\ TO CENTRAL \ I knew that the popular weekly Jazz singer jam hosted by Lisa Particelli had recently hit the 13-year mark so found myself rather befuddled when I noticed last week that for the balance of the month it seemed to be missing from the weekly calendars published by 120 Diner, where, as…
\ TO CENTRAL \ This weekend’s Kensington Market Jazz Festival’s second annual 2017 edition involving over 250 musicians in 170 shows at 20 locations kicks off this afternoon with a 5:30 set by the Laura Hubert Band. It’s a fitting choice, as Laura’s ties with the market and its environs go way back to her…
\ 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…
\ TO WEST \ Sidemen often get the short end of the stick in terms of public notice, usually sort of fading into the background as the limelight shines on singers, lead guitarists and the like, only occasionally taking a turn in the spotlight doing solos. Taken for granted they may be, but players such…
\ TO CENTRAL \ Jazz festivals are a common feature of the Toronto music scene these days and music festivals are a regular occurrence in the unique little creative neighbourhood of Kensington Market. But a Jazz festival taking place in the Market? That boggles the mind of folks like myself who associate the unique inner-city…
\ TO WEST \ When I think of Denis Keldie only one image comes to mind: the burly, uber-talented multi-instrumentalist sitting behind the keyboard of the B3 Hammond organ at TO’s Orbit Room, where he has performed many, many times over the years and is a revered member of that esteemed room’s musical legacy. His…
\ TO CENTRAL \ As I mentioned in an article last month prior to the Toronto Jazz Festival and have said many times previously, I’ve long felt that Pop Jazz singer Laura Hubert and her stellar band also featuring Peter Hill on keys is deserving of more high-profile shows in classy rooms. That has been…
\ 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…
\ TO WEST \ It’s been about four or five years since I last visited small but notable food and music hangout Mezzrow’s in the heart of Parkdale, but on that occasion, as every time previously, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time with the artistic crowd and staff that populate the place and give it…
\ TO WEST \ As I’ve recounted on a few occasions now, piano player Peter Hill is among the most versatile and ubiquitous ivories plunkers you’ll find on the GTA music scene, accompanying A-list Jazz, Swing, Blues, and even Country/Honky Tonk performers several nights a week. He’s also a pretty fine instrumental Jazz composer, even…
\ TO DOWNTOWN \ She may not have walked away from last weekend’s Juno Awards with a trophy, but remarkably resilient Jazz singer Alex Pangman already felt like a big winner even before her nomination for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. As we recounted in November of 2014 upon the occasion of the release…
\ TO DOWNTOWN \ Earthy Pop-Jazz singer Laura Hubert has been performing at The Rex Jazz bar for many years now, but for a long time that only ever happened on Saturday afternoons. While that’s a fairly prestigious set in its own right, for some while it puzzled me why she never seemed to get…
\ TO DOWNTOWN \ We told you five months ago about the latest incarnation of Lisa Particelli’s long-running weekly Girls Night Out singers’ jam series at the new 120 Diner on Church St. downtown. After seven years at Chalkers Pub and for four years before that in locations in Cabbagetown and east TO, the weekly…
\ TO DOWNTOWN \ I’m not sure exactly what is going on with Chalkers Pub in North York, where for several years Lisa Particelli held court with her weekly Jazz jam and which for a half dozen or so years was a leading Jazz, Roots and R&B/Rock destination venue several nights of the week. I…
SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, September 10, 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.). Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the…
\ TO DOWNTOWN \ It’s great to see evocative singer Laura Hubert on the roster for not one but two shows happening tonight as part of the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. For some reason her acceptance by the Jazz establishment in the city –the booker at The Rex and those at a number of savvy…
\ TORONTO DOWNTOWN \ The composing career and public profile of versatile multi-genre capable piano player Peter Hill may be casualties of his own immense talent. Although he released an exquisite album of Jazz originals in 2009, somewhat appropriately titled For Now, he’s so in demand as an accompanist that it’s become a rarity for…
\ TORONTO \ Authentically capturing the angst and irony of the Pop tunes of the 30s and 40s, singer Laura Hubert and her gifted backing players, that include Peter Hill on piano, make you feel the real punch in the songs. Today they bring their time-travel musical machine to The Rex downtown for an afternoon…
