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 The Robert Cray Band?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu May 26 3:31pm
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 3:55pm
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 3:16pm
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 12:12pm
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:

What's so good about the Average White Band?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu May 12 12:07pm
Artist: 
Average White Band

In high school, playing in stage band under the direction of Jerry Dmytryshyn, I got to play all kinds of great arrangements, spanning a wide range of musical genres - jazz, rock, swing and funk. One of the grooviest tunes I remember playing was Pick up the Pieces...but it wasn't until after I had finished high school that I realized who had originally recorded that tune. And when I did, I had one of those "Oh THAT'S who those guys are...they must be good..." moments.

What's so good about Jane Monheit?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Mon Nov 1 1:42pm
Artist: 
Jane Monheit

The mathematical formula which creates a great musician is complicated: several parts musical ability, several parts technical ability, several parts sensitivity...but what I think is perhaps the most important piece is emotion. In my mind, a great concert needs to move the audience and must be performed with emotion and sincerity. Jane Monheit is a musician who brings all of these parts to the table. With Home - the title of her newest recording - Jane is celebrating her tenth anniversary as a recording artist.

What's so good about Laila Biali?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Wed Oct 20 2:08pm
Artist: 
Laila Biali

I've had the good fortune to meet, book and perform with a wide variety of musicians and it's always a treat to work with someone who is talented as a musician but also a wonderful person. Laila Biali is one of those people: an outstanding talent and possibly one of the most modest, down-to-earth people you could meet.

What's so good about Dick Hyman?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Wed Oct 6 2:32pm
Artist: 
Dick Hyman

Over the past one hundred years, the style of jazz piano playing has changed immensely: ragtime, stride, swing, bebop, free jazz and more...and Dick Hyman can play them all.

What's so good about Oliver Jones?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu Sep 9 1:31pm
Artist: 
Oliver Jones Trio

It shouldn't be a surprise that Oliver Jones - who grew up only a few blocks away from Oscar Peterson, used to hang out on the Peterson stoop listening to Oscar practice, and took lessons from Oscar's sister Daisy - swings so hard. But Oliver Jones is more than just an Oscar Peterson contemporary - over a career spanning more than six decades Oliver has developed a well-deserved reputation as one of Canada's jazz treasures.

What's so good about Stanley Clarke?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Wed Jun 23 2:11pm
Artist: 
Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi

How's this for an achievement list: 1 Grammy Award, 7 Grammy Nominations, 3 Emmy Nominations, Rolling Stone’s first “Jazz Man of the Year”, Playboy Music Award “Best Bassist” for 10 straight years, Bass Player Magazine’s 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree. Stanley Clarke is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting bass players. Ever.

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