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| World Jazz at TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival Let your senses take flight at this year's TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival as it presents more than 60 concerts representing the four corners of the globe. Running from June 22 - July 1, 2007, countries such as China, Finland, Germany, France, Denmark, India and Tunisia will be branding their style of jazz in Toronto. Dubbed the male version of Billie Holiday, Coco Zhao cross-pollinates Asian vocals with the distinct styles of contemporary American jazz. The first ever musician from China to be invited to the festival, hear Zhao sing for free in his native Mandarin at Nathan Phillips Square on June 23. Japanese pianist Aki Takase will also be performing for free at Nathan Phillips Square on June 27. Currently residing in Germany, Takase will be performing her much-acclaimed project, Aki Takase Plays Fats Waller. The French Connection Series, presented by Mouton Cadet in association with media partner Radio-Canada, Radio et Tlvision, returns for a second year with an international line-up of musicians performing at a variety of venues from the outdoor stage at Nathan Phillips Square to the intimate stage at The Savoy. Courting the traditions of his native Tunisia, oud player Dhafer Youssef plays Live@Courthouse on June 27 with Jatinder Thakur & Divine Shadows Strings. Jean Luc Ponty, a pioneer and master of the violin, is widely regarded as an innovator that has expanded the vocabulary of modern music. Hear Ponty handle styles as diverse as swing, bop, free jazz, world music and even country, on June 24 at Nathan Phillips Square. Direct from France, the Denis Colin Trio is one of France's most accomplished jazz groups. Performing on the outdoor Primus Stage at Nathan Phillips Square, the trio is joined by vocalist Gwen Matthews on June 24. Other artists scheduled to appear in the French Connection Series include Club Django Sextet on June 24; winner of three Dora Mavor Moore Awards and nominated for a Tony, Louise Pitre performs for two nights at The Savoy starting June 29; Montreal native Alain Caron appears with Mike Stern on June 24 at Live@Courthouse; and No Name Jazz Sextet at Nathan Phillips Square, June 30 for a free afternoon performance. Europe is well represented at this year's TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival as Finland and Denmark also present their best in show with performances by UMO Jazz Orchestra on June 25, one of the world's leading Big Bands, and the Jens Winther European Quintet on June 29. Both are free performances at Nathan Phillips Square as part of the OLG Lunchtime Concert Series. Latin music is once again featured prominently at the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival with names such as Hilario Duran (June 22), Orquesta Fantasia (June 23), Eliana Cuevas (June 22) and Luis Mario Ochoa (June 23) performing in clubs across the city. Gypsy - Flamenco music also has its turn when Joanna Moon plays Gate 403, June 27 and Sultans of String play the GreekTown Sounds of the Danforth, June 25 in a free evening concert. Meanwhile, Robin Nolan, based out of Amsterdam, brings his Django Reinhardt inspired jazz to Nathan Phillips Square on June 30. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |