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The Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival was a blast!

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My wife and I went to the 21st Annual Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival and we just fell in love with this event! Imagine, 2 km of closed street with 50, yes you read that correctly, 50 bands playing on street! They were at just about every other corner. Each band that night played 3 sets from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. They all staggered their performances so as not to drown out each other.

It really was a magical night! We quickly found some parking, walked along the boardwalk and got to the beginning of the street fest faster then I thought we would.

We were first greeted by the sounds of a jazz fusion band with this fabulous violinist graciously blasting out solo with all he had! Then came the smell of the Beaches Festival, the FOOD! Note: if you plan to attend next years event, GO HUNGRY. Too many types of food to mention in this post.

The atmosphere was really electrifying. The relaxing buzz, that seemed to be coming from everywhere, was quite family friendly. Kidz, dogs and everything in between where out there last night. There weren’t all that many people walking around at first, but that certainly changed 2 hours later.

The styles were very diverse. We first witnessed a fusion band, then a Dixie land band, followed by Salsa/flamenco guitar players, a BIG BAND (all were really tight) then a blues band. The organizers were trying to highlight Big Band’s, Swing, Dixieland, Smooth, Post-Bop, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul sounds. Wow, is to put it lightly.

This video captures the sounds of this band correctly. The Visual well …

At the end of the night the band we both found the most intriguing was a band called Project Phoenix. We were so impressed that we bought one of their CD’s titled Milestone. Go and listen to the song called “Jump for it” on their site. It was the last song they played last night and it was purely brilliant!

So if you love any of the styles that the Beaches Jazz Festival provides us at their event, then this is a must see for next year! See ya then!

Beaches Jazz Festival, Keep on Jammin’




Glastonbury Festival

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The Glastonbury Festival is something I’ve never heard of before.

This sounds like one of the best musical weekends one could ever imagine!

It started in 1970 and hasn’t looked back. In 1971 the lineup was Hawkwind, Traffic, Melanie, David Bowie, Joan Baez and Fairport Convention. Attendance: estimated at 12,000. Price: free. At the 1982 show the acts were Van Morrison, Judie Tzuke, Jackson Browne, Roy Harper, Richie Havens. Attendance: 25,000. Tickets: £8. Then in 1985 Echo & The Bunnymen, Aswad, Joe Cocker, Style Council and The Boomtown Rats. Attendance was 40,000,Tickets: £16. Now that’s not a bad line up!

They even made a documentary called Glastonbury Fayre (1972). Watching the trailer looks like it was going to be one of those weekends, don’t ya know, nudge, nudge, wink, wink?! The band Fairport Convention looked great. These guys are still around believe it or not.

Has any of my readers here been to this festival? I’d love to know if it’s well worth the price to get there?!

Keep on Jammin’

Buffalo Auditorium’s last stand

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The Buffalo Auditorium was just a beautiful building. They are demolishing it and making it into a parking lot! As in Joni Mitchel’s song, They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. The pictures says it all.

Some many unforgettable events were held there. I know you just have to ask Chris Noto about it and he’ll have tons of stories for you! Sorry about your loss there buddy!

Many sports teams called it their home.

Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, the Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association, the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Soccer League, the Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, the Buffalo Blizzard of the second National Professional Soccer League, and the Buffalo Stampede of Roller Hockey International. It also held a number an NCAA basketball games, as well as numerous entertainment events, such as concerts, the Ringling Brothers circus, Disney on Ice, and other things of that nature.

It held some fabulous other shows as well. The Aud. held shows by major acts such as The Grateful Dead. Some say the grand old lady helped produce the bands greatest shows ever! The Who, The Stones, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Neil Young and David Bowie are just a few of the greatest bands to play within it’s walls.

So here is a final salute to the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium “The Aud” and let us keep her in out hearts!

Has anyone here been lucky enough to have graced her hallowed walls? If so, what did you see there and do you have some stories about her?!

Keep on Jammin’

Half Past four

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Now Half Past Four, that played last at the Nuance show, is unlike any band that I have heard or seen in a long time. Crafting original, fresh soundscapes from their headquarters in Toronto, Canada, Half Past Four offers exquisite musical novelty and experimentation to true musical connoisseurs and rock-party goers alike is how they define themselves and I must agree.

They are very difficult to pin their unique style, done to just one genre of music. It’s not that I’m trying to, but for my readers this may just help them out a bit.

Crafting original, fresh soundscapes from their headquarters in Toronto, Canada, Half Past Four offers exquisite musical novelty and experimentation to true musical connoisseurs and rock-party goers alike.
Half Past Four

The music is progressive in natural, but the stage presence is pure art rock. During their performances, the band has videos playing behind them all the time. If you get the opportunity to see them live, PLEASE pay attention to what’s going on in the background, it’s worth it!

The lead singer is hypnotizing and infectious to watch! Together, they elevate their audiences musical adventure to a whole new, very entertaining musical experience.

Everything about this witnessing this band live is new and refreshing to me. This is one of those bands that you route for to make it big! If you are in the GTA area, you must check out when and where they are playing … once again it’s worth the drive.

Keep on Jammin’

Checking out concerts live in your living room

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Imagine checking out a fabulous concert of your favorite act! The vibe during the show is just infectious. Just lining up at the gate to get in can get your heart a pumping! Finally after getting in, your bumping into people racing to grab a light refreshing liquid beverage(or in my case many!), listening to other music lovers talking about previous shows or the band in general.

That’s what I love about the concert experience! Now imagine being at a great gig, only that it’s at home and on your TV/computer screen?!

Well that’s what this classical company is introducing to us. I’m not sure, but I’d give it a go, just for the hell of it.

The company, called Berliner Philharmoniker, is providing LIVE CONCERTS, via live audio-video streams through the internet. Mind you, they also provide the avid classical lover past shows as well.

Would you subscribe to something like this? I’d love to find out what you all think about this new experience.

Keep on Jammin’

NUANCE Progressive/Art Rock Festival and Showcases

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This years Nuance event at the Black Swan was … well another showcase of Toronto’s best kept musical secrets live on stage! The bands at this years celebration was none other then CounterPoint (my personal favorite), Half past 4 and Wilton Said.

Once again, a lot of praise has to be given to the man Wilton Said. The quality of acts at the show, is an indication of how much love Wilton has for his love of this genre of music. The energy that he has to bring together high caliber performers under one umbrella to present a well rounded evening is not only rewarding to him but the audience members as well.

The crowd was enthusiastic and respectful to each of the bands on stage that night. There wasn’t a single obnoxious drunk, ruining the evening in sight! The only thing that brought us all together was the love of music, a happening if you will.

Each group brought to the experience a unique art form. They contributed to the listener, sides of Prog/Art Rock that most people in general cannot appreciate. Collectively, they were fine ambassadors to the cause.

The price was right for these troubled financial times, three bucks! A buck a band, where else in the world can you find a deal like this? I told you not to miss it! To the ones that showed up, you know who you are, It was great to met some of the readers on this blog plus for your the support of this great event and hopefully you enjoyed it as much as I did!

So next time I write about this event, I hope to see more of you out there because it’s more then worth the drive to Toronto.

Keep on Jammin’ (at Nuance!)

Busker Of The Beaches Attends His Own Wake

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The well known beaches busker, 59 year old Dan Cole, is dying of in-operable lung cancer, but has a funny way of showing it.

Dan Cole is having a wake … but the thing is, it’s for him and he will be there … alive and kicking/laughing or juggling. The man who just can’t stop loves performing on cruise ships and entertaining UN peacekeepers in war zones far away from the comforts of home.

The event was put together by his friends and admirers to help him with the cost of his own funeral expenses. I realize this is a bizarre story to write about, but this was intended to be a nice piece. It’s about an artist who in the past has helped others drift away from their day to day troubles or fears and bring them a laugh or smile. These are the ones society should be idolizing!

“I didn’t want to miss people saying good things about me by waiting until I died,”

My wife found this story while going through some e-mails. The local TV news station, city tv, had picked up this story and then ran another article that was just as nice. The Star had also wrote a piece on Dan’s story as well.

I can’t recall seeing Dan perform on the boardwalk, but if I did I now wish that I may have paid more attention to his act! So hats off to the Busker of Kew Beach!

Keep on Jammin’

Canada’s got the Blues

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Well fellow readers, it is finally time to shake the cob webs out of your head and get rid of those dreaded winter blues away! The blues come from those of us who have been deprived way too long of the sun’s healing properties. The medical term is called seasonal defective disorder (SAD). It’s when we do not receive enough vitamin D from that big orange thing in the sky! For some of us this is not a bad thing cause The Blues is making head way into the Canadian music scene!

The blues has always had a negative feel associated with it for ages. The Blues music is another story completely.

A dear friend of mine, way back in my college days, was a fabulous guitar player with immense guitar skills. Peter Schmidt is his name and his style of guitar playing just screams the blues. He is one of those unsung local talents who has not made it to the big stage yet, but there are many more where he came from. So, is Canada really that gifted in this area of music?

The answer seems to be YES! We have tons of blue society’s that are very active in the city. They hold concerts (Winter and Summer events), untold internet forums and have work shops everywhere, no matter the age.

We have bluesy greats such as the late, great Jeff Healey, Danny Marks, Kenny Brown, Ted Leonard, Steve Grisbrook or big Buzz Upshaw, just to name a few that I know of.
Even Leon Redbone was links to Canada!

There was this great article in this magazine called Chill that I was reading the other day. The article called “The state of the blues in Canada” was bringing to everyone’s attention the rise of Blues and who is the up and coming stars to watch out for. It’s a great read to check out!

So, are we going to shake off or embrace the blues? It’s your call.

Keep on Jammin’

Simon and Garfunkle back on the road

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Simon and Garfunkel are back out on the road again after all these years. They have dates booked for Australia and New Zealand, but I’m sure their have to look for America in the near distant future, lucky buggards. If you love their music and they are going to be playing anywhere within 500 miles from where you live, then don’t be a fool and miss out on this one!

I had the glorious opportunity to have seen these guys way back in my college days. They played at the now demolished CNE stadium, but the memories will live on in my mind for the rest of my life!

The show was like going to someone’s back yard and they were just a couple of guys who showed up and start playing! We were around 100 feet away from the stage and this atmosphere was like nothing I’ve witnessed before. We had general admission seating and it was more then worth it!

Very young and old, and everything in between was there. It seemed like everyone there was lying on big blankets while eating and drinking out of a cooler. The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky and it was around 30 (C). The whole place was so relaxing. It was like I was just hanging out with some Old Friends.

Keep on Jammin’

Will the remaining Beatle reunite for one night

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I just found out on the radio that the surviving members of the Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, may be on stage together tonight after all these years! I know we’ve heard all of this before, but you never know.

This historic event may take place at the Radio City Music Hall in New York city. This evenings concert is a benefit for the David Lynch Foundation.

I just wanted to inform you in case you didn’t hear about until now! I’ll be back tomorrow for more news on the show that you may have wished you saw, if it does in fact take place!

Let’s hope the Beatles will … Keep on Jammin’

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