Hey all, coming soon to a club, bar, stage near you, or where you’ll want to be in a couple weeks is the start of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, running non-stop from June 20th thru June 29th plus a few venues until July 1st, yeah! Canada Day Jazz! Gotta love it.
Every year I’ve been there has been a great selection of jazz, blues, avant, swing, funky, experi, tech, hip-hop, plus a bit of rock n roll as well, at the numerous Jazz Festival venues around the city, <I think it should be called JaSS, just to encompass all the genre’s>, and this year is no exception!
The festival starts off with Willie Nelson & Family at Massey Hall on Thursday, June 20th. The following day is when things really kick into gear. There is a free Mainstage show at Nathan Philips Square on Friday the 21st, Motown Mania I’ll call it! with Martha Reeves & The Vandellas @ 8pm, then the headliner Smokey Robinson @ 9:30pm. Get there early to get in the tent/seated area, but they will also have speakers and big screens for all to see.
If that’s not your thing, perhaps the Swinging Blackjacks at Grossman’s, or Groove Corporation @ Monarch’s or, or….. the list is incredible! I’m looking at the festival guide now and it’s one of those nights where you wish you could be several places at once, and that’s only the first day!
One of my personal favorites, and many others it would seem, is returning, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue! That’s on June 26th on the Main Stage. Another show I am looking forward to catching is James Cotton. Should be amazing! He brings his band to the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern on Sun June 23rd, could be a late Sunday night, but worth every minute! <coffee will have to take care of Monday>
There are over 60 venues around the city, playing host to 100’s of Canadian and International performers. For all the details, bio’s, schedules, locations and everything Jazz festival related, go to www.torontojazz.com
Here are a few pix from previous Toronto Jazz Festivals to tide you over, enjoy the festival! <click any image to go to their respective gallery>
