sweetly on piano, topped off with a glowing voice. A local, Shepard will appear three times during the festival. Her stellar debut record, Start to Move , was nominated alongside Diana Krall for a Juno. For sound samples pianist/vocalist/composer visit www.myspace.com/elizabethshepherd.
Now in its 21st season, the festival boasts a tasteful mix and a wide range of ticketed and free events in some 40 venues. For further information please visit www.torontojazz.com.
Highlights
FRIDAY JUNE 22
FREE GOLD: Mark Sepic Trio, 6:00pm, Alexander the Great Parkette, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Freddy Cole, Live@Courthouse, 9:00pm, $35.
WILD CARD: 'Round Midnight with Elizabeth Shepherd, Live@Courthouse, 12:30am, $10.
SATURDAY JUNE 23
FREE GOLD: Coco Zhao, Toronto Star Stage, 1:00pm, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Chris Botti with Kellylee Evans, 8:00pm, Toronto Star Stage, $40.
WILD CARD: Larra Skye Quintet, The Rex, 6:30pm, Pay-what-you-can.
SUNDAY JUNE 24
FREE GOLD: Nikki Yanofsky & Club Django Sextet, 1:00pm, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Michel Donato Trio, Jean Luc Ponty, Toronto Star Stage, 8:00pm, $30.
WILD CARD: Sophia Perlman Trio, Ten Feet Tall, 3:30pm, Pay-what-you-can.
MONDAY JUNE 25
FREE GOLD: Laura Hubert, Grossman's Tavern, 10:00pm, No Cover.
BIG TICKET: Dave Brubeck Quartet with Laila Biali Trio, 8:00pm, Four Seasons Centre , $40-150.
WILD CARD: Sophia Perlman and the Vipers, 9:30pm, The Reservoir Lounge, Pay-what-you-can.
TUESDAY JUNE 26
FREE GOLD: Adrean Farrugia & Bob Brough, 6:30pm, Pay-what-you-can.
BIG TICKET: Herbie Hancock Quartet, 8:00pm. Four Seasons Centre, $45-135.
WILD CARD: Trio Beyond with Hiromi's Sonicbloom, Toronto Star Stage, 8:00pm, $30.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 27
FREE GOLD: Aki Takase: Fats Wallers Project, 12:00noon, Toronto Star Stage, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, 8:00pm, Toronto Star Stage, $35.
WILD CARD: Julie Michels, 8:00pm, CABARET SERIES @ The Savoy, $15-20.
THURSDAY JUNE 28
FREE GOLD: Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Finals, 3:00pm, Primus Stage, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Roy Hargrove Quintet plus United Trombone Summit, 8:00pm, Toronto Star Stage, $35.
WILD CARD: Rita di Ghent, 9:00pm, Ten Feet Tall, Pay-what-you-can.
FRIDAY JUNE 29
FREE GOLD: Adrean Farrugia/Sophia Perlman Trio, Whistler's, 6:00pm, No Cover.
BIG TICKET: Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette, 8:00pm, Four Seasons Centre, $45-200.
WILD CARD: Lina Allemano Four, 9:00pm, The Pilot Tavern, $10.
SATURDAY JUNE 30
FREE GOLD: Jen Sagar Trio, 9:00pm, Gate 403, Pay-what-you-can.
BIG TICKET: Louise Pitre, 8:00pm, CABARET SERIES @ The Savoy, $35-40.
WILD CARD: Mike Murley Septet, 9:30pm, The Rex, $TBA
SUNDAY JULY 1
FREE GOLD: Elizabeth Shepherd & Dan Eisen, 6:30pm, Commensal, Pay-what-you-can.
BIG TICKET: Mavis Staples plus Rebirth Brass Band, 8:00pm, $35.
WILD CARD: Dave Restivo Trio, 3:30pm, Ten Feet Tall, Pay-what-you-can.
FRIDAY JUNE 22
FREE GOLD: Mark Sepic Trio, 6:00pm, Alexander the Great Parkette, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Freddy Cole, Live@Courthouse, 9:00pm, $35.
WILD CARD: 'Round Midnight with Elizabeth Shepherd, Live@Courthouse, 12:30am, $10.
SATURDAY JUNE 23
FREE GOLD: Coco Zhao, Toronto Star Stage, 1:00pm, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Chris Botti with Kellylee Evans, 8:00pm, Toronto Star Stage, $40.
WILD CARD: Larra Skye Quintet, The Rex, 6:30pm, Pay-what-you-can.
SUNDAY JUNE 24
FREE GOLD: Nikki Yanofsky & Club Django Sextet, 1:00pm, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Michel Donato Trio, Jean Luc Ponty, Toronto Star Stage, 8:00pm, $30.
WILD CARD: Sophia Perlman Trio, Ten Feet Tall, 3:30pm, Pay-what-you-can.
MONDAY JUNE 25
FREE GOLD: Laura Hubert, Grossman's Tavern, 10:00pm, No Cover.
BIG TICKET: Dave Brubeck Quartet with Laila Biali Trio, 8:00pm, Four Seasons Centre , $40-150.
WILD CARD: Sophia Perlman and the Vipers, 9:30pm, The Reservoir Lounge, Pay-what-you-can.
TUESDAY JUNE 26
FREE GOLD: Adrean Farrugia & Bob Brough, 6:30pm, Pay-what-you-can.
BIG TICKET: Herbie Hancock Quartet, 8:00pm. Four Seasons Centre, $45-135.
WILD CARD: Trio Beyond with Hiromi's Sonicbloom, Toronto Star Stage, 8:00pm, $30.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 27
FREE GOLD: Aki Takase: Fats Wallers Project, 12:00noon, Toronto Star Stage, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, 8:00pm, Toronto Star Stage, $35.
WILD CARD: Julie Michels, 8:00pm, CABARET SERIES @ The Savoy, $15-20.
THURSDAY JUNE 28
FREE GOLD: Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Finals, 3:00pm, Primus Stage, Free Admission.
BIG TICKET: Roy Hargrove Quintet plus United Trombone Summit, 8:00pm, Toronto Star Stage, $35.
WILD CARD: Rita di Ghent, 9:00pm, Ten Feet Tall, Pay-what-you-can.
FRIDAY JUNE 29
FREE GOLD: Adrean Farrugia/Sophia Perlman Trio, Whistler's, 6:00pm, No Cover.
BIG TICKET: Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette, 8:00pm, Four Seasons Centre, $45-200.
WILD CARD: Lina Allemano Four, 9:00pm, The Pilot Tavern, $10.
SATURDAY JUNE 30
FREE GOLD: Jen Sagar Trio, 9:00pm, Gate 403, Pay-what-you-can.
BIG TICKET: Louise Pitre, 8:00pm, CABARET SERIES @ The Savoy, $35-40.
WILD CARD: Mike Murley Septet, 9:30pm, The Rex, $TBA
SUNDAY JULY 1
FREE GOLD: Elizabeth Shepherd & Dan Eisen, 6:30pm, Commensal, Pay-what-you-can.
BIG TICKET: Mavis Staples plus Rebirth Brass Band, 8:00pm, $35.
WILD CARD: Dave Restivo Trio, 3:30pm, Ten Feet Tall, Pay-what-you-can.
Feeds