\ TO CENTRAL \

Super-versatile piano man Peter Hill, whom we often refer to as keyboardist-to-the-stars because of all the A-list Jazz, Blues and even Country talents he backs on the ivories, has made strides in presenting his own talent at the forefront since we wrote about his somewhat “shadowy” role backing other artists back in January of 2015.

For starters the longtime accompanist to Laura Hubert in her old-time Jazz/Pop band and with acclaimed Alex Pangman in her Alleycats, in April of last year, as we reported then. initiated an interesting weekly duos series.  He teams up every Tuesday with another artist performing on various instruments (sax, guitar, trumpet, trombone, etc.) at La Rev in the Junction and the event is still going strong.

In addition to his role as part of the Colonel Tom and the American Pour original Honky Tonk group and his membership in the house band for Lisa Particelli’s weekly Girls Night Out Wednesday Jazz jams at 120 Diner, he continues to back other equally prominent and gifted artists on a regular basis.

But, as we’ve also mentioned more than once, Hill also fronts his own eponymous quintet that performs occasionally at basically only one venue that I’ve ever been aware of in the past 20 years: The Rex at 194 Queen St. West in downtown TO.  It’s where he released his debut (and so far only) album of interestingly inventive instrumental Jazz originals, For Now, way back in 2009 and every few months he’s able to organize a string of Monday or Tuesday early shows there with the group.

Between his own super-busy schedule and those of the A-list players he engages as part of his five-piece, it can’t be all that easy to organize.  While some of the roles have multiple personnel options to fill them, the roster is made up of busy, busy performers, so getting everyone together for a two-hour gig is like arranging a sports league schedule: a task better suited for a mathematical wiz than a musician.

Happily, August is one of those months in which that will be happening, starting with tonight’s 6:30-8:30 show and every Monday till September.  There’s usually a cover charge at this club but I’m not sure what it might be these days on a holiday Monday but wouldn’t expect it’d break the bank.

Maybe if you like what you hear and pick up a copy of his album while you’re there (I’d guess he’ll have some available) he’ll be encouraged to record a follow-up at some point and even to get his website back in order so that people can check out his tunes online.  Until that happens, For Now you can at least catch him live this month ready to dazzle and delight you.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Monday, August 07, 2021

For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.

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ON AIR/ONLINE

*6> “Underplayed and Underpaid” interviews and performances by Guelph area bands on CFRU 93.3 FM broadcast and online

7-8> “Acoustic Workshop” with host Heather Fielding @ CIUT 89.5 FM broadcast and online

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

Noon – 11> “Blowout Fest” with Saukrates; Pete Rock & CL Smooth; Korexion; Blessed; more @ Earl Bales Park, 4169 Bathurst St. ~Funk/R&B/Soul; $0

12:15-1:15> Double-Double Duo @ Holy Trinity Church, 10 Trinity Square ~original Jazz/World/Folk fusion

1-10:30> Civic Holiday celebration with 2 stages featuring Nina Kraviz; Kink; Deetron; Greg Gow; more @ Electric Island, 51 Commissioners St. ~eclectic indie; $?

2-6> Unik; Calypso Stars; Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo; DJ Tric Key;   @ Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queen’s Quay W. “Island Soul Festival” ~Worldbeat (various international); $0

5-10> Laura Fernandez @ The Berkley Bicycle Club, 504 Jarvis St. ~Jazz/Pop; $?

6:30> Peter Hill Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~original & cover Jazz; $

**7-1 (sign-up at 7, show starts 7:30)> open stage with host Brian Gladstone @ Free Times Café, 320 College St.

*7-10> open stage with Brad Scott @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.

7:30> Terry Jones & guests @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

7:30> Jully Black; Soul In The City @ Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace ~Funk/R&B/Soul

*8> Music City North open mic with Jessica Speziale @ Rose & Crown, 2335 Yonge St.

8> Alaska Chris @ Dundas Video, TO Central, 831 Dundas St. W. ~Funk/R&B/Soul; $0

8> Ukulele jam @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave.

8:40> Saffron; Digawolf @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~songwriter; $0

9:30> jam with host Vitos Wight @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.

*9:30> open mic with host Mark Villamor at Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade

9:30> Fast Music @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

10> Jordan John @ The Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~R&B/Blues; $

**10> open mic (2 songs; sign-up starts 8 p.m.) with host Chris Banks @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

10-2> Dan Gagnon & Jake Saenz @ The Hideout, 423 College St.

10> Perfect Timing recording release; Nav @ Lost And Found, 577 King St. W. ~Hip Hop

*10> live musical theatre open mic @ Statler’s, 487 Church St.

416 - TORONTO EAST

7-10> Grill @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~0$

7> Advocats Big Band @ Whistler’s Grille, 995 Broadview Ave. ~big band Jazz; $10

7:30> Sandra Bouza; guest feature David Macmichael @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave. ~songwriters; 0$

*8:45-12> Riverboat Mondays acoustic open stage jam with Julian Taylor & Tyler Ellis @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave.

*9-12> The Out of Towners @ Sauce on Danforth, 1376 Danforth Ave.

*9:30-2> Sebastian Agnello & friends open stage @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave.; 0$

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

*8-12> Al Reilly’s Catalyst also featuring Rick Anderson host Rock jam @ Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W.

8> Sil Simone Band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Rock/Top 40 covers

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*8-11> open stage with Dan Walek @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave.

*9-1> open jam with The Repairmen @ Newfoundlander Tavern, 472 Danforth

416 – TORONTO WEST

Noon-7> Mel Dube; Batucada Carioca; Madison G Sound; Iva & Riit; JStixx @ Ontario Place, 966 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~eclectic; $0

6> Pantomime Band @ Smiling Buddha Stage 1, 961 College St. ~indie; $

7> Jeremy Rose Quartet @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc

7> “OVO Fest” with Drake; Partnextdoor; Majid Jordan; DVSN; Roy Woods; more @ Budweiser Stage, 909 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~contemporary original; $

6> Pantomime Band; Service Delay; The A Listers @ Smiling Buddha Stage 1, 961 College St. ~indie; $

8> Kississippi; Pictures of Vernon; Liam Betson; Feels Fine @ Smiling Buddha Stage 2, 961 College St. ~indie; $

*8> open jam with The Pumpkinheadz @ The Wicket Pub, 1671 Bloor St. W.

8:30> Foonyap; Twin Kai; Plazas; Ivory Towers @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.

9> Pat Robitaille @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~songwriter; 0$

*9-1> Hamstrung Stringband @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Bluegrass

*9-1> eclectic open stage/jam with host Nelson Sobral @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave.

10> Parkside Drive @ Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. ~Blues/Jazz/Rock; $0

9-1> Tim Hamel Trio & guest @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

9:30> Double Time Surf Band @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Surf Rock; pwyc

9:30> Franco Luciani Trio @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~Argentinan music

*10> open mic with host Liam Kearney @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W.

519

*5> open mic with Dennis Napper @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener

7> The Parallel; The Northern @ Dstrct, 10 Wynham St. N., Guelph ~indie; $6

7:30-12> open mic @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*8-12> open stage @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener

9:30> Turk and the Hobbits @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W., Waterloo

705

*7> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9?> jam night with Rob Drake @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 199 Essa Rd.

10> Megan Nash @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 EAST

*8-11> open stage @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

8> FXRRVST; Nolan Hubbard; Peter Graham @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa ~indie; $6

905 NORTH

1-9:30> Jambana One World Festival with Wayne Wonder; Culture; Exco Levi & High Priest; Leroy Sibbles; Half Pint; Assassin; more @ Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Ave., Markham ~eclectic; $25

9:25-1:05> jam/open stage with backline @ Sneakers Uptown, 18025 Yonge St., Newmarket

905 SOUTH

1> Harte & Mazur featuring Elana Harte @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~songwriters; $0

6> Michael Wainwright & Rick Labrie @ Innsville, 1141 Highway 8, Stoney Creek

*8> The New Rebel Westerners @ Cat ‘n’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton ~Country

905 WEST

*7-10> open mic with Chris Partland @ 5 West, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

*7-10> The Dirty Pioneers @ Shoeless Joe’s Brant (patio), 1250 Brant St., Burlington ~Rock/Top 40 covers

**8-12> BBQ & jam night with Mimico Bill @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; ($8.95 with BBQ dinner special starts at 6)

9> Ryan Andrews @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

*9:30-1> jam with Tom Barlow @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

LISTINGS KEY

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.

-Copyright © 2017 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved