Intrigue abounds as Covello reveals secret identity

/// You’ve probably heard the expression “best kept secret” applied to a lot of performers and certainly you’ve read it a few times if you’ve been following my Toronto Moon coverage of the live music scene because I know of several hidden talent gems that many people have no idea even exist. I delight in spinning tracks by “unknowns” like Linda Saslove, for example, at my shows between live acts because these self-effacing or sometimes just inefficient delights just aren’t all that into the business of telling people who they are –it’s all in their art, after all.

Two of the people I’d put in the ‘BKS’ category are actually teamed up on the same show tonight, to this is a gig that should tempt anyone who appreciates musical depths and innovative riffles.

I first met singer Lynda Covello just about five years ago now, when she was part of a band called Bossa Trés, that was performing at the BIG on Bloor festival at which I was emceeing. She was delivering Latin Jazz with an interesting twist that night and as I kept track of her over the years I noticed she seemed to be dabbling with various other formats in the genre.

Guitarist Tony Quarrington was brought to my attention almost 15 years ago ago when I started regularly attending Brian Gladstone shows –even before he started Winterfolk!)—  and Tony was his regular sideman, as he has remained since. But Juno-winner multidisciplinary artist Tony also performs with a number of other stellar talents, including the about-to-break-out quirky genius Soozi Schlanger. (She only needs to lose the “Soozimusic” moniker she’s been toying with first.)

With Covel and Quarrington at the core of a band that tonight is promising to deliver “Deep Dark Secrets” in a showcase room such as that at Monarchs Pub in the Eaton-Chelsea Hotel downtown, you can imagine how intrigued I am!

Covello says being a Jazz singer is her real mission in life and that her other daytime role as a practicing lawyer is her “secret identity”. I wonder if Bruce Wayne knows about this! She states boldly that she plans to present “an edgy mix of Jazz and Blues” and tonight her Dirty Dark Secrets ensemble could feature any number of players up to seven, with Quarrington also chipping in very able backup vocals and a possible rotating mix of piano, bass, trumpet, sax and percussion players. Discovering how many and whom of the others she brings tonight could be just the first titillating secret to be unwrapped!

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. 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.

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5-8> Leigh Graham Jazz Rock Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6> Declan O’Donovan @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6-9> Jay Aymar’s 2 mics, 2 guitars @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~~indie Roots

6:30> Morgan Childs Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*7-11> open jam with Wayne Buttery Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach

7> Buckle Sisters @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*7:30-10:30> Peter Griffin & BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

7:30> Comhaltas Irish Slow Session @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~folk dancing

7:30> Trevor Giancola @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~Jazz

*8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ Chalkers, 247 Marlee Ave., TO North-West

**8> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Zoe Henderson @ 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> Lynda Covello’s Deep Dark Secrets featuring Tony Quarrington @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz/Blues

*8-11> Fraser-Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West ~Roots/Blues

8-1> Lee Palmer Trio @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

8-1> The Lovelocks @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~alt Country fem duo; $7

*8-12> all-ages jam with The Brand New Low @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville

*8-11> jam with Juggernaut @ Black Bear, Ajax, 967 Westney Rd. S., Ajax

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

*8:30-12> David Bacha solo @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4640 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~solo electric Rock

8:30> Zack Warner’s Idol School showcase @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO

8:30> Blairstock ~ Blair Packham birthday show with many guests @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Roots-Pop; $18/-

*8:30> Crazy Strings host High Lonesome Wednesdays with opening acoustic act @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~Bluegrass

*8:30> open mic with Jenn Fiorentino @ Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

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

*9> open jam with Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock show featuring Jim Cornell & members of Still Sunday @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence St. E., Scarborough

9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Jun0-winning Blues

9> Mr. Rick’s Café Americana @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots

9> The Manvils @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

*9?> jam with Michael Zane @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville

*9-12> jam with Damage Control @ St. Louis Bar & Grill Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9> Big Wind Band @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Roots

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

9:15> Wednesdays Go Pop showcase with Dinah Thorpe; Frank Ryan; The Donefors @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave., TO ~indie

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

9:30> Mike Webster Sextet featuring Ingrid Jensen @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NYC Jazz

9:30> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party; Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~Rootsy indie Pop; $

*9:30-2> jam with Live Animals @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

10> QuiQue Escamilla @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Labstract @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~Hip-Hop

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

*10-2> Paul & Curtis @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

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

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

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