\ TO DOWNTOWN \
As I’ve written many times since March of 2013, I believe effervescent and emotive singer Laura Hubert and her longtime piano accompanist virtuoso Peter Hill have long deserved more exposure and better time slots at TO’s most enduring Jazz room, The Rex, which was then finally starting to happen along with an appearance as part of the Toronto Jazz Festival that year.
She’s performed as part of the festival every year since and last year actually had two shows: her regular Rex appearance plus a set at 120 Diner, a room which had just started out and has since established a pretty favourable profile on the local Jazz scene.
This year she’s back for another 3:30 Rex show this Saturday as part of that cavalcade, while Peter and his quintet are actually bracketing the event, having done every Tuesday in June except this past one and returning for another series on Mondays starting July 4 —the day after the festival ends.
But as much as it’s great to hear these two artists in toney rooms (they’ve also played Reservoir Lounge the old Monarchs Pub and other classy spots) either together or in other configurations (Peter also does a new weekly Tuesday piano/horn duo show at La Rev in the Junction area and “Girls Night Out” with Lisa Particelli at 120 Wednesdays) they’ve always thrived in more casual rooms like Mezzrows and The Intersteer. But there is one decidedly declassé place that I still regard as their “home” venue —and not just because at one time they performed there every week for just shy of ten years— and where I really enjoy seeing them the most: Grossman’s Tavern at 379 Spadina Ave.
To me, G-man brings out the real visceral power of Hubert’s vocals on Pop-Jazz songs that stem from the ambivalence of the Dirty Thirties Depression and 40s war years era, giving fresh vigour and a mesmerizing stage presence to tunes that have surprisingly contemporary resonance. And naturally Hill responds in kind with by turns exhilarating or heartfelt accompaniment that’s often also quite inventive.
Throw in some veteran drums and soulful sax (they’ve employed a number of talents in each position over the 17 or so years they’ve been a duo since Hubert moved to Jazz from her Juno-winning Leslie Spit TreeO Folk-Rock group) and you have a sometimes guttural, other times almost ethereal experience that the club’s grizzled history is well used to spawning.
While Grossman’s is not the place it used to be back when an adventurous fly would have found the washrooms particularly rich territory to mine for excreta of various kinds, it still has its ghosts and legacies, not least in the photos that yet adorn the south wall of the room in which an eclectic mix of bands with various affinities to the Blues is offered seven nights a week and twice on weekends. It’s got what ya might call ATMOSPHERE, even if no longer of the inhaled kind.
So it’s a great place to catch this band in what feels like their most natural and authentic incarnation, and happily you can do that tonight. Best of all about the group’s shows there (aside from the other fact that there’s no cover) is that they’re not a one-long or two-short-set deal —these full-show gigs go from 10ish till close, so it gives the band time to really connect, develop a mood and create an adventure out of the night. This is the stuff from which real Jazz was born.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, June 30, 2021
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 or event page. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type and highlighted, include a live link to their website and also have a copy of the ad included in listings.
TJF = Toronto Jazz Festival
ONLINE / ON AIR
9-10am> “The Bill King Show” with host Bill King & guests @ CIUT 89.5 FM ~Blues/Jazz
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
5-7> TJF: The Ault Sisters @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $
5> TJF: Fog Brass Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $
5:30-8> John Paul, Matt & friends @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO
6-8> Steve-Paul Simms; Emily Coulston; John Oughton; Sean Peever; Steadman Pardy; Mary Lou Soutar-Hynes for Urban Folk Art Salon @ Mount Pleasant Library, 599 Mount Pleasant Ave., TO North ~songwriters
6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country/Roots songwriter
7> Michael Danckert @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North ~Pop/Blues
*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO
*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
8> TJF: Mike Downes Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $
*8-1> open mic with Alicia Porter @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St., TO
8> Chihiro Nagamatsu & The Blue Notes; Sport Mathews; Funny Funk; DJ G-Mix @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave., TO ~eclectic; $10
*8-12> Joe Bowden @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues
8-1> Georgia, Jaymes & Elizabeth; Arkson; The Operators; The Paramount Kings @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO ~indie
8> Chris Tait; Raven Shields; Jena Gogo; Jay Mitchell @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~songwriters; $12
8-10> TJF: Robi Rotos Quartet featuring Seamus Blake & Mark McLean @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $
8> Six at Best; Arbor’s Lane; Earths Yellow Sun; Blackdog Ballroom @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO
8-10> TJF: Jacelyn Holmes @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $
8> TJF: Nick Maclean @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W., TO ~tribute to Herbie Hancock; $15
8:30> Limblifter; Goodbye Honolulu; Altered By Mom @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $15
*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W., TO ~Blues
9> Carlos Morgan & The Flow @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/R&B; $5
9> Jesse Daly Podcast Show @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO
9:30-1> Big Rude Jake @ The Paddock, 178 Bathurst St., TO ~Blues; $10
*9:30> jam with host band The Regulators @ College St. Bar, 574 College St., TO
9:30> Big Name Actors @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO
*9:45> Mary McKay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues; $
10> Laura Hubert Band also featuring Peter Hill @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Pop Jazz with punch; no cover
10> Paul Reddick @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues
10> TJF: Progger with guest Melissa McMillan @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $
10> Chris Sciani @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade, TO ~acoustic Pop covers
10> Grump @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO ~Pop Rock
10> Pretzel Logic @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Steely Dan tribute; $
11-1> TJF: Janet Whiteway @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $
416 – TORONTO EAST
7-9> TDJ: Améli & Les Singes Bleus @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~French Jazz
8> Matt Bentley; Daniel McLaughlin; Urbana Piqua @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriters; no cover
8-11> Black Bear All Star Band @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East ~Rock/R&B
*8:30-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country
9> Trevor Dubois @ Murphy’s Law, 1702 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock
*9:30> open jam @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave., TO East
*10-2> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East
*10-1> open jam with host Michael Villamor @ Breakwall, 1910 Queen St. E.
416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE
5-1> Timothy’s Pub’s Canada Day Party with Freedom Train (starting at 8pm) & DJ @ Royal Canadian Legion Branch 101, 3850 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke; $10 donation requested for Salvation Army Summer Camp Program
7-10> Nicole “Songbird” Coward @ Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke ~original Roots
8> Eric Pearce @ Bier Markt Etobicoke, 199 North Queen St., Etobicoke ~indie Pop Rock
*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop
416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
7-11> jam night @ The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Rd., Scarborough
9:30> Fat Tony @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock
416 – TORONTO WEST
5-8> L.A. Turcotte’s Sultants of Soul @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz
7-11> BackTrack Band featuring Marty Zatzman with openers Lowfills @ Cadillac Lounge (patio) ~big band Motown; no cover
7-9> Pressgang Mutiny album release featuring Freeman Dre @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~original; $10/$20 with cd
7:30> Luanda Jones @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$15
8> Mainline @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W., TO West ~live Disco
8> TDJ: Sisters Euclid featuring Kevin Breit @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Rock/Jazz fusion; $10
8> Donné Roberts @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West
8:30> TJF: Lazersuzan & The Starfires @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West
9> Gypsy Jazz jam @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Jazz
*9-12> open mic night @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West
*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic
9-12> Amber Leigh Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz
9> The Trust & guests @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$5
9> Bucketeer @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West
9> Michele Nox & dj @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W., TO West ~
9:30> The Mercenaries @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~retro Soul-Rock; $
10> New Grease Revival @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West
10> Julian Marz & Los OTROS Toronto @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~tribute to Vicentico y Los Fabulosos Cadillacs; $20
519
*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
7:30> John McKinnon @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop Rock
8> open mic night @ M&M Bar, 475 Main St., Cambridge
8> open mic with James Ketts @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener ~Pop Rock
*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener
705
7-11> Richard Hebderson @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Blues
*7:30> Rob Phillips Jazz/Blues Trio and Marsala Likianchuk @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
8> Noah Zacharin @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood ~original Roots
*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach
8:30> Lee Dodington; Mary-Kate Edwards; Hillary Dumoulin @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~acoustic
10> Jesse Thomas @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
905 - EAST
*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)
8-11> The Miracles @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax ~Reggae/Soul
*?> jam with Darren Smith & Shayne Thomas @ The Corner Pocket, 45 Prince St., Oshawa
9-1> Ozone Baby featuring Phil Naro @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St., Ajax ~Lez Zeppelin tribute
*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa
*9:30> jam with Billick @ Harp & Crown, 300 Kingston Rd., Pickering
*10> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ St. Louis Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave., Ajax
905 – NORTH
*6:30-10:30> jam with Faces for Radio @ Coasters, 55 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton
7> Lyric Dubee; Rebecca Rain; Excellerater; The Coyote Kids for Georgian Triangle Music Festival @ Main Street Market (Beach Area One), Wasaga Beach; no cover
7-9> Jazz FM Youth Big Band for Thursday Night Concert Series @ Gage Park, 45 Main St. N., Brampton
*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy Rd., S., Brampton
*8-11> Jam with Jayme Lynn Reed @ Offsides Sports Bar, 200 Simcoe Ave., Keswick
9> open mic (signup starts at 8:30) @ The Barrel, 2180 Steeles Ave. W. Vaughan
9> Bianca Rollo @ Fionn MacCool’s Newmarket, 17315 Leslie St., Newmarket ~Pop Rock
905 – SOUTH
*8> open mic (signup at 7) with Dave Gould @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton
8> Thomas St. Clair; Timid The Brave; Gareth Inkster @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~$8
8> North Pandemic Groove @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~Japanese Jazz quartet
*9> LMT Connection @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~R&B/Funk
*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton
9> Wheeler Pedler Fab open mic @ The Wellington Arms. 222 Cannon St. E., Hamilton
10> Strummers Union @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton
905 – WEST
3:30-9> Waterdown Dancers Inc.; Charissa; Cutler Boyd; Kerosene Creek; Marshall Dane for Waterdown’s Oh Canada Ribfest @ Waterdown Memorial Park, Hamilton St. @ Parkside, Waterdown
*6-9> Ric Jacobs @ Ivy Bar, 3330 South Service Rd., Burlington
*7-11> James Anthony Band & guest Chris Murphy @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues
*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington
*8> Salsa band @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Latin
8> The O’Deadly’s @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line ~Celtic/Pop
8:30> Songwriting Challenge @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~$5
8:30-11> The Stew’s Canada Day Eve show @ Mulligan’s Pub, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Blues
9-1> Groovestone @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop
9:30> Glenn Groves @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Honky Tonk
*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga
9:30> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock
Copyright © 2016 Toronto Moon Magazine. All Rights Reserved
