October Columns
Jazz in the Heartland | View from Canada | Jazz in Mountain Time
Continued: View from Canada
Bob Lane attended the session and he loved it. This is how he described it: "I don't think I can satisfactorily put into words what a fantastic day yesterday was [Sept. 20]. Two sold-out performances featuring Wally's Warehouse Waifs, with the enthusiasm and spirit of both the crowd and the band blowing the roof off the place. It was indeed an extraordinary party in celebration of 30 years of traditional jazz at the Lanc. Jim Nevins was right at home as a stand-in for Keith DeWitt, the band's regular trombonist. Mick Lewis on clarinet and Brian Dinsdale on trumpet sat in briefly during each performance to the delight of everyone. The band brought its 'A' game with the usual banter of leader Dave Tatrow keeping everyone in stitches between numbers that ran the gamut from dixieland, rag and sing-along to rock and roll, with fun renditions of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis by Dave Bennett, an extraordinary, young talent on clarinet and piano. It was a hugely successful day of fun and celebration -- without question one of the highlight events of the past 30 years."
Nicely put, Bob! The Saturday matinees at the Lanc for October feature Dinny & The All Stars (the 11th) Red Peppers (the !8th); and The Dixie Demons (the 25th). Showtime is 4 to 7 p.m.
On the heels of the cancelation of this year's Spring G.I.R.J.F. (Grand International Ragtime-Jasstime Foundation) Festival at Alexandria Bay, N.Y., organizers Wayne and Nancy Pauli have announced that the Fall event, scheduled for October 17-19 at the Pine Tree Resort, has also been canceled. The Resort encountered a serious water main breakage, requiring major repairs, shortly before the May 2008 festival was due to start, resulting in its cancelation. Writes Wayne, "We ran into serious financial demands and withdrawal of several services with The Pine Tree Resort which we could not rectify in time to proceed so had to cancel."
This was a very popular event for fans in both Ontario and New York State, and so there is much disappointment. It also provided a popular forum for piano players and jazz bands in the area, and this will leave a big vacuum for aspiring trad bands. There is still hope for a concert in Spring 2009, however.
The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar, on Queen Street in downtown Toronto, remains a powerful force for jazz in the area. Since the late 1980s, it has grown into a musical mecca, presenting as many as 19 shows per week. The jazz content covers many genres and includes traditional jazz and swing-orientated groups such as the Freeway Jazz Band, The New Excelsior; Club Django;The Hogtown Syncopators; The Sultans of Swing; Abbey's Meltdown; Laura Hubert, and more. Lucky Toronto to have such a venue!
The Hot Five Jazzmakers (plus two) appear at the Port Nelson United Church in Burlington, Ont., on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. for another concert in their Jazz Gospel series. The concert will also include the Chancel Choir, who will join with the Jazzmakers for a couple of combined numbers. Tickets are $20 and can be obtained at the door or in advance. Phone (905) 637-5631.
Canadian poet and jazz impresario Al Rose is presenting another jazz and poetry concert Nov. 14. A similar event was held around the same time last year, and it was a great success. The event will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall Branch 527, Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto, from 8 p.m. to midnight. The theme will be "Remembrance Day" with jazz and poetry from the war years. The band will be the Hot Five Jazzmakers (plus two). Al will read some poems from his new book of poetry Butterflies in Winter as well as war poems by other famous poets. The guest of honour will be Sam Meltzer, who celebrates his 90th birthday at the event. In WW2 Sam was at Dunkirk and was with the Desert Rats in North Africa. He has been injured, torpedoed, you name it. He's a fitting man to honor at such an event. Tickets cost $30, which includes tasty snack treats in the intermissions. Phone or e-mail Al Rose for ticket information, (416) 748-1977 or arose@rogers.com
Around the clubs, we see that Peter Appleyard and his all-star quartet perform at the London (Ont.) Jazz Society Nov. 2. That's the good news, but the bad news is that the show is sold out!
In Barrie, Ont., on Sunday, Oct. 19, the Bourbon Street Buskers from Toronto perform at the Sticky Fingers Bar & Grill, starting at 2 p.m.
South of the border in New York State at Sean Patrick's, the Queen City Jass Society hosts its November Awards Show Set, with an eight-piece special events band. Tom Lanphear Achievement awards will be presented to Gary Gath and Ted Howes. The show runs from 5 till 8 p.m.
The Climax Jazz Band has an old friend back with them for several of their Fall Saturday matinee sessions at the Chic n' Deli on Mt. Pleasant Road, Toronto. Mick Lewis played with the Climax for over 20 years before he moved out West to Alberta. He is back in Toronto with his wife, Lorraine, while they work on refurbishing their Toronto home, prior to sale.
Over in Eastern Ontario, Ron Lloyd's New Orleans Express is performing at WestWinds Restaurant on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 7 till 10 p.m. Call (613) 735-7195 for reservations.
If you have any news of Canadian interest, I am always pleased to include it in this column. Just e-mail me at briantowers@msn.com
October 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag
P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.