The Best of Blue Note:
 
A Celebration of 80 Years of the Blue Note Record Label

JPEC presents a combination of classic Blue Note tunes, made famous by such legendary musicians as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Smith, McCoy Tyner, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.

Led by Bernie Senensky, who has earned the reputation of being one of Canada's premier jazz artists on any instrument, the musicians are:

The music will be accompanied by a display of highly acclaimed, stunning Francis Wolff photographs of Blue Note artists owned by Michael Cuscuna of Mosaic Records. This exciting concert catches... "the whole spirit of modern and post-modern jazz" (Herbie Hancock) that Blue Note has always exhibited.

 

Bernie Senensky has earned the reputation of being one of Canada's premier jazz artists on any instrument. His playing has been featured internationally in countless jazz festivals, clubs, concerts and recordings. In fact, he is now recognized as one of the foremost jazz pianists – anywhere.

Bernie was twice voted Best Acoustic Pianist in the Jazz Report Awards. He has also been awarded the SOCAN Best Jazz Composition award (for his piece, "Blues for Clifford"). Over his long and stellar career, he has recorded 13 albums as a leader (most recently, an outstanding trio recording, "Invitation", with Gene Perla on bass and Ben Riley on drums) - three of which have received Juno nominations. He has also participated in an endless list of performances and recordings alongside the biggest names in jazz including Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Zoot Sims, Chet Baker, Art Pepper, Randy Brecker, Pepper Adams, Phil Woods, Donald Byrd, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Mann, Peter Appleyard, Elvin Jones and Moe Koffman (for whom he served as keyboard player for over 20 years).

Here are just a few reactions from his fellow musicians: Drumming legend, Elvin Jones, characterized Bernie as, "One of the finest pianists I have worked with in my career". Piano icon, Bill Evans, on hearing Bernie declared, "I could just sit and listen to him play all day." Clarinetist, Buddy DeFranco, described him quite simply as, "The best of the best!"

Alexander Brown Biography Winner of the TD Discovery Series Special Projects 2015 CD "The Process", Winner of the Cuba disco International music fair 2006, for his contributions to the DVD Jazz Cuba Today and nominee to the rising stars award for the best new musical composition at the Montreal Jazz fest 2014.

Alexander Brown has became one of the most vital and deft jazz and Latin trumpet player in Toronto music scene. Brown received his bachelor degree in classical Music in Cuba and toured extensively throughout Europe and The United States. In Canada he performs and compose for his own quartet, quintet and sextet while contributing with many of the most talented musicians and recognized arts institutions in town such as Archie Alleyne, Norman Marshall, Hilario Duran, Luis Mario Ochoa, Bernie Senensky, Dave Young, Bill King, Don Thompson, and many others.

Pat LaBarbera is considered one of the finest saxophone soloists working within the framework of John Coltrane's principals. The connection was most obvious when he worked with Elvin Jones groups which began in 1975. He studied with the his father Joseph LaBarbera, John LaPorta and Joe Henderson. LaBarbera became best known for his solo work with the bands of Buddy Rich (1967-1974), Louis Bellson, Woody Herman and his own groups. He moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1974 and is a member of the faculty at Humber College. A true intellectual of improvisation, he has been among the key members of the Toronto jazz scene for more than 30 years. LaBarbera has played a major role in the development of a generation of Canadian saxophonists. Rejoining Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine in January 2001 for two years, Pat performed and toured North America, Britain, Europe and Japan. Presently he continues to write and perform with his own trio and quartet.

"Pat has tremendous musical ability beyond technical facility. He has great power of concentration to detail and is totally committed with body and soul." – Elvin Jones

Jake Koffman (saxophone) born in Toronto into a musical family (grandfathers Moe Koffman and Victor Feldbrill), Jake began playing woodwinds at the age of thirteen including alto saxophone, flute, and clarinet. After starting to play gigs in his teens, he enrolled in the Humber College jazz program. While studying there, he had the opportunity to perform with Randy Breckey, Mike Stern and Chris Potter, as well as the Studio Jazz Ensemble. Koffman also expanded his instrumental palette to include baritone saxophone and bass clarinet. Since graduating in 2009, Koffman has established himself on the Toronto jazz scene as both a leader and sideman. He has been performing for audiences throughout Canada, UK, and Europe. Jake can frequently be heard in Toronto clubs performing, and has worked with many of the country's top musicians including: Bernie Senensky, Phil Dywer, Robi Botos, Neil Swainson, Terry Clarke, and more. Jake has also been performing with highly acclaimed vocalist Nikki Yanofsky, working alongside legendary producer Quincy Jones. Jake's debut recording, The Jake Koffman Quintet, was released in the fall of 2014.

Toronto-born bassist Kieran Overs has been active on the Canadian music scene since 1970, first on guitar and electric bass, and for the past 40 years on acoustic bass. Overs holds an Honours Diploma from Humber College, a B. Mus. from Humber/BCOU and an M. Mus. from McGill University (Montreal). He has also studied privately with renowned Danish bassist Neils-Henning, Orsted-Petersen and arranger Rick Wilkins. He has toured internationally with Moe Koffman/Dizzy Gillespie, Jane Bunnett, Sophie Milman, Carol Welsman and Emilie-Claire Barlow, among others. Having worked in Toronto as a sideman with such artists as Zoot Sims, Chet Baker, Bill Charlap, Harold Mabern Jr., Carol Sloane/ Bill Mays, Brian Dickinson, Pat LaBarbera, Alex Dean and Kirk MacDonald, Overs has established a solid reputation in Canadian jazz. Overs is currently a member of The Nancy Walker Quartet & Quintet, Ted Quinlan Trio & Quartet, Inside Out (with Lorne Lofsky and Barry Romberg) and Four Blind Mice (with Geoff Young, Kelly Jefferson and Barry Romberg). To his credit Overs has 4CDs as leader/producer and more than 80 as a sideman. He was one of only 8 jazz artists selected to represent Canada on the 4CD/50 - artist box set "Here and Now - A Celebration of Canadian Music, produced by the Canada Council to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations (released world- wide in October 1995). A profile of Overs' career can be found in Mark Miller's book "The Miller Companion to Jazz in Canada". He is an adjunct faculty member of the music department at Humber College (Toronto) and is active as a freelance musician, clinician and band leader. He also writes and arranges for his band "Overs 11", an all- star lineup of Canadian musicians.

Morgan Childs is one of Canada's leading contemporary jazz drummers. Childs grew up in Invermere BC, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and was schooled in Vancouver, New York City, and at the Banff Centre for the Arts. He has performed across Canada and around the world with notable artists such as Laila Biali, Phil Dwyer, Brandi Disterheft, Guido Basso, PJ Perry, Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Kelly Jefferson, and many others. Morgan has appeared on over 40 albums as a sideman, including a Juno nomination in 2016 for pianist Amanda Tosoff's "Words." He is a stalwart drummer in the hard bop tradition, with a modern sensibility all his own.

 

Blue Note's 80th anniversary (Jazz Journal)

By
Mark Gilbert

Wayne Shorter. Photo courtesy Blue Note.

The Blue Note label, home to some of the most original jazz of the 1960s, with works by Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Joe Henderson among them, marks its 80th birthday this year.

Founder Alfred Lion, a German immigrant, made his first record session in New York on 6 January 1939, committing to wax the boogie-woogie pianists Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis after being inspired by their performance at John Hammond's Spirituals to Swing concert the previous December. The label went on to make landmark recordings across the stylistic spectrum of jazz (and to some listeners' ears, well beyond it). Other among its outstanding jazz practitioners were Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver (who gave his opinions on various records to Jazz Journal in 1969), Art Blakey, Sonny Clark, Jimmy Smith, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor.

The label was relaunched by Bruce Lundvall in 1984, and since 2012 has been run by Don Was, under whom, it is claimed, it "has remained the leading label dedicated to documenting today's vibrant and creatively thriving jazz scene".

Blue Note says it will mark its 80th birthday with vinyl reissues, the Blue Note Review boxset subscription series, a documentary film, live events, branded clothing, prints of classic Blue Note imagery, streaming and more.

 

Aga Khan Extends Student Jazz Series at Diwan Restaurant

Reservations:
https://diwan.agakhanmuseum.org/
or Call: 416-646-4670.

Curated trios (see below) perform amid Diwan's unique ambience, blending 18th-century decorative art and contemporary design. Guests enjoy global cuisine and free admission to the Museum's Permanent Collection and special exhibitions.

"One of the biggest problems jazz students face today is a lack of opportunity to pursue a music career," says Ray Koskie, JPEC's President. "As we move into our second decade, we promise to continue our mandate of 'Performance and Education', with an emphasis of increasing possibilities for students to learn, experience and perform. More opportunity for student artists, means that diversity and excellence can flourish and continue to grow in Canada's jazz scene."

This new community partnership follows JPEC's sold-out Anniversary Tribute to Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond last Fall at the Museum.

JPEC is a not-for-profit charitable organization that, since 2008, has presented concerts and events, and organized outreach workshops in schools in high-needs and/or at-risk neighbourhoods in the GTA. It was founded by lawyer, Ray Koskie and teacher/artist, Rochelle Koskie, who passed away in July of this year.

Diwan Restaurant's fine dining from Executive Chef Mark McEwan offers an innovative menu inspired by Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian cuisines. The Aga Khan Museum celebrates cross-cultural dialogue through the arts, serving as a catalyst for intercultural dialogue.

 

Diwan jazz student, David Cruz, thanks JPEC

Hi Rochelle and Ray;

On behalf of myself, Kyle and Matt thank you so much for having us.
You both go so far out of your way to support live music in this city at a stage where I believe the most support is needed. You also make all the musicians who play your event feel respected and taken care of. That kind of thing goes a long way! You're offering to cover our Uber home tonight is one of many examples of that, and I can't thank you enough.

All the best and I hope to be back soon.

David Cruz