Welcome to the Artistic Director's Guide

The Artistic Director's Guide is our way of taking you "beyond the bio". Here you'll find audio and video clips, and I'll describe what I like about each artist and suggest why he or she is important to the scene. So dive in—use the menu options above to find an artist, and let's seek to answer "What's so good about...?"

Josh Grossman, Artistic Director
Toronto Downtown Jazz

What's so good about Nikki Yanofsky?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Wed Jun 22 4:42pm
Artist: 
Nikki Yanofsky

17-year-old Nikki Yanofsky stands out in a world of American Idol-fueled pseudo-talent - she is the real deal. Since her debut at the Montreal Jazz Festival at the age of 13, she has proven again and again - with performances at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Olympics, sharing the stage with artists like Herbie Hancock, Marvin Hamlisch and Wyclef Jean - that hers is a true musical gift. She performed in Koerner Hall last year to a standing ovation, and I'm excited to see her this year on our mainstage.

What's so good about Jacky Terrasson?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Tue Jun 21 4:09pm
Artist: 
Jacky Terrasson

I got to see Jacky Terrasson perform live at the Zinc Bar as part of Winter Jazzfest in New York back in January. It was a standing room only crowd, and he did not disappoint - with his trio mates he played a solid 40 minutes of music: I don't remember any breaks, and I don't remember any talking until the end of the set. The audience was entranced - he moved from the keyboard to the inside of the piano and played inside and outside of harmonies...we never knew what to expect.

What's so good about the Count Basie Orchestra?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Wed Jun 15 1:19pm
Artist: 
Legendary Count Basie Orchestra directed by Dennis Mackrel

I've mused in past Artistic Director's Guide entries on the concept of swing, and how it's difficult to explain - it's really more of a feeling. Or, in the case of the Count Basie Orchestra, it's everything that happens between the beginning and ending of every performance of every tune.

What's so funky about Bootsy Collins?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu Jun 9 5:01pm
Artist: 
Bootsy Collins

I'm going to suggest that everything you need to know about Bootsy Collins' funk pedigree can be summed up in two words. Well, one name, really: James Brown. I would think that touring with the "hardest working man in show business" might teach a musician a thing or two about funk. But, in case more proof of Bootsy's funkiness is required, I point you to his multiple gold and platinum hit records with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.

What's so good about Los Lobos?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Mon Jun 6 1:11pm
Artist: 
Los Lobos

I admit it - when I thought about Los Lobos, I immediately thought about that one song. You know, from that movie. (More on that later.) But Los Lobos, who has been together for nearly 40 years - with the same personnel for more nearly three decades - is so much more than a one-hit wonder. They have earned international acclaim (not to mention multiple Grammy awards) for their hybrid of traditional regional Mexican folk music, rock and roll, blues, R&B and country (among others!).

What's so good about Los Lonely Boys?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Mon Jun 6 11:16am
Artist: 
Los Lonely Boys

In today's musical climate, with synthesized instruments and auto-tune running rampant, Los Lonely Boys represents the epitome of music-making: outstanding playing with no trickery - just great melodies, great harmonies and fiery solos. The Boys are everything that I like about live music.

What's so good about The Robert Cray Band?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu May 26 2:31pm
Artist: 
Robert Cray Band

As Artistic Director of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, I get to listen to all kinds of great, progressive, contemporary jazz - music and musicians who are taking jazz into the future. But one of the great joys of the job is also the opportunity to revel in the classic sounds of artists who have been making outstanding music for decades. Robert Cray falls squarely into this "classic" category.

What's so good about Kurt Elling?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu May 19 2:55pm
Artist: 
Kurt Elling

I'm trying to remember when I first heard Kurt Elling. I'm pretty sure it was while driving, on my way to teach a trumpet lesson many years ago, on CJRT, on Ted O'Reilly's show. I think Ted played Kurt's version of "My Foolish Heart" from Live in Chicago. After singing through the melody, and after Laurence Hobgood has played a gorgeous piano solo, the band suddenly drops into a very quiet vamp as Kurt works his magic, singing original lyrics and building the tension.

What's so good about Youssou N'Dour?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Mon May 16 2:16pm
Artist: 
Youssou N'Dour

As I was brushing up on Youssou N'Dour's extensive bio, I was reminded why he is such an important artist: equally as devoted to his music as to his religion (Islam), Youssou N'Dour has established himself as one of the top international musical artists by producing outstanding music for more than three decades, and by doing everything in his power to help his home country of Senegal, and the African continent at large.

What's so good about Stax?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu May 12 11:12am
Artist: 
Stax! Featuring Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn & Eddie Floyd

Stax Records was, without exaggeration, one of the most important record labels in the development of soul music in the United States. Established in 1959 in Memphis, the label made its mark by producing outstanding music and by flouting the racial segregation of the times - Stax was concerned about the quality of the music, not about the skin colour of the musicians. Over its initial 16-year run, Stax produced records by Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staples Singers, Wilson Pickett and Eddie Floyd, among many others. Here's a brief history of Stax:

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