Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival, Canada's Largest Summer Street Festival

The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20070515154538/http://beachesjazz.com:80/

Dates	Line-up for 2007 (click links to learn more...)
July 28 - 29	MainStage @ KEW Gardens in The Beaches
July 26, 27 & 28	StreetFest along Queen St. E. in The Beaches
July 25	Ovation of Jazz @ The Balmy Beach Club
July 20, 21 & 22	PartiGras @ The Distillery Historic District
July 23 - 25	TD Canada Trust Workshop & Lecture Series

THE BEACHES INTERNATIONAL
JAZZ FESTIVAL
presents...
THE TWO BOBS:
Celebrating The Music Of
Bob Marley & Bob Dylan
Saturday June 2nd
The Ukrainian Cultural Centre
83-85 Christie Street
(Bloor & Christie)
Doors: 7:00 p.m. Show: 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25 available thru
www.ticketweb.com
General Admission Seating
Must Be 19 Years Of Age

Click Image to learn more...

Bill King
Artistic Director
(click for Bio)

It's been evident for years as growing attendance numbers reflect the community’s long love affair with the mid-summer reprieve. Lido, Pat, Joey, Rico, Martine, staff, volunteers, Toronto East General Hospital and I thank everyone for their enthusiastic support. It’s the sponsors that pay the bills, the broad swath of media coverage that delivers the message and the musicians who are the soul of the ten day event.

Both PartiGras and Streetacular (StreetFest) have become showcases for the blues with established bands and musicians like Fathead, Rusty Zinn, Finis Tasby, Dave Rotundo, Blackboard Blues Band, Diana Braithwaite, Shakura S’Aida, Johnny Max, Blue Room, Gary Kendall, Margaret Stowe, Paul James, keeping the low down pulse steady. PartiGras is also a natural showcase for revered singers like Heather Bambrick, June Garber, Bonnie Brett, George Evans to share the stage with newcomers Sophia Perlman, Melissa Boyce, Janelle Monique, Rosanna Riverso and others. As usual weather played havoc with the weekend. This is the one area over which no one has control. In fact there's no one to even complain too. We learned long ago worrying about things that occur above only elevate stress levels down below. Just smile and live the day!

PartiGras July 20, 21 & 22
Click link to learn more...

This year the jazz workshops caught on. With financial assistance from TD Canada Trust and the Ontario Arts Council we were able to expand on the success of the previous season with some great talent. If you haven’t seen drummer/percussionist Chendy Leon kick it up with the Hilario Duran Latin Jazz Big Band – then you’re missing something special. Chendy is a marvel and so was his traditional Cuban rhythms workshop. The esteemed Al Henderson handled the serious business of jazz composition for small ensemble with his usual grace and style. Heather Bambrick knows singing as do a cappela giants Cadence. The singers always draw a crowd and this was no different. Two master guitarists – Reg Schwager and Roy Patterson kept eyes focused on the fret board while the Toronto Camera Club featured two top flight lens jockeys – Don Vickery and Chris Gentile.

MainStage in Kew Gardens started with a big bang when the David Virelles Quintet exploded into a rebellious mix of Afro-Cuban rhythms and avant garde free form blowing. Virelles is a major force behind the concert grand piano. Etric Lyons and Kush served up a genuine blend of electronica/smooth jazz absent the cloying saxophone mannerisms that scrape the inner ear. Guitarist Jake Langely was in peak form after spending numerousnights on the road with organ hound Joey DeFrancesco. Langley can play the finest blues or bust a serious Wes Montgomery on you. Always a treat. Janiva Mahness did her best to live up to expectations. She’s got the persona and voice of a singer who’s long paid too many bar band dues. The road seasoned songstress has an earthiness in her voice that matches her steelyresolve. Café Cubano brought big Saturday to a rousing close with their crowd pleasing salsa.

	MainStage July 28 - 29 Click link to learn more...

Ah…Sunday! My favourite. I must admit I was overjoyed when I arrived to see Kew Gardens nearly filled for opener Robi Botos and his quartet at 11:30 in the morning. Usually, most are exhausted from the last mile long stretch Saturday evening of Streetacular – to find enough strength to hobble to the park. Not this time. Robi put on an amazing show. I can still hear the piano wailing it’s way through – ‘What Is This Thing Called Love.’ Trumpeter David Buchbinder did what he has done all year since the release of ‘Shurum Burum Circus’ – create sparkling textures and clever ensemble dialogue. This is heady stuff. For me Real Divas was myemancipation from the recovery couch. The years of basketball and biking gave me a bit of an advantage combating the unexpected – the heart broadside. Fortunately, this health care system some politicians like to rail against embraced me like a long lost son. Two big ups to Mt. Sinai Hospital and two big ups to Dr. Ross at Toronto General for keeping me alive and awake during the procedure. Over and over I squeezed my hands into a fist. As things began shaping up I could feel strength in my hands that had been absent the past year. To walk on stage for the first time in two months and play with such a great band and divine ensemble of women was near overwhelming.

StreetFest July 26, 27 & 28
Click link to learn more...

Rico Ferrara is responsible for the delicious blues additions to the MainStage. The pairing of Darrell Nulisch and Lou Pride was a work in progress – somethingRico heard in his head over the winter months that came to light. This was soul music long forgotten but still living the way Otis, Johnny Taylor, Sam and Dave meant it to be. Last but never least the award winning Hilario Duran Latin Jazz Big Band is a jaw dropper. Put this band anywhere on the planet and patrons sit in wonderment. Duran plays with an intensity and fire much like August temperatures in his home country Cuba. The players execute with precision the often complex counterpoint above the explosive rhythms. Great musicians, even greater music.

Well, with that said – thinking about year nineteen. I hope everyone marks the calendar and thinks clear weather and comfortable degrees. In the mean time – listen to music, get out to concerts and clubs and make an effort to learn more about our musicians. Music makes a great companion and for this guy – it’s the great healer!

Bill King
Artistic Director

Join BIJF Newsletter Mailing List

Your E-Mail Address:

* Required

Preferred Format:

back to top


MainStage	StreetFest	Ovation of Jazz	PartiGras

Sponsorship		Sponsors		Review		Advertising		Submissions

Volunteers		Press Room		Workshops		Community		Survey

Visitor Info		Vendor Info		Directions		Home		Contact Us

Apr	MAY	Jun
	15
2006	2007	2008