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Join us lakeside at Woodbine Park (Lake Shore and Coxwell) for the kick-off to the Festival's 21st Annual Celebrations.
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50 jazz bands entertain you along a 2 km stretch of Queen St. E. It's a 3 day event attracting upwards of a million people.
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Free concerts featuring notable jazz headliners on the main stage in the heart of Toronto's Beach community.
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| Remembering Our 2008 Season Highlights |
The summer of 2008 will be remembered for record breaking rainfall transforming Southern Ontario into a dense tapestry of rain forest greens, steamy sidewalks, air pollution kept at a minimum and general uncertainty when planning those much anticipated weekends.
Water-laced clouds seemed to hover over every outdoor event leaving organizers and sponsors one downpour away from disaster. Fortunately, the BIJF was spared any prolonged drubbing. It's been speculated BIJF's Executive Director, Lido Chilelli, has a direct line to the almighty and a deal was struck in the late eighties whereby Lido keeps the festival high in homegrown content and the governing force above points his cosmic garden hose elsewhere. The pact has served the festival well over the past twenty-one years with only a few mishaps. In fact, the only spot of rain occurring during the main event at Kew Gardens 2008 landed on guitarist Kevin Breit and Sisters Euclid. Breit is one of the most engaging musicians on the planet. He plays one ferocious guitar splashing blue grass lines across dense jazz shadings - melding blues tinged riffs onto country motifs. For his part, Breit accepted the inevitable and danced about the stage bleeding every chord of emotion as rains battered the gazebo. Breit seemed to rejoice in the unmanageable - so did a couple thousand diehard fans who cheered every solo.
BIJF 2008 was loaded with talent - Elizabeth Shepherd Trio, Juno award winner Brandi Disterheft, virtuoso violinist Anne Lindsay, trumpeter Alexis Baro, soul singers Lou Pride and Tab Robinson, keepers of the groove - Jamaica to Toronto, The Sicilian Project, the quirky David Buchbinder and Odessa Havana, blues singers Roxanne Potvin and Tab Benoit.
Woodbine Park has great potential - great sight lines and wide open spaces that easily accommodated our three stages. Year one at Woodbine Park was a "weather" challenge, but in between downpours, people gathered around the bands and enjoyed the intimacy. David Buchbinder and company drew a solid crowd most interested in his seamless blend of Cuban and Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies. Singer Sophia Perlman brought along a riveting ensemble stacked with some of the best with Robbi Botos piano, Brandi Disterheft bass and Sly Juhas drums. Our youth stage introduced the Toth Brothers (who got a great profile in the Toronto Star), Quincy Bullen, the 16 year old jazz piano wunderkind and old favorites like the Toronto All Star Big Band.
Streetfest continued with our new generation theme. We introduced our "Nu Funk" corner with bands such as God Made Me Funky, King Sunshine and Dr. Payne & The Disease. Other new young performers got their first experience with Streetfest to a huge positve response from the public, and they included Methodology, 17-year old, Beach resident Lucian Gray's combo (Lucian is off to Berklee on a big scholarship); Quincy Bullen's combo with his Dad, Juno Award winner, Eddie Bullen; guitarist Corey Heuvel and others. We also had a return of the ever popular Toronto All Star Big Band and for his 6th year in a row, 18 year Rob Christian on sax, flute and something called an EWI (electronic wind instrument).
Highlights? There were many! Probably the overall winner - Lady Son Y Articulo Veinte fronted by director, lead vocalist and congas Yeti Ajasin. Ajasin is of mixed Italian, Jewish and Nigerian background. Born in Canada but well versed in salsa, Guajiro and Son Montuno - Ajasin's performance was electrifying. As she played and sang an unseen current soared through the grounds - out of the park down Queen Street east and west. It was unrelenting rhythms and stinging horns that fed the excitement.
How could one not be fully engaged by the Sicilian project, another brainchild of guitarist Michael Occhipinti's eclectic endeavors. Bassist Brandi Disterheft has been on a major high all year moving about with her quintet then grabbing a Juno for Best Jazz Recording.
For pure rawness and power, Louisiana blues singer and guitarist Tab Benoit is a giant blessed with authentic pipes and blistering chops. Benoit has the repertoire; swamp magic, barrelhouse blues, gritty Southern rock, soul ballads - the whole deal. Sunday in Kew Gardens had to be the largest turn-out to date and Benoit never let up during his ninety-minute set. As I gave my closing words, I could see from the thousands of faces in the crowd, that our 20th year - had come to a very satisfying conclusion!
BIJF Artistic Director - Bill King |
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YOUTH INITIATIVES
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YEAR ROUND Ages 14 - 28
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This program provides youth year-round mentoring and instruction.
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During Beaches Jazz Festival StreetFest, on the nights of Thursday July 23rd, Friday July 24th, and Saturday July 25th, 2009, Queen Street E. will be closed from Woodbine Ave. to Beech Ave. from 6:00 pm to 11:30 pm nightly. The north / south streets of Waverley Ave., Wineva Ave., and Lee Ave. will remain open throughout the evening. For complete details on road closures, click here. |
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Youth Initiatives: | | |
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