Art of Jazz Global Jazz Village June 5 - 7 - The Distillery District, Toronto

The 4th annual Art of Jazz Global Jazz Village, taking place from June 5 - 7 in Toronto's historic Distillery District, is proud to welcome an outstanding line-up of artists to this year's event for a celebration of Italian and Cuban jazz. This year's performers include: Mario Romano, the Pat Martino Organ Trio with Tony Monaco, Roberta Gambarini together with Neil Swainson, and the Sicilian Jazz Project, an Italian Blues collective featuring Dave Rotundo with special guests Jumpin' Johnny Sansone and Rita Chiarelli. "This year's Art of Jazz celebration will pay homage to Italian and Cuban jazz and will feature a rich and diverse collection of artists," says Bonnie Lester, President, Art of Jazz. "In response to the current economic climate we are pleased to announce that the majority of our concerts will be offered to jazz-lovers for free." The opening night concert on Friday, June 5 will feature Mario Romano, one of the very first students to be part of York University's jazz program. At the age of 22 he was already recognized as one of the up and coming jazz pianists in Canada. His Argentinean background was influential to his approach to the piano, and to jazz itself. Romano will perform with his trio featuring Shelly Berger and Vito Rezza and will be joined by special guest Jane Bunnett. The concert will raise funds and awareness for Art of Jazz education programs and for the Villa Charities Foundation. On Saturday, June 6 Art of Jazz presents the Canadian debut of Anacaona, a 16 piece women's orchestra from Cuba nicknamed the "Buena Vista Sister's Club". This historic all-female Cuban dance band stormed to success in Cuba during the 1930's, and quickly became the toast of Old Havana. Also known as 'Las Mulatísimas del Sabor', Anacaona is considered one of the major forces in Cuban popular dance music globally. Tickets for this performance are $25 in advance at ticketweb.ca or $30 at the door. Art of Jazz welcomes the return of Rashid Ali who wowed audiences in our first year; Rashid will perform a free concert on Sunday, June 8 with his dynamic quintet On Sunday June 7, a special presentation of Nino Rota's music will be performed by a collection of this year's artists against a backdrop of some of Fellini's most memorable scenes. Roberta Gambarini, nominated for a Grammy in 2007 for Best Jazz Vocal Album and as 2009 Singer of the Year in the Jazz Journalist Association Poll, will perform in a special duo concert with bassist Neil Swainson on Sunday June 7 in the Fermenting Cellar. Throughout the weekend Art of Jazz will present intimate workshops by many of the featured artists including Roberta Gambarini and Christine Jenson. And back by popular demand is our Kids n' Jazz program with Canadian harmonica sensation with Mike Stevens and New Orleans blues man Jumpin' Johnny Sansone. This year, Trinity Square will be transformed into a piazza, featuring the best of Italian cuisine, fine wine, beer, street art and more. The Women in Jazz stage will showcase the Christine Jensen Quartet, the Dave Restivo Trio featuring drummer, percussionist, educator, clinician and composer Alyssa Falk, the Sienna Dahlen Quintet and a joint presentation of Lisa Particilli's 'Girls Night Out Jazz Showcase' featuring some of the finest jazz vocalists in Toronto. It is thanks to the generosity of Mario Romano and Castlepoint Investments that this year's Art of Jazz Global Jazz Village is able to present a weekend of stellar jazz. THE 4TH ANNUAL ART OF JAZZ CELEBRATION FRIDAY JUNE 5 - SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2009 TORONTO'S HISTORIC DISTILLERY DISTRICT, 55 Mill St. Ticketed Events: $25 - $35 General admission tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca or call 1-888-222-6608 About Art of Jazz: Art of Jazz is an artist-founded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the cultivation of jazz education and performance. Founded in 2005, the organization's mission is three-fold: to provide jazz education and mentorship programs to a new generation of artists and audiences in Canada; to present innovative-year-round programming; and to build a permanent home for jazz in Toronto. For more information on Art of Jazz visit: www.artofjazz.org

Nathaniel Dett Chorale Celebrates 10 Years of Music

Nathaniel Dett Chorale Celebrates 10 Years of Music

The Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture, Attends Event

Toronto – The halls of the Glenn Gould Studio were echoing with the joyful sounds of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, one of Canada’s most renowned musical groups, for the celebration of its 10^th Anniversary year. The February 25^th concert, entitled “Voices of a Diaspora ... Dett to Africa”, marked the close of Black History Month and was a powerful combination of favourite R. Nathaniel Dett compositions and exciting contemporary Afrocentric premières.

Joining the friends and supporters of the Chorale, was the Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture. The Minister spoke about Ontario’s vibrant arts community and also noted how the Chorale is using a three-year, $280,500 grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation last year.

“The Nathaniel Dett Chorale has worked hard to bring Afrocentric music to the people of this province. Ontario is delighted to help them expand their work in raising awareness and instilling pride in African heritage,” said Culture Minister Aileen Carroll.

The funds are helping to continue to build on the Chorale’s organizational capacity by expanding on outreach initiatives helping high school students and youth to learn about Afrocentric music. It will also allow the Chorale to engage more volunteers to help build on this program and to further expand website and technological capabilities.

“We are very grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their ongoing support,” says Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, the founder, Artistic Director and conductor of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. “With this assistance we will be able to continue to empower a new generation of singers to demonstrate leadership and mentorship in their home schools, and to seek unity through music and celebration”.

The 10^th Anniversary of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale is proving to be a memorable one. On January 20^th, the Chorale performed at the invitation of the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC to help commemorate the inauguration of US President, Barack Obama. The group was also asked to sing at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Out of Many festival concert on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 19^th.

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada's first professional chamber choir dedicated to the creation and performance of Afrocentric music of all styles. Mr. Blyden-Taylor founded the chorale in response to a musical void in Canada; there had never before been a professional ensemble dedicated to the dissemination of Afrocentric choral music.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For over 25 years, the Foundation has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province. OTF continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives. For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.

The Klezmatics en concert

THE KLEZMATICS
2006 Grammy-Award Winner returns to Montreal

KlezKanada is proud to present The Klezmatics in concert on Saturday, November 29th at 8:30 pm at Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West in Montreal.

New York-based The Klezmatics are world-renowned klezmer superstars who have revitalized the genre for the new century. Their music is steeped in Eastern European Jewish tradition and spirituality while incorporating contemporary themes and eclectic musical influences such as gospel, punk, Arab, African and Balkan rhythms. They have collaborated with numerous luminaries including folk hero Arlo Guthrie, classical legend Itzhak Perlman, Israeli pop icons Chava Alberstein and Ehud Bonai, beat poet Allan Ginsberg and kosher gospel singer Joshua Nelson.

They have garnered numerous accolades during their 20-year career, including the 2006 Grammy Award for best Contemporary World Music Album ("Wonder Wheel: lyrics by Woody Guthrie") the New York Jewish Music Award (Best Klezmer Band 2006) and have topped the Billboard world music charts on numerous occasions.

KlezKanada is Canada's only annual summer festival of Yiddish/Jewish Culture and the Arts. It sponsors a Youth Scholarship Program, which supports 100 awardees from around the world and provides them with an opportunity to study and perfect their respective talents at KlezKanada, located in Lantier, Quebec. Proceeds from this concert will support this program.

General admission tickets are available for $36.00 ea. at the Oscar Peterson Box Office at 7141 Sherbrooke St. West (514.848.4848) or through Admission Network (www.admission.com or by phone at 514.790.1245). Limited number of student tickets at $18.00 ea. available only at Oscar Peterson Hall Box Office.

Patron, Benefactor, Sponsor and Contributor tickets are available by phone or fax, please call KlezKanada at 514.345.2610, ext. 3249, Fax 514.735.2175

LES KLEZMATICS

Récipiendaires d'un Grammy Award en 2006, ils sont de retour à Montréal

KlezKanada est fier de présenter Les Klezmatics en concert le samedi 29 novembre à 20 h 30 à la salle Oscar Peterson, 7141, rue Sherbrooke Ouest à Montréal.

Établis à New York, Les Klezmatics, sont des superstars renommées du klezmer qui ont revitalisé le genre pour notre siècle. Fortement ancrée dans la tradition et la spiritualité juives de l'Europe de l'Est, leur musique incorpore des thèmes contemporains et des influences musicales variées comme le gospel, le punk et les rythmes arabes, africains et slaves. Le groupe a collaboré avec le héros du folk Arlo Guthrie, la légende du classique Itzhak Perlman, les icônes pop israéliennes Chava Alberstein et Ehud Bonai, le poète du beat Allan Ginsberg et le chanteur de gospel cacher Joshua Nelson.

Au cours de 20 ans de carrière, Les Klezmatics ont récolté de nombreuses récompenses, incluant le Best Contemporary World Music Album Grammy Award (Wonder Wheel: paroles de Woody Guthrie), le New York Jewish Music Award (Meilleur groupe klezmer de 2006) en plus d'être en tête du Billboard catégorie musique du monde en de nombreuses occasions.

Tickets Les billets sont en vente au coût de
36 $ pour l'admission général, à la salle Oscar Peterson, au 7141, rue Sherbrooke Ouest (514 848-4848 ou sur le réseau Admission à l'adresse www.admission.com ou par téléphone au 514 790-1245). Un nombre limité de billets pour étudiant sont aussi offerts au coût de 18 $.

Des billets pour mécènes, commanditaires et contributeurs sont disponibles chez KlezKanada au numéro de téléphone 514 345-2610, poste 3249 ou par télécopieur au 514 735-2175.

KlezKanada est le seul festival annuel d'été de la culture et des arts juifs et yiddish du Canada. Il commandite un programme de bourses, visant à aider 100 jeunes du monde entier à étudier et à se perfectionner au camp de KlezKanada, situé à Lantier au Québec. Les bénéfices du présent concert soutiendront ce programme.

York U World Music Fest Nov 6-7

Tour the Globe with York U’s World Music Festival Toronto: Take a sonic trip around the globe with York University’s World Music Festival, two full days of concerts November 6 and 7. Performances take place in the informal, club-like setting of the Martin Family Lounge and the Sterling Beckwith Studio in the Accolade East Building at York’s Keele campus. Admission is free and no passport is required! This whirlwind tour of musical cultures and traditions from five continents ranges from West African drums and classical Chinese orchestra to steelpan, flamenco and Klezmer music. The rotating concert schedule features performances by rising young artists, directed by leading lights of Toronto's world music scene. Produced by Matt Vander Woude and Rob Simms, the lineup highlights some of the 20+ international cultures represented in York's world music program. *** Event Details Locations: Martin Family Lounge (MFL), 219 Accolade East Building & Sterling Beckwith Studio (SBS), 235 Accolade East Building Admission: Free Info: 416.736.2100 x 22926 www.yorku.ca/finearts/music/events Performance Schedule: Thursday, November 6, 2008 10am - 8:30pm 10am SBS West African Drums (Mande) directed by Isaac Akrong 12noon MFL Klezmer Ensemble directed by Brian Katz 1pm SBS West African Drum& Dance (Ghana) dir. by Kwasi Dunyo, Larry Graves 2:30pm MFL Escola de Samba directed by Rick Lazar 4pm SBS Cuban Music dir. by Paul Ormandy, Ruben Esguerra, Steve Mancuso 5:30pm MFL West African Drums (Mande) directed by Anna Melnikoff 7pm SBS Middle Eastern Ensemble directed by Bassam Shahouk Friday, November 7, 2008 10am - 9:30pm 10am SBS Caribbean Ensemble directed by Gareth and Lindy Burgess 11:30am MFL African-American Piano directed by Catherine Wilson 12:45pm SBS Chinese Orchestra directed by Kim Chow-Morris 2pm MFL Korean Drums directed by Charles Hong 2:45pm SBS Japanese Music Ensemble directed by Linda Caplan 4:15pm MFL Flamenco Guitars directed by Roger Scannura 6pm SBS World Music Chorus directed by Judith Cohen 7pm MFL Balkan Music Ensemble directed by Irene Markoff

A story of cultures: South African flavour and distinct world music sounds

A STORY OF CULTURES: LORRAINE KLAASEN'S LATEST ALBUM WEAVES SOUTH AFRICAN FLAVOUR WITH DISTINCT WORLD MUSIC SOUND

Toronto, ON – Montreal-based Lorraine Klaasen is set to debut her first major-label release, Africa Calling, on October 21, 2008 across English Canada (released in Quebec on September 23, 2008). Klaasen, already a known talent in the world music community, has recorded several albums independently and has toured to enthusiastic audiences internationally. Africa Calling includes both original songs and traditional South African classics. The album blends diverse cultures, languages and sounds in one uplifting and spellbinding package.

"Africa Calling is a personal reflection of my deep cultural roots in South Africa. I explore cultural diversity with my music and I hope my album will bring audiences of different musical flavours together," exclaims Klaasen.

The album is storytelling put to music. "Jabulani" opens the album as a positive, upbeat song of celebration. The title itself means happiness and the song captures the essence of an African wedding, telling the story of a mother's joy that her son has found a wonderful bride. "La Reine" inspires other African artists to continue producing and sharing their work with the world. "La Reine" is sung in French, one of five languages sung on the record.

Daughter of legendary South African singer Thandie Klaasen, Klaasen was born and raised in South Africa, but has called Montreal home since 1979. Her warmth and energy is infectious and she has thrilled audiences with her live show across North America, Europe and the Caribbean.

With the help of talented and notable South African musicians, including Bakithi Kumalo, who played bass on Paul Simon's Graceland album, Klaasen has created an album sure to enchant people of all cultures.

On October 25 Klaasen will be honoured with the prestigious 2008 Planet Africa Media and Entertainment Award at the Planet Africa Awards in Toronto.