Janice Yeung's blog

Refreshing, rad and raw, The Bad Plus is probably as badass as jazz will ever be.

The American trio, which performed at the Enwave Theatre on June 28th as part of the 25th TD Toronto Jazz Festival, takes jazz’s signature element of spontaneity to the extreme. Pianist Ethan Iverson played with theatrical vivacity; bassist Reid Anderson brought sensitive touches to the rule-breaking tunes; and drummer David King shone on his multiple solos.

The Happy Pals really lived up to their name at their afternoon show on Saturday, June 25th at Grossman’s Tavern. The seven-piece jazz band which specializes in authentic, New Orleans style party tunes is comprised of musicians with exceptionally cheerful spirits. Their music is naturally infectious and inviting, encouraging listeners to get up and dance, or simply smile from ear-to-ear.

By Janice Yeung

Aretha Franklin beamed on stage at her free concert kicking off the 25th TD Toronto Jazz Festival Friday night, June 24. With the crowd singing along to her tunes – both classic and new – the Queen of Soul seemed delighted as she snapped her fingers, swayed to the beat and delivered the mostly upbeat songs in her deep, expressive voice.

With her long, chestnut-coloured dreadlocks and one-of-a-kind, bohemian outfits, Jessica Stuart is the kind of woman who gets second glances.

The Vancouver native is also an ear-catcher who covers vocals, guitar and the koto (a traditional Japanese instrument) in The Jessica Stuart Few, her band with bassist Dan Fortin and drummer Nico Dann.

“We met through the music scene,” said Stuart of her collaborators. “I came to Toronto six months before I started playing with these guys…and met them through the jazz scene.”

It’s enough to master one instrument; it’s impressive to master a couple of instruments in the same family; but, it’s downright astonishing to find a musician commanding several different categories of instruments.

Keyboardist Paul Neufeld has a side career as a tuba and sousaphone player.

“I got into playing sousaphone because it was portable and I wanted to learn to play it. I have always loved the low-end of music and the tuba allowed me to play loud, funky music that also worked in an acoustic setting,” said the energetic musician in a recent phone interview.