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The city’s largest music festival takes over this summer!
TD Toronto Jazz Festival – June 25 – July 4, 2010

Toronto ~ Late June signals not only the start of summer, but also the arrival of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival as it takes over the city for 10 incredible days. Local clubs, restaurants, venues and even a church or two will be playing host, creating a Festival network that includes over 40 participating stages all over the city. Now, that is a lot of jazz!

Harry Connick Jr. – Sun 06/27 (Canon Theatre)
A true consummate entertainer, Harry Connick Jr. has successfully launched careers in both acting and music with the corresponding accolades to show for it – 25 million albums sold worldwide, three Grammy Awards, an Emmy award and a starring role in a Tony winning Broadway musical. Harry appeared in his first jazz recording at the tender age of ten, by 18 released his solo debut and at 30 appeared in movies such as Independence Day, Copycat and Memphis Belle. It has been over 20 years since Harry last performed at the Festival and his return is long overdue. Welcome back, Harry. The hub of the Festival is Nathan Phillips Square and it is here where some of the biggest names in jazz can be found. Each evening, the Mainstage tent is transformed into an intimate concert theater.

Featured performers on the Toronto Star Stage include:
Fri 06/25 – Maceo Parker
Sat 06/26 – Herbie Hancock w. Chris Potter & Dave Holland
Sun 06/27 – Taj Mahal & The Trio (James Hunter opening)
Mon 06/28 – Stanley Clarke Band f. Hiromi
Tues 06/29 – The Roots
Wed 06/30 – The Allen Toussaint Band / Mavis Staples
Thurs 07/01 – Angelique Kidjo
Fri 07/02 – John Scofield and the Piety Street Band

Harbourfront Centre will once again be part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, as the Enwave Theatre presents four outstanding acts over three nights. Up first is the 2008 recipient of the “Genius Grant”, or coveted MacArthur Grant, saxophonist Miguel Zenon who will explore the roots of Puerto Rican plena, followed by Toronto’s own Hilario Duran Big Band (Sat. 06/26). Dave Douglas, arguably one of the most prolific and original trumpeters/composers of his generation, brings his latest avant-garde project Spark of Being, A Film by Bill Morrison to the Festival (Tues. 06/29); the project is the retelling of the Frankenstein myth screened to a live musical performance by Douglas’ electric band, Keystone. James Farm is Joshua Redman’s latest collaborative group featuring Aaron Parks, Matt Penman and Eric Harland (Wed 06/30). Jazz by the Lake Series is sponsored by JAZZ.FM91.

The Festival is spreading the gospel of jazz this summer and taking it to the churches. The Music Gallery at St. George The Martyr Anglican Church (197 John St.) and Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square) will both feature local and international musicians in one of the most unique Festival environs yet. What better place to experience jazz!
Sun 06/27 – Eric Boeren Quartet (Music Gallery)
Mon 06/28 – Random Access Unplugged (Music Gallery)
Mon 06/28 – Tomasz Stanko Quartet (Holy Trinity)
Tues 06/29 – Marco Benevento Trio (Holy Trinity)
Fri 07/02 – Fred Frith (Music Gallery)
Sat 07/03 – Doran-Stucky-Studer & Tacuma Play Music of Jimi Hendrix (Music Gallery)

Trane Studio will host five nights as part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival with a very special presentation of up-and-coming saxophonist Grace Kelly (Tues 06/29). At 17, Kelly is generating much buzz and has been lauded by Downbeat, Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., and Phil Woods, just to name a few. Toronto born, NY based Andy Milne (Sat 07/03) and his group Dapp Theory blend funk, hip-hop and jazz with seamless precision. Andre Leroux Quartet (Mon 06/28), Terry Clarke Trio with Phil Dwyer (Fri. 07/02) and Sandro Dominelli Trio (Sun 07/04) also perform at The Trane. JazzTimes Magazine has called Christian Scott “the architect of a new commercially viable fusion.” Performing music from his latest release, Yesterday You Said Tomorrow, Scott plays at the Hard Rock Café on Sat. 07/03. One of the premier jazz-fusion guitarists, Mike Stern also joins the Hard Rock line-up with special guest Alain Caron (Mon 06/28). Tony Monaco Trio (Tues 06/29) rounds out the series.

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival, celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, runs from June 25 – July 4, 2010. Get ready to kick off summer as the city’s largest music festival presents free concerts and workshops, late night jam sessions and some of the biggest names in jazz. It is a musical celebration like no other!

All tickets are on sale now. For Harry Connick Jr., call TicketKing at 416.872.1212 or 1.800.461.3333, http://www.ticketking.com; tickets for previously announced Keith Jarrett are available at 416. 363.8231 or Four Seasons Centre Box Office. For all the other shows call Ticketmaster at 416.870.8000, http://www.ticketmaster.ca.

For more information visit http://www.torontojazz.com

..:: Source: LatinJazznet.com ::..