[Dixielandjazz] Toronto Jazz Festival

[Stephen G Barbone]

Sounds like a neat festival. Note the crowd pleaser band in paragraph 4

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.barbonestreet.com
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband

Toronto Jazz Festival Has International Flavour
By Madalina Hubert
Epoch Times Toronto StaffJul 27, 2008


  TORONTO: Celebrating 20 years in existence, the Beaches  
International Jazz Festival has been in full swing in Toronto since  
July 19. With over 50 bands drawing crowds of more than a million,  
StreetFest, a highlight of the festival, closed off its three-day run  
in high spirits on Saturday.Featuring an eclectic and vibrant blend of  
musical styles, from Dixieland jazz to gypsy sounds, blues, funk and  
even native Ecuadorian-style music, StreetFest boogied in tune to  
multicultural Toronto.

“It’s a lot of fun. You feed off the energy. People really are here  
for the music”, said Rick McKhool, violinist for award-winning  
Canadian band Sultans of Strings. Playing their second year at the  
festival, the band features world music with a Gypsy-jazz-flamenco  
flavour.  The crowds seemed to love every minute of the festival which  
was held along a closed two-kilometre stretch of Queen Street East.  
The energy level was high as large groups of people surrounded each  
band, clapping and dancing in the hot summer night.  The eight-day  
jazz fest entertained with both old and new.

A crowd-pleaser with its classic Dixieland style, the Downtown Jazz  
Band was the first band to ever perform at the festival at its opening  
in 1989. Composed of veteran musicians — the bass player is 91 years  
old — the group has returned every year since.

“It’s hardly ever rained,” said singer Myrna Van Weerdenburg whose  
husband Nick is the lead saxophone and clarinet player.

Other noted acts include Juno-award winning band Fathead, self styled  
as a “smokin’ blues and R&B band,” jazz bands including the  
Mississauga Big Band and the Toronto All-Star Big Band, and versatile  
soloists such as Jason Wilson and Mae Cromwell.

The Beaches International Jazz Festival runs from July 19-27 in  
Toronto.  For more info, see: http://www.beachesjazz.com/index.html.


Steve