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 Trombone Shorty?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Thu May 30 3:18pm
Artist: 
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Okay, I have to admit something. If I'm going to write about Trombone Shorty, it inevitably will be tinged somewhat with envy. Or jealousy.

What's so good about Christian Scott?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Tue Jun 22 5:07pm
Artist: 
Christian Scott

I first heard Christian Scott on the radio about three years ago. The track being played - from his Anthem CD - caught my attention right away: here was a new, young trumpeter playing very cool, very funky music. So when I had the opportunity to see him in Toronto as part of the IAJE Conference in January, 2008, I jumped. It was a great show - his quintet (featuring Toronto native Matt Stevens on guitar) grooved for the duration of the hour-long set.

What's so good about Dave Douglas?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Mon Jun 14 12:46pm
Artist: 
Dave Douglas & Keystone - Spark of Being A Film by Bill Morrison

I think the most exciting thing about Dave Douglas is that he is impossible to pin down - just when I catch up to his most recent project, he's on to something new and, invariably, different. But whether he's playing in a jazz trio or a brass quintet, or performing a live soundtrack to a silent film, Dave Douglas is at the upper echelon of international jazz performance, pushing boundaries with his writing and playing, and always sounding great.

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