...who play classic jazz in Toronto, listed alphabetically.
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The Boxcar Boys
www.theboxcarboys.ca/
The Boxcar Boys deliver a veritable gumbo of wild gypsy, Dixieland jazz, Klezmer, and folk music performed with a good time New Orleans spirit. They are led by clarinetist John David Williams. And by no means, all boys. |
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The Cameo Jazz Band
londonjazzsociety.ca/cameo-08.html
Covering SW & S. Ontario. Traditional New Orleans sound of theGolden Age composers, including Jelly Roll Morton, Joe Oliver, Clarence Williams, Fats Waller, W. C. Handy, Louis Armstrong. Popular standards as well as many less-well known tunes of the 20 |
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The Climax Jazz Band
climaxjazzband.blogspot.com/
The standard for British-style "trad" jazz in Toronto, they are also very well-known outside Canada. Resident @ Seven44 (ex-People's Chicken; ex - Chick 'n' Deli), Saturdays, 4 to 7 pm |
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Club Django
clubdjangotoronto.com/
Playing in the distinctive style of Django Reinhardt & Stephan Grappelli. They play monthly at the Rex (1st Sunday @ 3:30 pm) and irregularly elsewhere. |
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Combo Royale
comboroyale.com/
"Combo Royale plays old-time foot stompin' swing to near 'bout anyone who'll listen". |
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Dinny and the All Stars
www.dinnyandtheallstars.com
Trumpeter Brain Dinsdale is famous for his pick-up bands and boisterous party gigs. A firm favourite with the Kitchener-Waterloo jazz club, where the band recorded, live, its first album in 2009. |
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The Dixie Demons
www.dixiedemons.com/
Dixieland music of the upscale clubs of New Orleans |
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The Don Valley Stompers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX1NdsW463o
Young and enthusiastic band brings the traditional music from the streets of New Orleans up here to Toronto. Led by Toby Hughes, the band has effectively morphed into The New Orleans Connection, but still plays occasional gigs under the DVS name, especially featuring Miz. Debbie on vocals. |
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The Excelsior Jazz Band
www.facebook.com/excelsiorjazzband/
Playing St Louis - based jazz, The Excelsior Jazz Band is resident at The Rex Hotel, every Sunday, noon to 3pm. |
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The Happy Pals
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happy_Pals
New Orleans Jazz in Toronto. The Happy Pals have been stomping at Grossman's Tavern since at least 1980. Founded and led by Kid Bastien until his death in 2003, Patrick Tevlin/trumpet leads the band today, Saturdays 4:30 to 8:00 pm, or whenever... |
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Terra Hazelton
terrahazelton.com/
Specializing in 20s & 30s jazz, Terra, who sang with Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, fronts The Hogtown Syncopators and leads her own group, The Easy Answers. |
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The Heavyweights Brass Band
www.heavyweightsbrassband.com/
Young and talented - both with their instruments and their styles, invariably with a New Orleans feel and foundation. This is a band that could go all the way one day. |
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Peter Hill
www.myspace.com/notthatpeterhill
One of Toronto's most adroit jazz pianists, Peter Hill can be found at many clubs across town, leading a backing band for vocalists such as Laura Hubert, as well as fronting his own trio and quintet. |
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The Hogtown Syncopators
www.facebook.com/The-Hogtown-Syncopators-218095458273394/
A 5 piece (personnel can vary) band that plays traditional jazz, swing and jump. Guitar, violin, piano, standup bass, snare drum & vocals. Infectious, accomplished happy-go-lucky style. Resident @ The Rex, Fridays, 4 to 6 pm., a fine way to start the weekend. |
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The Hot Five Jazzmakers
cestwhat.ticketfly.com/event/1484474-hot-five-jazzmakers-toronto/
This accomplished quintet (often augmented) is in its thirtieth year of residency at The C'est What? tavern. Save the fare to New Orleans. Go hear them. Alternate Saturdays, 3 to 6 pm. |
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Laura Hubert
www.laurahubert.com/
Jazz singer Laura Hubert has made Toronto her own. And Toronto loves Laura. Find her regularly at The Rex; irregularly at Grossman's, Gate 403 and elsewhere, along with her backing band, led by Peter Hill. |
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Toby Hughes
musicians.allaboutjazz.com/tobiashughes
Reeds specialist, noteably on alto sax, Toby produces his own bands, including The New Orleans Connection (Sunday, Rex Hotel, 4:30 pm) and The Don Valley Stompers. Toby was resident reed player with The Happy Pals for several years. He often sits in with other bands around town. Gregarious and happy-go-lucky, Toby brings life and liveliness to his audiences. |
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Roberta Hunt
www.robertahunt.ca
Mix big piano with a beautiful voice - and strong arms! Add some attitude and a lot a charisma. With a penchant for those you-done-me-wrong songs and her musical roots in the jazz and spirituals of New Orleans: a picture of Roberta Hunt starts to emerge... Her presentations can take a number of forms, notably that of Red Hot Ramble, whose success since coming-out in 2012 has got better and better. Roberta talks with her audience almost as much a she plays to them. A gem. |
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Barbara Jordan
barbarajordansings.com/
Barbara heads up her own All-Stars octet and sings in smaller ensembles, too. Her jazz stylings include New Orleans, Western Swing and Trad. |
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Jordan Klapman
www.jordanklapman.com/
Jordan, an accomplished stride pianist is a big fan of Fats Waller. As well as playing, Jordan also composes music, writes, produces and directs jazz music productions. |
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The Lakeridge Dixie Stompers
www.lakeridgedixiestompers.com/
The Lakeridge Dixie Stompers came together in the spring of 2014 . We are best described as a traditional or dixieland jazz band. The band provides an acoustic sound. We provide a repertoire of happy swingin' jazz music, with some blues and ballads, for your dancing and listening pleasure. |
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Mick Lewis
https://www.facebook.com/Lori.MickLewis.clarinet
Clarinet - Trad jazz: New Orleans, British Trad, Dixieland. 47 years experience. Born in Shirley, Solihull, England. Immigrated to Canada in 1965 - Member of the Calgary Musician's Assoc. - Former Member of: The Mick Lewis JB (England), Johnny Amatto Band (London, Ontario), Jim McHarg's JB (Toronto), The Climax JB (Toronto). |
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The Magnolia Brass Band
music.tevlin.ca/MBB/MBB-M-Intro.htm
Toronto's very own version of New Orleans' famous parade brass bands. Comprised of members of many different local bands, the Magnolia Brass Band gets together on special occasions, including New Orleans' French Quarter Festival and local parades around the GTA. |
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Alex Pangman & her Alleycats
www.alexpangman.com/
Alex Pangman sings swing jazz from the twenties & thirties with her own distinctive style. |
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The Queen City Jass Society
www.google.ca/url?sa=t&sou... (more)
Based in Buffalo, NY, the society sponsors jazz concerts & events. With 500 members, it has a bi-monthly newsletter, "The 4-Bar Tag". Annual membership is US$15 or family US$25. No known website. Membership & general inquiries: Judy Gerlach: [email protected] or 716.260.1503. Event info: Bob Webb: [email protected] or 716.689.3962 President: Don Burns: 716.282.7476 |
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The Ragweed Jazz Band
www.facebook.com/RagweedJazzBand/
"The music of the Ragweed Jazz Band is for listening, dancing, tapping toes, ordering up another beer, and for remembering the golden years of jazz - the 30's and 40's". Home base: Ajax, Ontario. |
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Red Hot Ramble
redhotramble.ca
Playing jazz directly from New Orleans or with its roots there, the quartet has great talent: Roberta Hunt/piano/vocals, Alison Young/saxes, Jack Zorawski/bass, Glenn Anderson/drums. They play at various times/locations, including The Reservoir Lounge and The Rex. 2012 was their break-out year, their first CD and much acclaim. Passionate and hard-working; a treat to experience. |
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The Red Peppers Dixieland Jazz Band
redpeppers.ca/
Hot Jazz for fun times. Previously resident at K.C. McFly's pub. Music in the Chicago style of Eddie Condon & Louis Armstrong |
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The Regal Jazz Band
www.facebook.com/events/791464884356992/
"The Regal Jazz Band, Collingwood’s Dixieland Band, has been entertaining audiences for over 10 years. They play many Traditional and Dixieland tunes that were composed from the early 1900’s through the ’20’s and ’30’s. The happy, toe tapping music makes people of all ages want to get up and dance". |
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Abbey Sholzberg
twitter.com/torontobassist
Leads and anchors many jazz bands around the GTA, in diverse styles. Specialty: upright bass. Best-known as bassist and stage announcer with Club Django (Rex Hotel, usually the 1st Sunday of each month). |
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The Silverleaf Jazz Band
www.gigmasters.com/jazzband/thesilverleafjazzband
A traditional jazz band, founded in 1974. Plays syncopated New Orleans style from the 20's to 40's; the music of its streets and dance halls, in the era and place that jazz was born. |
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The Simcoe County Jazz Society
simcoejazz.ca/
Meets 3rd Sunday of the month at Sticky Fingers, Barrie. Bands vary. |
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The Swing Shift Big Band
www.swingshiftbigband.com/
Big Band music to swing to. Usually a monthly Saturday afternoon gig at The Rex hotel + other venues |
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Patrick Tevlin's New Orleans Rhythm
music.tevlin.ca/NOR/NOR-M-Intro.htm
Classic jazz trio based in Toronto, specializing in hot jazz and blues from the 1920s, 1930s and beyond. Patrick Tevlin/leader/trumpet, Reide Kaiser/piano, Colin Bray/bass |
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The Trillim Jazz band
www.trilliumjazz.com/
Based in Huntville, Ontario, the band makes occassional sorties south to the GTA region. |
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Peter Turner, trombonist
www.ottawajazz.com/PeterTurner/peterturner.htm
A native of Ottawa, Peter's frequent sorties into Southern Ontario are keenly anticipated. |
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The Upper Canada Classic Jazz Band
www.uppercanadajazz.ca/
The band has played around the Toronto Area in one form or another for over thirty years. They have a repertoire of well-known older jazz tunes and of lesser-known classics by Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and other legends of jazz. |
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The Uptown Swing Band
www.uptownswingband.com/
Swing era music, with a nod to the dance floor. Until recently, resident @ The Chick 'n' Deli, 2nd Monday of the month, 8 to 11 pm. |
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The Ed Vokurka Swing Ensembles
edvokurka.com/
Exploring traditional jazz by infusing gypsy, european and classical sensabilities. Groups include: AbbeySholzberg/bass, Reg Green/drums/vibes, Ted Major/piano, Ron Davis/piano, Richard Whiteman/piano, Tony Quarrington/guitar, David Blue Dunlop/guitar, Harris Mark/guitar, Cam Jobson/drums, Maxine Willan/piano, Alex Goodman/guitar/piano. See also http://www.myspace.com/edvokurkaviolinswingjazzensemble. Resident @ The Drake Hotel, alternatwe weeks, 8 to 10pm |
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The West End Riverboat Band
westendriverboatband.com/
Traditional jazz, with a repertoire spanning at least 150 years of music. Trio: clarinet, banjo, bass. |
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Richard Whiteman
www.richardwhiteman.com/
A diversely talented jazz musician, Richard is equally at home with the upright bass as he is in front of the ivories. Leader of his own ensembles, he is also resident with The Hogtown Syncopators, as pianist. |
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Ross Wooldridge
rosswooldridge.blogspot.ca/p/ross-wooldridge.html
Clarinettist par excellence, Ross is well-known for his work in a number of Ensembles, being a member of the previous Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards. Ross leads a sextet, featuring the work of Benny Goodman |
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The York Jazz Ensemble
the-york-jazz-ensemble.tumblr.com/
The YJE is a swinging 9 piece band that plays Dixieland, 40s big band, 30s, 40s, 50s vocal standards. . |
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Jack Zorawski
www.canadianjazzarchive.org/en/musicians/jack-zorawski.html
More than a bass player, Jack facilitates gigs, develops and brings musicians together. Unassuming on stage, but Jack Zorawski is also busy behind the scenes. Writes his own material too. |
...to go hear classic jazz in & around the GTA, listed alphabetically
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C'est What? tavern
cestwhat.ticketfly.com/event/1484474-hot-five-jazzmakers-toronto/
67 Front St. The C'est What? pub is 'home base' for The Hot Five Jazzmakers, who play there alternate Saturdays from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, September to May, now in their 30th year there. Famous for its great variety of craft-brewed beers, it brews its own beers too. A piece of New Orleans right here in Toronto. |
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Dovercourt House (Swing Toronto)
www.dovercourthouse.com/
Saturday Night Swing Dance weekly at Dovercourt House featuring a great (varies) swing bands. Plus beginner dance classes before the dance party. 805 Dovercourt Road, Toronto (Bloor & Ossington) |
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The Drake Hotel
www.thedrakehotel.ca/
An ecclectic mix of many media. Often classic and/or gypsy jazz on weekends. 3 blocks E. of Dufferin. 416.531.5042 |
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Gate 403
www.gate403.com/
- Sadly, this venue closed April 29, 2018 - Blues as well as jazz plays nightly at this West end bar & grill |
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The Gladstone Hotel
www.gladstonehotel.com/
Various music styles, nightly |
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Grossman's tavern
www.grossmanstavern.com/
Home of the legendary Happy Pals. Saturdays 4:30 - 8:30 pm as well as other jazz bands (usually Mondays, Thursdays & some Fridays) New Orleans Connection plays every Sunday at 4:30 pm |
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Jazz Bistro
https://jazzbistro.ca
Occasional gigs featuring classic jazz material and artists. One of best pianos in the city. |
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Hugh's Room
www.hughsroom.com
Supper (optional) club, with nightly music shows, a few of which are classical jazz. 2261 Dundas Street W., 416.531.6604. Good seated sighlines. |
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The K-W Dixieland Jazz Club, Waterloo, ON
www.facebook.com/Kitchener-Waterloo-Dixieland-Jazz-Club-346925298823983/
The K-W Dixieland Jazz Club.Lancaster Jazz Club. 19 Regina St. N., Waterloo (2nd floor of Canadina Legion building). Gigs Saturdays, 2 to 5 pm, September through May, plus special events and excursions. Info: WaynePauli [email protected] or 519-744-2665. Annual membership $10. Sessions are open to non-members. |
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The Old Mill
www.oldmilltoronto.com/
Jazz in the Home Smith bar, Fridays 8:30 to 11:30 pm |
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The Reservoir Lounge
www.reservoirlounge.com
52 Wellington E A hotspot for jazz, swing & blues. Sophia Perlman & the Vipers were resident Mondays but the bar has recently not opened Mondays. Red Hot Ramble and Alex Pangman both have monthly slots here |
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The Rex Hotel
www.therex.ca/
Probably more jazz than any other Toronto location. Mon-Wed: 6:30pm & 9:30pm; Thu & Fri + gig at 4pm. Sat/Suns. + gigs at noon & 3:30pm. Early hours jam sessions during major jazz festivals |
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The Senator Winebar
thesenator.com/wine-bar/
Hosts jazz combos Fridays and Saturdays. |
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Sticky Fingers, Barrie
www.stickyfingers.ca/
511 Bryne Drive, Barrie. 3rd Sunday of month (not Jul or Aug.). $8.00 Guests. Bands vary. Memberships available. Ted Fry: 705-737-2959 |
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Queen Victoria's Pub
www.queenvictoriapub.ca/
Hosts Dinny & the All Stars, who play here approximately every other Sunday, 5 - 8 pm |
...multiple-band events, within a day's drive, listed by known dates
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South Side Shuffle, Port Credit
www.southsideshuffle.com/
8-10 September, 2017. Blues & Jazz Festival. Well worth the trip over to Mississauga. Street fest, clubs and open-air stages. |
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Canadian Big Band Celebration
www.canadianbigband.ca/
Annual. 15-17 September, 2017. Port Elgin area. On Lake Huron, west of Owen Sound. |
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Brantford Jazz Festival
www.brantfordjazzfestival.com
9th annual event. Sept 16 -17, 2017. |
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Toronto Jazz Festival
www.tojazz.com
23 June - 2 July, 2017. A major festival, at many venues around the city, with a wide definition of jazz styles. 2018 dates tba. |
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Ottawa International Jazz Festival
www.ottawajazzfestival.com/
June 22 - July 2, 2017. Not a Toronto location, but it has featured more classical jazz bands than some Toronto 'jazz' festivals. There is also a Winter Jazz Festival; February 9-12, 2017. 2018 dates tba. |
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Beaches Jazz Festival
www.beachesjazz.com/
July 6 - 29, 2018. Annual summer street & park jazz-fest. All the music is free, but classical and other jazz is often limited. |
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Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival
www.uptownwaterloojazz.ca/
Annual. July 21-23, 2017. Kitchener-Waterloo is 1 hour west of Toronto, off Highway 401. 2018 dates tba. |
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Markham Jazz Festival
www.markhamjazzfestival.com/
Annual. 16 - 20 August, 2017. On Main Street Unionville and Main Street Markham. 2018 dates tba. |
..."Let's drive down or fly down to..." Events that feature GTA classic jazz performers and/or fans, listed by known dates
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Grugelfest, Toledo, OH. Sept 8-10, 2017)
www.grugelfest.com/
The "Ralph Grugel Memorial Jazz Festival" is now a well-established replacement fro the famous Strongsville (Cleveland) jazz festival that ceased after many years in 2011, of which the late Ralph Grugel was a key organizer. Now in the hands of Ragtime Rick Grafing. Bands in prior years: Cakewalkin' Jass Band, Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Jazz Band, The Sunset Stomp Jazz Band, Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band, Easy Street Jazz Band, Climax Jazz Band. Check website for this year's lineup. |
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Suncoast Dixie Jazz Classic, Clearwater, FL.
www.jazzclassic.net/
November 16-18, 2018. Many bands. Weekend before U.S. Thanksgiving. Too many bands to list here - check their website. |
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French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, LA
fqfi.org/frenchquarter
April 12-15, 2018. The famous annual event of traditional jazz in the birthplace of jazz: New Orleans. 4 days, Thursday thru Sunday. Many bands. A popular festival with Toronto's jazz players and fans alike. |
...links to other helpful sites about the subject of jazz. Listed alphabetically by key word.
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Atelier Grigorian
www.grigorian.com
Atelier Grigorian is one of Canada's finest classical and jazz recording stores. Example: they stock the whole Climax Jazz Band's CD library. 70 Yorkville Avenue. |
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All About Jazz
www.allaboutjazz.com/
Vast U.S.-based website devoted to Jazz. Jazz players (including some in the GTA) have webpages here |
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BBC jazz
www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=jazz
Programs available "on demand" as well as live streaming |
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CD Baby
www.cdbaby.com
CDBaby is a merchandising website that has been gathering momentum. Specializing in artists who can be described as "Indie" (independent of a major recording label), it is becoming a focus for people looking for recordings by such artists - a specialty market. Local classic jazz musicians known to make their work available on CDBaby include: Alex Pangman, Jordan Klapman, Mick Lewis. |
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Jazz Education Program
www.redpeppers.ca/jazzed.htm
The Red Peppers Dixieland Jazz Band provides live education and entertainment concerning this thing called jazz. |
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Jazz FM., 91.1 mHz.
www.jazz.fm/
CJRT. Toronto's own jazz radio station. One show a week on traditional jazz: (Wednesdays 9 pm) |
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ejazznews.com
ejazznews.com/
This excellent jazz-focused website covers all types of jazz, internationally. But there is usually a fair sprinkling of information centred on Toronto. |
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Jazz Discography
www.lordisco.com
A huge database of jazz musicians, sorted alphabetically. |
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London Jazz Society
londonjazzsociety.ca/
London Ontario has its own jazz community, centred upon the London Jazz Society, with events, at home and away, monthly |
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Jazz by Mail
www.jazzbymail.com/
We are dedicated to stocking the most complete early jazz and ragtime music catalog on the web. |
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New Orleans history
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A747074
A brief history of the "Crescent City", the "Big Easy", the cradle of jazz. |
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New Orleans Jazz in (and around) Toronto
https://www.facebook.com/NOLAJazzToronto
Run by Toby Hughes, dedicated to the bands, the musicians and the fans, new and old, of New Orleans Jazz in (and around) the Toronto area. Drop by for updated listings and news. Feel free to share pictures and stories with the community. |
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Jazz Oracle
www.jazzoracle.com/
A jazz label focusing on reissues from the 20s and 30s. With links to other sites of interest to Toronto jazz fans. Run, in part, by ColinBray. |
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Performers-R-Us
performers-r-us.com/
Doug Burnley, London, ON: "I have been designing websites for the past 10 years, for business, bands and performers". Performers-R-Us provides an affordable solution to the web marketing needs of bands, musicians and entertainers. |
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Red Hot Jazz Archive
www.redhotjazz.com/
A place to study and enjoy the music of jazz before 1930 |
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Jazz Roots
www.jass.com/
A history of the origins of jazz |
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Jazz Standards dot com
www.jazzstandards.com/
The who, what, when, where of favourite jazz tunes |
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Toronto Public Library
www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/
Many, many books, CDs, tapes, DVDs and other materials covering classical jazz, available to borrow and enjoy. There is also an e-books section, where you can read books on your computer or mobile device. Not what you want at your local branch? Use the online reservation system and they will deliver to your branch and notify you when you can pick them up. And it's all free |
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Vancouver Jazz Forum
vancouverjazz.com/
The jazz scene in & around Vancouver |
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Wholenote magazine
www.thewholenote.com/index.php/listings/intheclubsjazz
Monthly publication with a calendar of jazz/blues/swing music listings for Toronto, plus some editorial. |
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WWOZ audio stream
www.wwoz.org
WWOZ is "New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Station". Click the hotlink for their live internet stream |
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New Orleans Jazz in (and around) Toronto
www.facebook.com/NOLAJazzToronto/info?tab=page_info
Dedicated to the bands, the musicians and the fans, new and old, of New Orleans Jazz in (and around) the Toronto area. |