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

Who, exactly, is Kneebody?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Mon Jun 11 5:29pm
Artist: 
Kneebody

On Kneebody's website, the bio for the Grammy-nominated, jazz-rock quintet is understandably vague: trying to summarize their music in one neat sentence (or paragraph) is no easy task. What I can tell you, is this:

  • They released their first album in 2005 on Dave Douglas' Greenleaf Music label
  • Their 2009 release, with Theo Bleckmann singing music composed and inspired by Charles Ives, earned the group a Grammy nomination
  • Trumpeter Shane Endsley has been named one of the Top 25 trumpeters of his generation by Downbeat Magazine

What's so good about The Bad Plus?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Mon Apr 30 4:26pm
Artist: 
Bad Plus

I've been lucky enough to see The Bad Plus perform live a couple of times, and I have this to say: when a band is truly operating as a unit, it's as if the music is being made by some magical force. The musicians don't seem to be communicating; there are no obvious visual or aural cues being passed back and forth. Everything just kind of...happens. The Bad Plus is such a unit.

What's so good about Barry Romberg's Random Access?

Submitted by Josh Grossman on Sun Jun 20 10:51am
Artist: 
Random Access Unplugged

Barry Romberg is, quite simply, one of the most exciting drummers on the local jazz scene. He plays with an energy and intensity that is hard to ignore regardless of whether he's playing in a traditional jazz quartet, in a tribute to the music of Bruce Cockburn, or in his own contemporary jazz ensembles. He always seems to be having a great time on the bandstand - fully interacting with the other musicians in the group, and being ever so devious...playing with the time feel just enough to keep everyone on their toes.

COPYRIGHT © 2013 TORONTO DOWNTOWN JAZZ
Site by writeup.org & plousia