By
tradition, the August long weekend is always reserved by the Festival as the
Jazz Canada weekend. Like everything else at the Festival, the scale of the
programme was reduced this year but the performances of three programmes in
this weekend were a spectacular success.
The
first was a Saturday night concert in the Stockey Centre by the Dave Young
Quartet. If you want really fine traditional jazz today in Canada, you’ve come
to the right place. Dave Young and his three collaborators have been spinning
out jazz standards practically ever since I was born back in the Fifties, and
their lists of personal contacts with the jazz greats of the past would make
any jazz fan’s eyes pop.
For
this show, the quartet was joined by vocalist Heather Bambrick, and her top-notch
jazz singing and hilarious patter between songs quickly transformed the entire
evening with more than a passing resemblance to a Newfoundland kitchen party.
I’m
not by nature a jazz fan, but I remain endlessly fascinated by the skillful
improv work of the players (and Bambrick!), and especially by the effortless
flying fingers of Dave Young himself on his full-size string bass – no electric
guitar for this man!
The
repertoire included some well-known tunes, and others less well known, but in
every number the instrumentalists produced some fascinating improv solos, and
Bambrick’s singing added the final touch of style and fun.
On
Sunday afternoon, the Stockey Centre filled right up again for the signature
rousing work of the Toronto All-Star Big Band. Their music harks clear back to
the dance bands of the 1930s and 1940s, the kind of music my parents’
generation danced to when young, and the ensemble of saxophones, trumpets,
trombones, piano, keyboard, bass guitar, and percussion gave a polished
performance that would have done credit to any professional troupe.
What
makes it even more amazing is that these are all young musicians – “young” as
in teenagers, in many cases – and the TABB is a musical training program, but
one which holds to incredible levels of quality and draws phenomenal
performances out of the young artists.
Many
of the numbers included the kind of choreography for the players that was a
hallmark of the era -- Glenn Miller’s famous “Pennsylvania 6-5000” wasn’t the
only big band number that had musicians popping up and down, swinging from side
to side in their seats, or calling out.
The
ensemble includes a group of five vocalists who each displayed strong singing
voices and remarkable acting ability and stage presence.
The
real keynote of the Toronto All-Star Big Band’s performances is that they are
unfailingly fun, and the audience certainly enjoyed the fun to the full. Seeing
the whole crowd leaving at the end of the show with wide smiles spread across
their faces was a real tribute to this band’s quality of work and grasp of the
entertainment value of a well-staged show.
On
Sunday evening, the Festival wrapped up with a final cruise – on a perfect,
calm, sunny summer evening. The Dave Young Quartet came along for the ride, and
entertained with two great sets of music, selecting some lower-key numbers to
suit the more laid-back atmosphere of the boat.
Great
music, beautiful weather, the unfailingly friendly staff of the Island Queen
V, and a last chance to exchange comments and memories about the last two
weeks with friends old and new – what better way to spend a summer evening?
I’ll
have one more Festival post before I’m done: a wrap-up which will include my
Top Ten Festival highlights of the summer.
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