After 20 years, jazz fest is better than ever
by Bill MacLean

It’s hard to believe that the Beaches International Jazz Festival is 20 years old. But then again, it’s hard to conceive of a time when the Beaches International Jazz Festival was not a big part of summer in the Beach. Ever since Lido Chilleli launched the Festival in 1989, it has grown to become one of Toronto’s biggest tourist attractions, bringing more than three-quarters of a million people annually to its many stages and venues, and helping to raise much needed support for Toronto East General Hospital in the process. Great music, great cause – the perfect combination for a successful event.

Woodbine Park Stage
This year, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Beaches International Jazz Festival is launching a new staging addition to its time-honoured Alex Christie Bandshell concerts and Queen Street storefronts locations. Beaches Jazz at Woodbine Park runs July 18 to 20 at three stages in the ever-more-popular Woodbine Park at the foot of Coxwell where it meets Lakeshore Boulevard.

The Canada Trust Music Main Stage will have concerts every two hours, featuring such luminaries as Roxanne Potvin, Dr. Draw, Cimarrón, The Dance Studio Theatre, Alexis Baro and Lou Pride.

The Next Generation Stage will see such acts as Johannes Linstead, Sophie Perlman/Adrean Farrugia Quartet, Jeremy Ledbetter and Canfiore, and Puente Del Diablo.

And the Youth Stage will highlight young jazz performers such as the Markham Youth Big Band, the Toronto All-Star Big Band, the Toth Brothers, the Quincy Bullen Band, and the Lucian Gray Jazz Fusion.

Jazz Workshops
Another popular part of the Jazz Festival that will be returning is the free jazz workshops held July 21 to 23 at the Mennonite New Life Centre at 1774 Queen St. E. July 21 will see an interactive jazz piano workshop with Robi Botos from 7 to 9 p.m. in room Upper 2B. Lorne Lofsky will conduct lessons for improvisation on jazz guitar in room Upper 2A. Karen Andrew will conduct an adult jazz dance workshop in the basement while Chris McKhool will perform his popular family interactive concert FiddleFire! from 7 to 8 in room Upper 1.

July 22 will feature a children’s jazz dance workshop with Karen Andrew in the basement. Rico Ferrara will help you land that first gig in his workshop in room Upper 2B. KUSH is an electronic experimental improvisational experience led by Eric Lyons. He will be leading a workshop in electronics for jazz in room Upper 2A.

On July 23 June Garber will conduct a workshop called Jazz n’ Broadway in room Upper 2A, while Chase Sanborn will instruct a jazz tactics workshop in room Upper 1.

All workshops are free, but it requested that you register ahead of time by e-mailing bijfworkshops@hotmail.com

StreetFest
Then the real fun begins on July 24 when Queen Street is closed to vehicular traffic, and the strip comes alive with the sounds of jumpin’ jazz and blues and Latin from Woodbine to Beech as the Beaches International Jazz Festival Streetfest begins. From 7 to 11 p.m. on three consecutive nights 46 different acts at 43 separate locations will keep you movin’ and groovin’ all along Queen. There will be the regulars such as the Sultans of String, the Seagull All Stars, the Toronto All-Star Big Band, Gone Fission, the Downtown Dixieland Band, Fathead, the Uptown Swing Band, Mae Cromwell, and the Jeanine Mackie Band; as well as some newcomers or returnees like Dr. Draw, Otis Blue, Julian Fauth, Bobby Cameron, and Quincy Bullen. Of course all performances are free, and many of the local stores will remain open for your convenience.

Kew Gardens Concerts
The Alex Christie Bandshell in Kew Gardens becomes centre stage for the Mainstage Concert Performances July 26 and 27 from 11:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Here is a list of the performers.

July 26
The Elizabeth Shepherd Trio (11:30): With Scott Kemp on piano and vocals, and Collin Kingsmore on drums, Elizabeth Shepherd’s piano stylings have garnered her several awards and nominations. Her latest CD Parkdale features tunes inspired by her new neighbourhood.

The Sicilian Project (12:30): The Sicilian Project is a seven-man band formed in 2004 by Michael Occhipinti. Drawing inspiration from traditional Sicilian folk music collected by ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax, Occhipinti has crafted interesting jazz improvisations. Their CD Creation Dream is a jazz-inspired exploration of Bruce Cockburn.

The Sisters Euclid (2:00): The Sisters Euclid is a four-man band made up of Kevin Breit, guitar; Ian de Souza, bass; Rob Gusevs, organ; and Gary Taylor, drums. With six albums to their credit and much accumulated experience backing famous musicians on tour, The Sisters Euclid has become a favourite Toronto band.

The Tad Robinson Band featuring Alex Shultz (3:30): Four-time W.C. Handy Blues Music Award winners, The Tod Robinson Band is riding the wave of success generated by its latest CD A New Point of View. Joining the band for this performance is guitarist Alex Shultz.

Jamaica to Toronto (5:00): This is a fantastic tribute to the many artists who came from Jamaica to establish a musical presence in Toronto from 1967 through 1974. Artists like Jay Douglas, the Mighty Pope, Everton Paul, Eddie Spencer and many others introduced Toronto to soul, reggae, and ska, and changed the Toronto music scene. The compilation CD took more than three years to record as these artists were rounded up to put down their tracks.

July 27
Brandi Disterheft (11:30): Toronto bassist and composer Brandi Disterheft is just in her 20s but has already established herself as one of Canada’s next great jazz performers. Her CD Debut recently won a Juno for Best Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, and she and the band are touring extensively.

Anne Lindsay (12:30): Lindsay was named 2007 Violinist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards, and solo Instrumentalist of the Year by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. Spanning both the Jazz and Folk worlds, Anne Lindsay proves that she is a master of her instrument. Her latest CD News From Up the Street features her own compositions, superb playing and beautiful singing.

Lady Son y Articulo Viente (2:00): This is a big jazz-Latin fusion band featuring musical styles from Cuban son to African-Latin jazz. With vocalist Lady Son as the focus , the band pays tribute to “the great salseros and soneros of the 20th Century."

Bill King’s Rhythm Express (3:30): Jazz Festival’s Musical Director Bill King takes his turn in the spotlight accompanied by the Young Divas: Sophie Berkal-Sarbit, Lauren Margison, Kinga, Josephine Biundo and Jessica Lalonde. King has, over the years, groomed many up-and-coming young female vocalists and this concert performance never fails to be one of the Festival’s highlights.

Tab Benoit (5:00): Tab Benoit was named 2007 B B King Entertainer of the Year, and this Cajun guitarist, singer/songwriter is a prolific recording artist with 13 CDs to his credit. His latest, Night Train to Nashville, was recorded live with no overdubs – as is his preferred style of recording. His Bayou Blues hearkens back to such greats as B B King, Albert Collins and even Jimi Hendrix. His show should make for a big rollicking finish to this year’s 20th Anniversary Beaches International Jazz Festival.

For more information visit www.beachesjazz.com

Road closures:
During the StreetFest, on the nights of Thursday July 24, Friday July 25, and Saturday July 26, Queen Street East will be closed from Woodbine Avenue to Beech Avenue from 6 to 11:30 p.m. nightly. The north/south streets of Waverley, Wineva and Lee Avenues will remain open throughout the evening.
Area residents who live south of Queen Street East from Balsam Avenue to Lee Avenue will be able to drive through the area by going to the following locations:
•Lee Avenue to travel both north and south;
•Wineva Avenue for south bound drivers.
The City of Toronto will temporarily open several one-way streets to two-way traffic. These include: Hambly Avenue; Hubbard Boulevard; Balsam Avenue; Fir Avenue; and Spruce Hill Road.
Area residents who live south of Queen Street East from Waverley Road to Kippendavie Avenue will be able to drive through the area by going to the following locations:
•Waverley Road to travel south only from Norway Avenue or Kingston Road;
•Kew Beach Avenue at Woodbine Avenue.
The city will open Kippendavie and Kenilworth Avenue to two-way traffic. Residents of Hartford and Herbert Avenues will be allowed to enter their neighbourhood via Hartford, which will also handle two-way traffic during the closures. Access will also be allowed through a laneway just north of Queen Street East or a laneway between Elmer and Herbert Avenues.
At each of the intersections allowing access to neighbourhoods, police officers will be on-hand to direct traffic.