\ TO EAST \

As I wrote almost exactly two years ago about the eclectic instrumental Jazz group BTBs, the trio that performs every Wednesday at Relish in east TO in its own way embodies a broad swathe of the genre’s evolution.

“Jazz is restless.  It won’t stay put and it never will. It is forever seeking and reaching out and exploring,” I quoted iconic trombone legend J.J. Johnson as once saying, then noted that the description also aptly applies to this combo, which ranges through a wide variety of styles and flavours at their weekly 7:30 to 10:30 no-cover shows.

And even though tonight marks four years of their residency in the funky tapas eatery and music emporium at 2152 Danforth Ave., the group continues to have a lively, inventive spirit imbuing not only its performances but even its weekly promotional blurbs that always strike an amusingly intriguing note.

Led by guitarist Ed Kopala, with über-versatile bassist Bob Bilton and drummer Peter Griffin (or sometimes alternate Shawn Killaly) both more than ably playing off his riffs —and one another’s!— the group incorporates elements of Funk and Rock and Pop into their take on covers and even more so when they perform originals.

But their range goes way beyond what I can do justice to in description —you really have to just sit down and let these guys transport you through a musical adventure to really appreciate how knowledgeably inventive and entertaining they are.

Apparently both Griffin and Killaly will be on hand for tonight’s anniversary shindig and I wouldn’t be at all shocked to also see a few other local talents ending up sitting in with the guys for a tune or two before things wrap up.  Adding to the import of the occasion is the fact that, in addition to marking the milestone, tonight’s gig is also a bit of a bon voyage, as the trio is on hiatus for the next three weeks.

You can be sure, however, that they’ll be back on hand in time to be part of the club’s lineup for its participation in the forthcoming TD Toronto Jazz Festival.  Again this year Relish will have a full schedule of acts as part of the June 23- July 3 event, offering up 21 no-cover shows over its ten-day duration.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.) Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold and underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger, highlighted type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

5> Gordon Shawcross @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO

*5:30> Kama House Band @ Kama, 214 King St. W., TO ~Jazz

6-8> Gigi & Friends featuring Genevieve Marentette @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10

6> Dave Borins @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Trevor Giancola Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W., TO ~Jazz

*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North

7:30> Sue & Dwight’s 60s Folk Revival @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~Folk; $10

*7:30> Jeff Willingham @ Lou Dawgs Ryerson, 76 Gerrard St. E., TO ~acoustic Pop

**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO

**8 (7 p.m. sign-up)> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Michelle Lecce-Hewitt @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall), TO ~Roots

8-1> open jam with Wednesday’s Child feat. Johnny Bootz Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

8> The Distillery @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

8:30> benefit for Fort McMurray relief with bands tba @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO

8:30> Independent Music Program album release @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~no cover

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

9> Massey Hall Band @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~$

*9 (signup at 8:30)> open mic with Alan Carter @ Lowdown, 276 Augusta Ave., TO

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO

9-11:30> SOA featuring Chrystelle Maechler @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~World Jazz; $

9> Lola Rd. @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

9:30> Kirk MacDonald @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

10> Sarah Burton @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~songwriter

10> Josh Cole & Friends @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

10:30> The Undercovers @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10

416 – TORONTO EAST

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs celebrate four years @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

7:30> open mic night @ Royal Canadian Legion Branch 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave., TO East

*8> acoustic open mic with Phill Hood @ An Sibin Pub, 709 Queen St. E., TO East

8:30-10:30> Black Suit Devil @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

9> Mark Stanski Lego Show @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

8-1> Christopher Plock Trio @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Jazz; $

9> Space Jazz jam with guitarist Youngchan Na & band with weekly guest tba @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Jazz ; $10/pwyc

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Rick Maltese’s Three In One @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

8> Lab Coast; Century Palm; Dorothea Paas @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West

8> As Water album release @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie; $?

*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W., TO West

**8:30-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus & Cleave Anderson + special guest Voodoo Walters, George Baumann & Kelly Walters @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

8:30> Sweet Alibi; Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie

9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Juno-winning Blues

9> Break Anchor; The Raging Nathans; The Slow Death; School Damage @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

9> Sean Conway @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rockabilly Roots

9> Typesetter; Peace Be Still; Tip Toes; Selfloss @ Smiling Buddha (basement), 961 College St., TO West ~indie

10> Blue Sky Miners with special guest Tim Morgan @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~ $10

*10> Kristine Schmitt & The Lonesome Ace Stringband @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Pop

519

9> The Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ Molly Bloom’s Waterloo, 170 University Ave., Waterloo ~acoustic Pop Rock

705

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

7> Christine Artill Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8> James Stephens @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

8:30> Lee Dodington; San Felix; Sentimental Gentlemen @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~indie; $6

905 EAST

8> Bruce G @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

905 NORTH

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

*7-close> open mic with Kevin Ker @ The Mill, 139 Mill St., Unionville

*8:45> open mic jam with Matt Zady @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

*9:30> open mic with The Villagers @ Main’s Mansion, 144 Main St., Markham

*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

905 SOUTH

*7> open mic night @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~Blues

**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Ian Andrews & Friends @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Wild Soul Wednesday with Skirt Check @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton

9> Hamilton Rocker Baseball fundraiser with many local musicians @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton

905 WEST

8-1> Blue Heron @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~original 80s/90s style Rock; $5

*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

9-1> Jeremy and Jenn @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $

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