Toronto Jazz Fest: Opening Weekend Picks

Thursday, June 18
FEATURED PERFORMANCES
Oscar Peterson 90th Birthday Celebration: The Oscar Peterson Quartet w/ Alvin Queen & Ulf Wakenius Ft. Robi Botos & Special Guest Christian McBride
8 p.m. – Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre (27 Front Street East)
Celebrating the 90th birthday of one of jazz’s greatest musicians
Renee Rosnes Quartet
8 p.m. – Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria Street)
A standout straight-ahead jazz pianist, Rosnes puts together a quartet of veterans and frequent collaborators
FREE
Grooveyard
7 p.m. – Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road)
A sizzling , soulful band that puts its own unique spin on a wide array of music

Friday, June 19
FEATURED PERFORMANCES
Dumpstaphunk
5 p.m. – Outdoor Stage, Nathan Phillips Square FREE
Descended from Neville family bloodlines, they are one of the funkiest bands to ever arise from the Crescent City
Morris Day & The Time
6:30 p.m. – Outdoor Stage, Nathan Phillips Square FREE
Asking that eternal question, “What time is it?”, the legendary front-man brings his trademark smooth-as-silk dance moves and old school sounds for a special performance
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
9 p.m. – Toronto Star Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
At the helm of the mothership, Clinton blasts into town spreading the gospel of funk
Heather Bambrick & Friends Feat. Amy Cervini
7:30 p.m. – Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto (21 Old Mill Road)
An ultimate entertainer, multiple award-winning vocalist and highly-rated JAZZ.FM91 host
Renee Rosnes Quartet
8 p.m. – Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria Street)
A standout straight-ahead jazz pianist, Rosnes puts together a quartet of veterans and frequent collaborators
Late Night Jazz Jam with Morgan Childs Trio
12 a.m. – Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria Street)
Drummer Morgan Childs leads the jam, with a special late night menu
FREE
Swamperella
6 p.m. – Distillery District (55 Mill Street)
Authentic Cajun music from Toronto’?s favourite Louisiana-style dance band
Justin Bacchus Collective
7 p.m. – Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road)
A crew who taps funk, soul, Motown and a lil rock for good measure

Saturday, June 20
FEATURED PERFORMANCES
Tower of Power
8:30 p.m. – Toronto Star Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
A distinctive brand of music that is driven by powerful horns and tight bass lines
Heather Bambrick & Friends Feat. Amy McConnell
7:30 p.m. – Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto (21 Old Mill Road)
An ultimate entertainer, multiple award-winning vocalist and highly-rated JAZZ.FM91 host
Renee Rosnes Quartet
8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. – Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria Street)
A standout straight-ahead jazz pianist, Rosnes puts together a quartet of veterans and frequent collaborators
Late Night Jazz Jam with Morgan Childs Trio
12 a.m. – Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria Street)
Drummer Morgan Childs leads the jam, with a special late night menu
FREE
Dopaliscious: Performances by Juice Money Collective feat. Octavio Santos with Fresh Kils feat Junia-T, Melanie Durrant, Adria Kain, Tona, Marlon James, Jessie Reyez and Lyric L
2 p.m. – Outdoor Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
Manifesto and TD Toronto Jazz Festival present a collaborative performance featuring some of Toronto’s finest as part of Groove & Graffiti Norman Marshall Villeneuve’s Jazz Message
12 p.m. – Distillery District (55 Mill Street)
A hard driving bebop drummer, band leader, recording artist and jazz master
Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm
12:30 p.m. – Toronto Star Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
Blending blues, jump-blues, swing, boogie-woogie
Happy Pals
2 p.m. – Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road)
Seven-piece jazz band, playing authentic old-time New Orleans party music
Toronto Blues Society Talent Search
2 p.m. – Distillery District (55 Mill Street)
Presenting the finalists, as we search for the next blues star
Mistura Fina
4:30 p.m. – Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road)
A delicate blending of violao, percussion and vocals, creating an exquisite sense of musical intimacy
Tia Brazda
7 p.m. – Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road)
Combining elements of vintage jazz and blues with modern pop influences
Bill King Real Divas
7 p.m. – Distillery District (55 Mill Street)
Featuring June Garber, Lauren Margison and Sophie Berkal-Sarbit, the trio of vocalists are backed by the Bill King Trio

Sunday, June 21
FEATURED PERFORMANCES
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart and Guest Vocalist Carmen Bradford
8:30 p.m. – Toronto Star Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
Celebrating their 80th anniversary, they continue the excellent standards in swinging and shouting the blues with precision
Fred Hersch Trio
8 p.m. – Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria Street)
A versatile master of jazz piano as well as a relentlessly probing composer and conceptualist
FREE
Toronto Mass Choir
12:30 p.m. – Toronto Star Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
On the cutting edge of the Canadian gospel music scene
RPSM Animates The Square
2 p.m. – Outdoor Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
Members of the Regent Park School of Music steel pan, brass and woodwind ensembles and community band each perform short concerts followed by an interactive, good old-fashion public parade around the Square, complete with recorders, slide whistles and hand percussion
Mike Cado & Groovemeisters
2 p.m. – Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road)
Combining innovative and original compositions with sophisticated and fresh interpretations of well-loved standards
Marito Marques
4 p.m. – Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road)
Taking influences from African roots music, jazz, and pop, it is music to nourish the soul
Jorge Miguel
6 p.m. – Distillery District (55 Mill Street)
Easily one of the best flamenco guitarists around
Jivebombers
6:30 p.m. – Outdoor Stage, Nathan Phillips Square
A lively variety of off-beat jazz and blues classics from all eras of the genres

For complete club listings, please visit www.torontojazz.com