Jazz

"Thoughtful, sparkling, poetically-inspired chamber jazz!"

“…with the release of Earth Voices […] Tosoff has taken the concept that she so brilliantly mastered with Words and built upon it. More instruments, more beautiful poems, more vocalists that equal more invigorating compositions that inspire and lift the already powerful words off the page into the present moment.”

Julian Taylor doesn’t fit in a box. He never has—and more power to him. A Toronto music scene staple and a musical chameleon, Julian Taylor is used to shaking it up over the course of 10 albums in the last two decades. Of West Indian and Mohawk descent, Taylor first made his name as frontman of Staggered Crossing, a Canadian rock radio staple in the early 2000s. These days, however, the soulful singer/guitarist might be on stage one night playing with his eponymous band, spilling out electrified rhythm and blues glory, and the next he’ll be performing at a folk festival delivering a captivating solo singer-songwriter set. His songs have been placed in shows like Kim’s Convenience, Haven, Private Eyes and Elementary. He’s been invited to perform at two Olympic Games. The soulful blues, rhythmic soul, rootsy rock riffs and troubadour-esque folk songs that comprise his music are worth putting your busy life on hold for. In everything he does, Taylor has carved his own path, creating genre-free music with a generosity of spirit and a strong belief in the healing powers of song. Off stage, Taylor recently ventured into radio; when the Indigenous radio station ELMNT FM opened in Toronto in 2018, Taylor became the station’s afternoon-drive host.

Taylor’s journey began in a musically artistic family: his father plays classical piano, while his cousins on both sides of his family sing and play music, and his uncle is the conductor of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, which focuses on Afrocentric vocal music. Taylor started piano at age 5 and learned acoustic guitar over summer campfires. In 1995, while still in high school, he formed the band The Midnight Blues and started playing open stages in North Toronto. That band morphed into Staggered Crossing who were signed to a publishing deal in 1997, and their self-titled debut, released in 2001, spawned four rock radio singles, including top 10 hit “Further Again.”

When Staggered Crossing split amicably in 2007, Taylor started anew as a solo artist with two albums of rootsier material, while grinding it out on the cover band circuit in small towns across Ontario. In 2014, he launched the Julian Taylor Band and this time, all bets were off: all of Taylor’s myriad influences were on the table, masterfully combining and updating vintage sounds that inspired him to create bold, innovative new songs. Modern pop, vintage R&B, smooth soul, and the rock’n’roll swagger he was known for, were all tied together with an intense devotion to craft and a collection of some of Toronto’s finest musicians. JTB have three studio albums to date—their acclaimed debut Tech Noir, released in 2014, the double record Desert Star released two years later and 2019’s acclaimed Avalanche—and have no plans to slow down, although in 2020 Taylor revisited his solo career with 2020’s contemplative The Ridge.

Toronto poet Robert Priest describes Taylor and his work as “the kind of artist forever in the zone, the voice limitless, the songs full of feeling.

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Payadora is a contemporary chamber music ensemble that performs Argentinian/Uruguayan tango and folk music and original compositions inspired by that tradition. Payadora has self produced two albums and has developed a loyal following across Canada over the past six years. The ensemble balances a combination of virtuosity and creativity, with stylistic accuracy. The ensemble features a collection of some of the most respected chamber musicians in Canada. Founded in 2013, Payadora has become one of Toronto’s most vibrant and sought-after acts. Their broad scope in tango draws from the height of Buenos Aires’ Tango tradition, including compositions by De Caro, Pugliese, Troilo, and Salgan, to the masterful, contemporary sounds of Astor Piazzolla and beyond. Drawing from eclectic backgrounds in Classical, Jazz, Latin, Eastern European folk music, and improvisation, Payadora’s performances exude technical virtuosity, playful spontaneity, and rhythmic vitality.

Their recordings are played regularly on Jazz FM’s Cafe Latino and Classical 96.3. The Argentinean consulate recently made a video in support of Payadora showcasing interviews and live videos from Payadora’s concerts. In addition, Payadora is the featured ensemble in the 2019 documentary “The Sounds of Canada: Argentina.”

Highlights from Payadora’s past performances include sold-out shows at the Ottawa Chamberfest, Indian River Music Festival in PEI, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Music Festival, the Lula Lounge, the Jazz Bistro, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, and for the Canadian Opera Company's World Music Series at the Four Seasons Centre. Payadora has been featured with the London Symphonia, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony and the Hannaford Street Silver Band, Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, Stratford Summer Music Festival, Leith Festival in Owen Sound, Music in the Morning in Vancouver and Vancouver Island Music Festival.

They are currently collaborating with Grammy award-winning “Yiddish Glory” in concerts and have composed and arranged an entire record of Polish and Yiddish Tango. They will be performing at Queens University and a live TV broadcast for Zoomer Radio.

They received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to produce a full-length film of 11 pieces in collaboration with PointeTango which they released in 2021.

They were selected to perform their show “Tango in the Dark” with PointeTango Dance Company as part of the Next State Theatre Festival and will be performing five live shows in Toronto in January 2022.

Payadora will be releasing their third album with a grant from the Ontario Arts Council in 2022. Additionally, Rebekah received creation grants from Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Councils to compose new works for Payadora.

“Blessed with so many musical gifts—taste, time, projection and a rhythmic sense of when to change chords—Carol’s piano is beyond reproach, warm yet rhythmically sharp, giving her voice a perfect hammock of support to swing in.” – REX REED

Saturday Line-up

Sunday Line-up

Saturday Line-up

Sunday Line-up

Saturday Line-up

Sunday Line-up

Rebekah Wolkstein, violin, voice

Celebrated for her stunning virtuosity, nuance and broad musical versatility, Wisconsin-born violinist, Rebekah Wolkstein has established a strong presence on the Toronto music scene. Rebekah has worked as an orchestral musician since winning an audition at the age of 16. She has performed and toured extensively with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada, The Canadian Opera Company.

An active studio musician, Rebekah is also at home playing in the styles of Folk, Klezmer, Pop, Latin, and Jazz and can be heard on numerous recordings including new releases by Donovan Woods, Laila Biali, Royal Wood and Justin Gray.

Rebekah is the first violinist of the Venuti String Quartet  venutistringquartet.com  She has performed as a violin soloist with Esmerelda Enrique Spanish Dance Company, Kaeja Dance and live to air with Simon Spiro on classical 96.3 FM and with Russell Braun.

Aside from her active performing career, Rebekah holds a Doctorate in Violin Performance from the University of Toronto as well as degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music.  A dedicated educator, Rebekah teaches private lessons and ensembles out of her own studio and at Humber College.

Drew Jurecka, bandoneon, violin

Drew Jurecka began his relationship with Payadora as record producer for both of their albums. He is an accomplished jazz and session violinist but also as an arranger, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Trained classically, he studied with Lorand Fenyves and has a degree from the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music. Drew has spent the last twelve year years playing jazz, pop, rock and other contemporary styles in Toronto. Though violin is his primary instrument, he also works frequently as a performer and recording sideman on viola, saxophone, clarinet and mandolin. For five years, Drew played with Jeff Healey as part of his Jazz Wizards band, which toured extensively across Canada. Drew can be heard on three of Jeff Healey’s CDs, including the Juno Nominated "Last Call". Drew has also toured nationally and internationally with The Polyjesters, Jesse Cook, Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Cafe, Alex Pangman, the Bebop Cowboys and Jill Barber.

Drew's arrangements have been used on countless records for artists across Canada, the United States and Europe. Drew has written original scores for eight stage plays, including seven for Vancouver-based ‘Monster Theatre’ and one for Tracey Erin Smith’s play “the Burning Bush”, which has been performed extensively in Toronto and New York City. He has also written and produced music for film, including the award winning documentary "Cuba Libre" and the recent shorts "An Insignificant Man” and “Sidestep Goosestep”.

    Drew currently teaches violin at Humber College, where he has helped to create the only specialized jazz strings post-secondary program in Canada. In seven years, the program has quadrupled in size and now includes ensembles, technique and master classes in addition to private lessons. His students have gone on to win international jazz awards and to perform and record in Canada, the US and France.From 2002 - 2011, Drew was the director of the Jazz series at the Northern Lights Music Festival in Guadalajara, Mexico. During that time he sold out nearly every show, performing with renowned Canadian artists such as Richard Underhill, Daniel Barnes, Terra Hazelton, Sophia Perlman and Jill Barber. He is also a member of the Venuti String Quartet,   venutistringquartet.com a crossover quartet with violinist Rebekah Wolkstein.

Robert Horvath, Piano

Joseph Phillips, Double Bass

Elbio Fernandez, vocals

Toronto-based alto saxophonist Allison Au (pronounced "ow") is a rising force as an improviser, composer and bandleader. Since assembling her quartet a decade ago she’s steadily gained recognition with a welcoming, interactive group sound inspired by post-bop idioms, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, pop music forms and R&B cadences.

Au’s debut album, “The Sky Was Pale Blue, then Grey” earned a Juno nomination in 2013, and her sophomore album “Forest Grove” seized the Juno for "Best Jazz Album of The Year: Group" in 2016. In 2019, the group garnered yet another Juno nomination for "Best Jazz Album of the Year: Group" for "Wander Wonder."

The Allison Au Quartet has toured extensively in Canada and the US. Winner of the 2017 Montreal Jazz Festival TD Grand Prix de Jazz, the 2017 Halifax Jazz Festival Sting Ray Rising Star Award, and a 2017 Finalist for Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Jazz Artist Award, Allison was also featured in SFJAZZ’s 2018 list of "10 Rising Instrumentalists You Should Know.”

Jon Maharaj is a JUNO award winning bass player from Toronto Ontario. He has performed with Emilie-Claire Barlow, Allison Au, Amanda Tosoff, The Tenors and Mark Masri. Jon was the bass player in the Canadian production of hit musical Come From Away from 2018-2021, where he performed over 800 shows for almost 1 million audience members. He is currently on faculty at Humber College and the University of Toronto.

A native of Invermere, a small town in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada, Morgan Childs has established himself as a first-call drummer for many leading Canadian and international jazz artists. Morgan has four recordings to his name as a leader, including his most recent, On The Street of Dreams, which was chosen by the Ottawa Citizen as one of the top-10 Canadian jazz records of 2016. Morgan has toured Canada, the US, Central America and the UK with Juno-nominated pianist/composer Amanda Tosoff, NYC bassist Brandi Disterheft, saxophonist Richard Underhill, guitarist Nathan Hiltz, pianist/vocalist Laila Biali, and pianist Robi Botos. Awards to his credit include three consecutive CBC Galaxie Rising Star Awards in 2006/07/08 with three different groups, as well as the 2009 and 2012 Grand Prix du Jazz at the Montreal Jazz Festival, with the Amanda Tosoff Quartet and Robi Botos Trio, respectively. Other notable artists Morgan has performed and recorded with include Zach Brock (Snarky Puppy), Phil Dwyer, Ingrid and Christine Jensen, Ian Hendrickson-Smith (The Roots), Mike Murley, and Pat Labarbera (Elvin Jones). In 2016, Morgan was awarded a Chalmers Prize from the Ontario arts Council, and a Canada Council Study Grant to study privately in New York City with jazz legends Billy Hart, Kenny Washington, and Jimmy Cobb. The culmination of his experience results in a distinctive, energetic, and musical approach to the drums that is steeped in the bebop tradition of his mentors, yet is forward-looking and diverse enough for the most contemporary of jazz artists. In 2018, Morgan travelled to Lviv Ukraine to perform at the Leopolis Jazz Festival with the Jake Koffman Quartet, as part of a delegation of Canadian jazz artists sponsored by the Canadian Embassy in Kiev. Morgan’s latest release is Donnybrook, Live at the Bassment, which is currently available exclusively on the Bandcamp platform.

The Jazz Vespers Quintet first started playing jazz vesper services at Calvary United Church in the fall of 2016. The group was formed to provide music for an alternative worship service that was to be held once a month at Calvary. Their music includes jazz standards, familiar pop tunes and arrangements of well known hymn tunes. JVC musicians are Larry Ernewein bass, Sandy Mackay drums, Ken Mclagan reeds, Beth Parsons vocals and Glenn Parsons piano.

After intermission Tapestry is presenting another hour of the best of the progressive and inspirational music of Trinity and Mt. Zion United Churches.

A tapestry is a beautiful fabric made from a rich variety of fabrics just as our worship team is composed of a talented variety of professional and volunteer musicians. Old favorites and contemporary hits will warm the heart.

The performers include: Yanick Allwood who is retuning from his tour in Dubai, Shelly Faris – Bob’s yer Funkle, Dale and Cathy Truelove of Truelove Ways are returning from N.S, London Music Hall of Fame Nora Galloway, Elvis Tribute Artist Gord Bell, Mt Zion band coordinator Rodney Perkins with Stan Smith and Dennis Vasek on guitar, Music Director Sharon Bee, vocalists and ministers Charmain Bailey and Paul Browning, vocalists Siobhan Browning, Deitana O’Deary, Amanada Rowe, Heather Walton and the Hales Angels quartet and joint choirs directed by Kathy Warren.

Every one attending will receive a free CD or download of either the Jazz Quintet or Tapestry!

Order of Canada recipient, Dr. Dave Young, is one of Canada’s most celebrated and valued bassists, composers, arrangers, and educators. Originally from Winnipeg, Dave has made his name known on both the Canadian and international stages in both jazz and classical music for the last 5 decades, and along the way has worked with some of the world’s top artists in various fields. Known for his elegant tone, impeccable time, and immense knowledge of musical history, Dave has been a first-call bassist for the likes of Oscar Peterson, Lenny Breau, Oliver Jones, Cedar Walton, and countless others. 

Dave’s career has reached the highest of heights in Canada, as he has not only played the best venues across the country, but has worked with an extensive list of some of Canada’s most respected musicians. That list includes such names as Peter Appleyard, Renee Rosnes, Don Thompson, Joe Sealy, Molly Johnson, and Guido Basso. His extensive career as an educator has also seen him mentor the likes of some of this country’s finest working musicians today, including Brandi Disterheft, Ross MacIntyre, and Robi Botos. 

Along with being a Member of The Order of Canada - his country’s highest civilian honour - Dave is a JUNO Award-winning musician and has several additional honours under his belt, including the IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education) Award for “Outstanding Service to Jazz.” He is a 7x Jazz Report winner, 6x National Jazz Award winner, and in 2017 was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. In 2020, Dave concluded his 30-year tenure as a Professor at the University of Toronto’s Jazz department. Dave has continued to share his wisdom with students and jazz fans through workshops. In September 2021, Dave was featured on two segments as part of JazzComposersPresent.com out of Washington, DC, which is led by Dan Jamieson. 

Dave continues to spend his time performing throughout Toronto on a regular basis, as well as recording with his various groups. Dave frequently performed in Detroit alongside Spencer Barefield and Dave Murray at Dirty Dog Jazz Café and Cliff Bell’s, as well as the Detroit Jazz Festival. Throughout his many tours within the United States, Dave has performed to sold-out crowds at Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Symphony Center, The Blue Note, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Yoshi’s Oakland, and Birdland Jazz Club.

Along with consistent performing, Dave has released an album every year for the last five years including One Way Up (featuring Renee Rosnes) and Trouble In Mind (nominated for 2020 JUNO Award). 2021 is no exception. His latest album, ‘Mantra,’ releases on MODICA Music this fall and features well-known musicians Kevin Turcotte, Reg Schwager, Brian Dickinson, Perry White, and Terry Clarke. 

From 1997 to 2007 Swede Ulf Wakenius had the probably most prestigious job in jazz: guitarist in the Oscar Petersen Quartet. But he had an also very inspiring sideline in working for legendary jazz bassist Niels-Hennig Ørsted Pedersen.

Two albums in collaboration with another great bass player - Ray Brown - even topped the American jazz charts. Wakenius successfully continued his career after becoming an exclusive ACT-artist in 2005. He is one of the greatest virtuosos playing the jazz guitar, famous for his reduced and lyrical approach and gentle, sometimes even bitter-sweet sounds.

After all, he is a great interpret of famous melodies: On his ACT debut “Notes From The Heart“ he deals with composition by Keith Jarrett and on the 2008 album “Love is Real“ (2008) he presents re-arranged songs originally composed by pianist Esbjörn Svensson.

His marked preference for melodies makes Wakenius to a perfect accompanist for singers like Viktoria Tolstoy or Youn Sun Nah. Together with the Korean jazz star Nah, Wakenius constantly tours the world and achieves great success especially in France.

Wakenius most recent album “Vagabond“ was released in January 2012. In collaboration with French accordion player Vincent Peirani and bassist Lars Danielsson, it becomes apparent that globetrotter Wakenius is driven by a curiosity for all sorts of music. From the French “Bretagne” to the Nordic tones of “Psalmen”; from archaic Native American tones of “Witchi-Tai-To” to the Far-Eastern influences present in “Song For Japan”, Wakenius sends the listener musical postcards from all over the world. He even says, “Vagabond” was the best album he has ever made.

Mark McLean is a very dynamic and versatile studio and touring musician.  And for that reason he has been the grooving spark behind many jazz, pop and soul legends whose music and influence span multiple generations.  The late legendary producer Phil Ramone, called McLean “a tasty, sure handed drummer, a song man’s musician”.