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Jazz Takes Over Toronto! +++++++Starting today! (June 20) this ever-growing 11 day festival
swamps 49 venues with sounds sweet and blue. (Oh oh, wait a second. I see from my schedule that Al Green
played last night! Damn!! Where was I?! Now I’ll never be saved!). Also, this
year it seems that they’ve added a bonus concert after the end of the festival
proper with Dave Brubeck (July 2). ++++++++Lots of interesting main-stage choices this year –
interesting in that many of these high profile performers are not regarded as
being strictly jazz. With the likes of soul-man Al Green, the gospel of the
Blind Boys of Alabama, the Nawlins boogie of Dr. John, and world music artist
Salif Keita, the T.O.Fest is on top of the current trend of festivals to be
more inclusive. ++++++Maceo Parker was my favorite performer of two fests ago, and
trust me when I say that his band grooves hard! Tonight he will be burning up
The Sound Academy, a cool venue by the waters of our Great Lake (just don’t
swim in it). +++++++++++++Tough choices must be made though. Also playing tonight is
the gravel-and-honey voiced Dr. John. He’s at the main-stage, and I’ve got to
figure out how to be in two places at once. Enjoy! http://www.tojazz.com/Pages/Toronto_Downtown_Jazz_Festival_pgM29.asp And
check out Maceo! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLwmYI09Lw&feature=related
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North By Northeast takes over Toronto next weekend! With 500 bands playing 40 venues you’d be hard pressed to find a better pub crawl.
+++++++++Twenty-nine Canadian dollars (that’s what, like fifty bucks US right?) gets you into EVERTHING. The thing that I like about NXNE is that all the conferences, films, and industry type events are apparently all included in the one wrist-band price. This is unique to NXNE. Other festivals have graduated pricing, sometimes well into the hundreds of dollars, that can be cost prohibitive should one like to attend a conference for example. (I won’t name names – you know who you are).
+++++++++++++++++I’m just now mapping out my itinerary and will mention who I think might be worth seeing in the next blog.
++++++++The web-site has full details: http://www.nxne.com/
++++++++++++Enjoy!
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This year's CMW was a thundering success despite the stormy conditions and many feet of snow dumped on us. Every night saw packed houses (at least where I was) and people braving the elements to catch the stars of the future.
Here’s a very quick round-up of a few acts that I saw: ++++++++++++++++Lindi Ortega put on a great set at the Rivoli. She has “star” written all over her, and the many industry execs in attendance actually shut-up and listened! (No f'n kidding). I smell a bidding war. http://www.lindiortega.ca/
+++++++++++++++++++++Brad Monk and the Union Band displayed tight musicianship as they layed down a fairly straight-up country rock set. My photographer was into them as evidenced here: http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/view?id=2152975 ++++++++++++++A couple of bands that I found to be fun and fiery are The Tom Fun Orchestra and Foxfire. Tom Fun’s large outfit plays high energy celtic meets Tom Waits in a boozy rollicking style. The crowd was many beers in and sloppy nuts for them. I highly recommend The Tom Fun (sounds like a Chinese restaurant order). http://tomfun.ca/
++++++++++++++++++Foxfire, too, is high energy, but more in a retro-funk kinda way. Think 80s funky ala Talking Heads and Spandau Ballet, with a little Pig Bag thrown in. What the frontman lacks in vocal ability he makes up for with charisma as he keeps the crowd hyped. Recommended. http://www.myspace.com/foxfireforest
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Day 2 for me anyway... Many of the industry events - conferences and the like - began Wednesday and continue through Saturday. There are a few high profile celeb interviews (Moby, Alanis Morissette), and an abundance of seminars focused on how to make your way through an increasingly fragmented business. Lots of food for the brain as music industry execs grapple to cope with an ever-changing landscape. But me - I'm just here for the music.+++++++++++The Elmo last night was full of industry types loudly schmoozing and conspicuously blackberrying, many shouting repeatedly how much they like The Besnard Lakes, and then continuing to talk through the entire set. ++++The Besnard Lakes are certainly an interesting band who I'm sure fare better on record than in the messy acoustics of a club. It took the soundman a few songs to clean up the aural puddle of mud and make room for the vocals, but when he did, Jace Lasek's soaring voice cut through. Best of the night was their version of Prince's "The Beautiful Ones". Playing it very close to the original version, it was a perfect piece to showcase Jace's falsetto.+++++++++As often happens at such a sprawling event as CMW, the bands that really grab your attention are the ones that you've never heard of and had no intention of seeing. Such was the case with Creature from Montreal.+++++++Creature is a high energy dance-oriented funky pop band. Their web site lists James Brown and the B52's as influences, but I just kept thinking how much they remind me of Tom Tom Club - in a good way. I couldn't take my eyes off of Cowbella in her short pink jumpsuit and white go-go boots. Spinning from one instrument to another, she alternated between retro-sounding synth riffs, lead vocals, and yes, cowbell. Lots of cowbell. This band is fun, fun, fun, and well worth checking out. +++++Not sure what's on the menu tonight, but I'm certain to find something. http://www.creatureband.com/
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I’ll try to set the indoor record for “Fastest Blog” as I race down to the clubs for another jam-packed CMW.
I don’t know the actual stats at this moment, but if 2008 is anything like last year (which I’m sure it is), there are several hundred bands playing dozens of bars all over Toronto over the next four nights. Some clubs have rosters featuring as many as eight groups in an evening! And of course there are soft-seat venues showcasing the better-known artists.
Last year I over-did it a bit listening to, I think it was, 13 or 14 acts over three nights of bar- hopping. This year I plan to be a little more selective, possibly settling in to a single venue for the bulk of the evening. Or at least that is tonight’s plan.
Tonight I’m off the venerable El Mocambo to hear what looks to be an all-Montreal set. If I get my ass in gear quickly enough I’m off to see Creature, followed by The Besnard Lakes, followed by Les Breastfeeders.
The Besnard Lakes seem interesting as they combine Beachboy-like falsetto harmonies with atmospheric Floyd-ish grooves. Les Breastfeeders have a high energy pop-punk approach and aren’t shy about their French roots. Fast tempos, Farfisa organ, and guitars through spring reverb. Should be fun.
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Although my Montreal experience is in the books for this year, I'm envious of anyone who is in town for the Jazz Festival's final weekend. ++++++++Since its nice to dream, here's what I would love to see if I could be there today.++++++Tonight its Béla Fleck & The Flecktones Featuring Victor Wooten, Future Man and Jeff Coffin with special guest Howard Levy. For those of you unfamiliar w/ Bela Fleck - he plays jazz banjo. (Yes you read that right, jazz banjo). He is surely the best jazz banjoist(?) on the planet. And bass player Victor Wooten is no slouch either. In fact, he is the opposite of a slouch. I saw them play the Ryman Theater in Nashville last year and Victor's virtuosity just about blew my mind. This show is a must see. ++++++++++Also tonight is the BILL FRISELL TRIO WITH JOEY BARON AND TONY SCHERR. It took me some years to get my mind around Bill's distinctive guitar approach, but now I would have to say that I am a fan. Well worth seeing. ++++++++++AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS is Friday night. Great player - although with the flip of a coin I might opt to see CAROL WELSMAN. She has been on the verge of making it big for a while now, and I would love to see her achieve the kind of success Diana Krall has. ++++++++Saturday night at the Montreal Jazz Festival has a blues double bill with BUDDY GUY AND HIS MUSICIANS / GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS. Coincidentallty I'll be in Ottawa at their Blues Fest that evening taking in a concert: Power Hour with Tony D. Tony is a dear old friend of mine and a monster player. And not to digress, but the Ottawa Bluesfest http://www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca/en/ looks to be "killer" (a quote from their advertising) this year. +++++++++ I had a wonderful time at the Montreal Jazz Festival, this, as well as very many previous, years. The people of Montreal are open and friendly, and the staff at the festival - everyone from the media department to street security - are very kind and helpful. Great Vibe. Enjoy the last weekend!
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Just a quickie as we jump back onto the 401 in hopes of
beating the holiday rush.+++++++++++++ Antibalas is the best! The best what I’m not sure because their music has so many
different elements and influences. Everything from ska, to reggae to funk to
you-name-it, its in the music. This eleven-piece band from New York had the
capacity Metropolis crowd swapping sweat in a non-stop high energy set. Their
horn section was duck’s-ass tight as every member of the group worked the room,
charging up the audience with call and response tactics. Also crucial to their
performance was their over-all political message – stop the tyranny! Stop the
war! ++++++++++++Stand out songs that they played were Bob Marley’s “Rat
Race” and their own “War Hero”. The audience was into them full on, but demands
for an encore were squashed as Femi Kuti and the Positive Force were to next
take the stage. +++++++++++Femi Kuti and band also were extremely impressive. With an
even bigger ensemble than Antibalas, their choreography and professionalism
really made the show. More about them, and the Montreal Jazz Fest itself,
later. http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/Fijm2007/accueil_en.aspx
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A voice so fragile against the stark, hard imagery of her lyrics, and a packed Montreal Spectrum hung on her every note. The venue was set-up cabaret style with individual tables, and the sound was perfectly balanced so as to feature the sometimes tentativeness of her songs. I hate cliches, but you could hear a pin drop while she was playing. As to playing (as opposed to singing) I was surprised at how much of it she did. Switching from acoustic guitar to synth keyboard to grand piano, the show felt like an intimate solo set, although she was backed-up by a trio. Highlights of the evening were the spooky "Ghostyhead" during which she thumped a frame drum, and the stunning encore - a solo piano rendition of the delicate "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" from her first album. As to the Montreal Jazz Festival itself - there is music everywhere! Its in the bars on St. Denis, in the streets around Place Des Arts, and its in the many concert theatres. My companion and I arrived with virtually no plan, knowing that you can`t miss with this Fest. Oddly, she and I may see very little actual jazz this weekend. We plan to take in ANTIBALAS / FEMI KUTI & THE POSITIVE FORCE tonight who would best be described as a world music group, and Sean Lennon may be on the agenda as well. But who knows - we will go where the mood takes us.Rikki Lee Jones photos here: http://melodytrip.com/Community/photos/carlotta_pix/picture13693.aspx
http://melodytrip.com/Community/photos/carlotta_pix/picture13694.aspx
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Brief notes this morning on last night’s show. Heading out
this morning to Montreal for the Jazz Festival there, on a day when our First
Nations people are having a “Day of Action”. Blockades are set up on the main
highway disrupting travel between Toronto and Montreal, no doubt adding hours
to our driving time. Got to get on the highway ASAP. So briefly – Roy Hargrove’s band played a hard swinging
sizzling set last night. Unafraid of major keys, his quintet kept the mood
bright and happy. I was particularly impressed with Roy’s sense of dynamics as
he consistently veered away from what was expected. His drummer was loose/tight
(as we say around the poker table) and was a thrill to watch during his Latin
inspired solo. More soon! Gots
to get on the road to Montreal!
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Through the tent doors and straight into a wall of humid
heat. Pints of water leaked out of me as I countered with pints of lager into
me. All in the audience stood
start to finish, swaying and sweaty, through a groovin’ set at the mainstage. This band’s appeal is pan-generational. Three teenage girls
at the media entrance were begging the
guard to let them in (trying to bribe him in fact), and inside, people of every
age were dancing on the spot in that chill-out-not-trying-too-hard kinda way
characteristic of the universal ageless hippy. The band was hot – but when are they not? This was my third
time seeing them (the 2nd. w /Schofield), and I can’t imagine these
seasoned pros ever having a bad night. And it’s funny, ‘cause in essence these
guys are a “jam band”. One would think that in such a band there would be the
potential, let’s say, for it not to happen. But I think the key with this
quartet, just like the key to good acting, is that everyone in the band
listens. They bounce off each other with great humour and spirit in their
playing that makes me feel glad to be alive. The first three songs they played last night were from their
latest release “Out Louder”, which, weirdly, wasn’t available for purchase
after the show. A total surprise to me (although it is on the album) is their
cover of the Beatles classic “Julia”. One of the most haunting songs ever
written, the semi-tone shift in the melody always rends the soul. A nice choice
of song, however I find that Schofield’s choppy style of guitar work undermines
the music a little bit. Otherwise no complaints. Tonight
Roy Hargrove is up! I have no idea what to expect.
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Here it is the first full day of summer and, guess what,
it’s also the first day of the Toronto Jazz Festival. Coincidence? I think not. This year promises to be every bit as great as the Festival
last year – and last year’s line up had been the best yet (IMHO). Some familiar faces from 2006 return, such as Dave Brubeck
and Medeski Scofield Martin and Wood, while very many more of the 2007 roster
haven’t played the festival in years – if ever. Personally, I’m greatly looking forward to Mainstage acts
Roy Hargrove (June 28) and Joshua Redman (June 29). Hargrove, I anticipate,
will be heavy on groove – which, got to admit it, I’m big on that. Redman will
be interesting to me as I saw his septuagenarian dad Dewey play in Montreal
just a few years ago. That was a terrific show full of humour and energy, and
I’m curious to know just how far the apple (Josh) has fallen from the tree. The Grandmaster Series, as it is called, features three
piano giants: Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, and Keith Jarrett with Jack DeJohnette
and Gary Peacock. Anyone who has grown up with jazz in the house knows and no
doubt appreciates their respective massive contributions to the art form. And
the second star of each show will undoubtedly be the new opera house
(corporately called the FourSeasons Centre for the Performing Arts), which,
from everything I’ve heard is acoustically amazing. Tons
to hear, June 22 – July 1.
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The line was around the block at the Mod Club at 6:30(!)
last night. I got the expected news when I reached the head – that they were no
longer excepting wristbands for entry – and the show was sold out. C’est la
vie. The bill – Serena Ryder, The Trews, Bedouin Soundclash, and Jim Cuddy –
was probably the strongest anywhere that evening, and truly the only show I was
interested in seeing. Instead, I went across the street to Revival and saw Cage
the Elephant play sound-check. Good band. Hard rock with high energy – I could
see a little GNR in them. Regardless, having over-done it the night before, I decided to call it an early
night. Final
score: 14 bands in three nights at 10 venues. Not bad.
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Like a man with a TV remote, it’s sometimes not about what’s on but about what else is on. Last night I was like a musical sailor on shore leave. Not that I was trying to set records but these are the stats: 9 bands in 6 clubs in 4 hours.
I focused on College St. last night hitting the Elmocambo (affectionately known as the Elmo), the Savannah Room, Rancho Relaxo, the Silver Dollar, and Sneaky Dees. I had started the evening on Queen at the Rivoli again. The bands/musicians I saw are as follows: Lily Frost, Dearly Beloved, LAPKO, Nick Perreault. Amy Seeley, America’s Sweetheart, Ox, Harmonica, and United Steel Workers of Montreal. All of the afore-mentioned were good in some way. ++++++++++++++++++++ The highlights of the night however were these: Lily Frost, Harmonica, and United Steel Workers of Montreal. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Lily has star written all over her. A great voice – and there seems to be no shortage of good female singers at this fest (or in Toronto for that matter) – with a terrific stage presence. Her songs are all over the place stylistically, but everything she does works. Have a listen to her here: http://www.lilyfrost.com/music.html
+++++++++++++++ Harmonica are from Norway. Fronted by three blond women, they sound like a cross between the Go Gos and Abba (if Abba didn’t take themselves so seriously). They play very high energy FUN music with interesting arrangements and slightly mangled English lyrics. Always dance-able, I could have listened to another full set from them. You can find them here: http://www.harmonica.no/ They will be playing again tonight (Sat.) at the Rivoli at – yikes – 2:15 AM. Tonight we also “spring forward” so I guess it is more like 3:15 AM. Enjoy for those of you still partying!
+++++++++++++++++++++++The United Steel Workers of Montreal are a roots/bluegrass-y sort of band with six members none of whom is a drummer. Can’t say I miss the drums however. They play great original songs with various members taking lead vocal duties. They too play the Riv again tonight, just before Harmonica at 1:30 AM. http://www.uswm.ca/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Although the Rivoli seems like the place to be in the wee hours, tonight I plan to go to the Mod Club to see Serena Ryder and the Trews. After that who knows…
Enjoy the last night of CMW 2007!
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The Queen West Strip. With no particular plan and a CMW wristband on my arm, I
decided to hit the Queen St. strip and catch whichever acts were playing. +++++++++++++++++ My first stop was the Rex at 6:30 PM. Kevin Quain was doing
a solo piano/vocal set of jazz standards. I had seen Kevin years before in an
amalgam known as The Mad Bastards who I quite liked. They played original
material in a sort of Tom Waits style. Highly entertaining. Last night however
it was Summertime, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, etc. Although well played in
a choppy swing feel, Kevin had trouble getting the attention of the
beer-swilling students from OCA and RAC. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ After a quick sushi dinner during which I had couldn’t help
but over-hear the many details of the many sexual adventures loudly proffered
by a group of six twenty-ish women of various orientations, I made my way down
to the Rivoli to see Jade McNelis. Jade had received some advance hype about her gig from one
of the local weeklies, so I was surprised to see that her set was somewhat
sparsely attended (although it was still early – just after 9). Burgundy
stockings poured into white high heels showcasing an epic pair of long legs. As
it turns out, she too played a solo keyboard/vocal set. Her instrument of
choice was a Nord Electro, which for the most part sounded like a classic
Wurlitzer electric piano. Nice voice though unremarkable, piano chops fair,
uninspired melodies, meandering songs with no choruses. Not sure what the hype
was about. Unless it was for the stockings. +++++++ Next stop was the venerable, and packed, Horseshoe. I had
come to see The Junction which is a group that a friend of mine recorded, but
the docket of acts was running late, so I caught a bit of an
unfortunately-named band called Attack In Black. They consisted of two guitars
bass and drums with two, possibly three, of the players singing. Good energy, and the over-all sound of
the band was okay if somewhat unoriginal.
They, like Jade, don’t seem to value the concept of writing songs that
have choruses. +++++++++++++++++++++ The fragrance of primo pot was in the icy air as I walked
the couple of blocks to the Cameron House. I like the Cameron. It is certainly an intimate setting, as
I can’t imagine that the room holds even as many as fifty people. I should
mention too that each of the afore-mentioned clubs have their charms. The Rex
is laid back and probably the best jazz club in the city. The Rivoli has a
smallish but open feeling room with good acoustics. The Horseshoe has history
and is a cool hangout, although often overly loud. And the Cameron has a
Bohemian type of vibe. Last
night at the Cameron a group from Edmonton called AA Sound System played a set.
From the name I was expecting something leaning toward hip-hop, funk, or dance
music, but this trio played roots-rock with a hint of country. In the intimate
setting one could easily focus on the rich lyric imagery in their songs. They
were the highlight of my evening.
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Let the showcasing begin! With 600 bands playing 44 venues
over four nights (Mar. 7 – 10) Canadian Music Week provides a lot of bang for
the buck. Or does it? +++++++++++++++++I have yet to narrow down my choices of which acts to see.
With so many to choose from, it really comes down to strategy and logistics
rather than picking specific acts. A plan of attack may be to focus on certain
areas of town per evening. I may do the Queen St. clubs Thursday night for
example, and hit the West End/College strip on the Friday. +++++++++++++++++ With a wristband ($35), music fans have entree to MOST of
the aforementioned 44 venues. I say “most” because I notice that some clubs
have a “limited wristbands – passes accepted” policy. And, of course, those are
the venues in which the bigger named artists are to play. ++ So –
the way I see it, there are two ways to approach CMW. If you are primarily
interested in seeing established acts (of which there are many), it may be
wiser (and cheaper) to forego the pass and pay cover at the clubs on an
individual basis. If on the other hand you are more interested in the
up-and-comers (which to me is really what the festival is all about) the
wristband is a great deal. Four nights of club hopping and a chance to see
rising talent from across the country - sounds good to me.
http://www.cmw.net/cmw2007/index.asp
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