CBC Radio One 99.1 Presents…

The 3rd Annual Art Of Jazz Celebration June 4 - 8, 2008 - The Distillery District

Toronto Art of Jazz welcomes legendary Brazilians Hermeto Pascoal and Egberto Gismonti, The Cindy Blackman Quartet, Sheila Jordan & Steve Kuhn, Randy Weston & Billy Harper Kelly Lee Evans, Elizabeth Shepherd and more!

(For Immediate Release - April 15, 2008) Toronto, ON – The 3rd annual Art of Jazz Celebration, taking place from June 4 - 8th in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, proudly announces this year’s line-up which will include: legendary Brazilians Hermeto Pascoal and Egberto Gismonti, the Cindy Blackman Quartet, Kelly Lee Evans, Elizabeth Sheppard and a duo series featuring Sheila Jordan and Steve Kuhn as well as Randy Weston and Billy Harper. Other highlights of this year’s event will include a tribute to CODA Magazine and Sackville Records founder John Norris, Canadian recipient of the Art of Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award, the popular ‘Jazz for Juniors’ program, as well as clinics and workshops.

Tickets for all performances and events go on sale April 20th and are available online at ticketweb.ca or by calling 1-888-222-6608.

Featuring three outdoor stages with additional venues located throughout the Distillery District, The Art of Jazz Celebration is a unique celebration of jazz that has quickly emerged as a forward-thinking cultural event to watch.

“The Art of Jazz Celebration continues to carve out its own distinctive niche as we expand and explore jazz and its influence on all the art forms”, said Art of Jazz President, Bonnie Lester. “We are honoured by the participation of this year’s line-up of gifted musicians, dancers, writers, painters, and educators – all joining us to celebrate the art of jazz, a music that embraces tradition and change simultaneously and that speaks to the freedom to innovate.”

On Thursday, June 5th, the Art of Jazz honours CODA Magazine and Sackville Records founder John Norris, who is this year’s Canadian recipient of the Art of Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award. This year marks the 50th anniversary of CODA and the 40th anniversary of Sackville Records. Hosted by Ted O'Reilly, the tribute to John Norris will feature the Wray Downes Quartet with special guest Phil Nimmons, the Joe Temperley-Dan Block quintet, a solo set by Randy Weston, and an all-star jam with Jim Galloway’s Wee Big Band.

On Saturday, June 7th Brazilian genius Hermeto Pascoal performs with the Art of Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Jovino Santos Neto.

On Sunday June 8th Art of Jazz celebrates the music of Egberto Gismonti with a string quartet and guests. Both musicians will receive this year's International Art of Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award.

On Sunday, June 8th, the Art of Jazz welcomes the Cindy Blackman Quartet. Most recognizable as the former drummer for Lenny Kravitz, Blackman is regarded as one of the best drummers in the world having played with the likes of Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson, Don Pullen, Hugh Masekela, Pharaoh Sanders, Sam Rivers, and Cassandra Wilson.

The Art of Jazz will host a duo series this year featuring Sheila Jordan & Steve Kuhn and Randy Weston & Billy Harper. Other highlights include: vocalists Jon Hendricks, Kelly Lee Evans and Elizabeth Shepherd, the ‘Jazz for Juniors’ program, clinics, workshops and no charge nightly jams from 10 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. in the Distillery’s Boiler House.

THE 3RD ANNUAL ART OF JAZZ CELEBRATION – WEDNESDAY JUNE 4 - SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2008
THE DISTILLERY DISTRICT, 55 Mill St., Toronto

TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 20, 2008 - available at www.ticketweb.ca or call 1-888-222-6608 Tickets: $20 - $40 or $225 for an Art of Jazz Celebration VIP MEMBER pass - includes access to all ticketed events, access to VIP Lounge, Art of Jazz annual membership, 3 CD special edition Art of Jazz & Sackville Records compilation and 10% off all Art of Jazz events throughout the year

About Art of Jazz: Art of Jazz is an artist-founded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the cultivation of jazz education and performance. Founded in 2005, the organization’s mission is three-fold: to provide jazz education and mentorship programs to a new generation of artists and audiences in Canada; to present innovative-year-round programming; and to build a permanent home for jazz in Toronto.

For more information on Art of Jazz visit: www.artofjazz.org

MEDIA CONTACT: Christine Liber, Liberty Ink
T. 416-651-4722 x 1, Christine@libertyink.ca

TD Canada Trust TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Over 350 concerts not to be missed!

Toronto – Monday, April 21, 2008 ~ Toronto gets into a jazzy state of mind as the city’s biggest music festival takes over from June 20 to June 29, 2008. Now celebrating its 22nd anniversary, the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival welcomes some of jazz’s biggest names as the annual music love-fest entertains more than 500,000 people.

This year’s Festival promises more with the addition of 10 venues in the Festival circuit, including the Diesel Playhouse, which will host two concerts. Off the heels of two sold out performances this past February, 14 year old dynamo Nikki Yanofsky returns with another solo concert on Sunday, June 22, that is sure to delight audiences once again. Lizz Wright’s first
two releases, Salt and Dreaming Wide Awake, established her as one of jazz’s rising stars. An
accomplished songwriter and deeply expressive singer, Wright makes her Toronto Festival debut on Sunday, June 29.

Cool cats and hipsters come together at Supermarket, 268 Augusta Avenue, as the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival presents the Supermarket Jazz Series featuring performers such as classic R&B / Soul vocalist Ryan Shaw (Wednesday, June 25), Montreal trio The National Parcs (Friday, June 20) and British soul singer, Alice Russell (Saturday, June 28). Other confirmed artists in the series include Tony Monaco, Amanda Mabro, Meaghan Smith, Jake Langley and José James.

The hugely popular Cabaret Series makes its debut at The Old Mill Inn. With Louise Pitre and Patti Loach returning, the Cabaret Series promises to be another Festival highlight. Marcus Nance, Bill Charlap & Sandy Stewart, Judith Lander & Philippe Noireaut, Patti Loach & Patty Zentilli, and Louise Pitre & John Alcorn will all be performing.

Other notable concerts guaranteed to keep you movin’ and groovin’ for ten days and twelve nights include the funk maestro himself, Maceo Parker on Friday, June 20 (Sound Academy). Local songstress / trumpeter Ivana Santilli takes to the stage at Revival also on June 20,
performing tracks off her highly anticipated third release, TO.NY due out June 10. Underground hip hop producer and sample based instrument wizard RJD2 brings his trademark beats to MOD Club on Wednesday, June 25. This is one concert not to miss, as RJ will be spinning on four turntables! As one of the finest jazz / R&B bass players in the business, Marcus Miller
plays the Opera House on Thursday, June 26. Travis Sullivan’s 18 piece, genre-bending orchestra, Bjorkestra (Sunday, June 29 – MOD Club), successfully fuses the music of Bjork with the improvisational and innovative concepts of modern jazz. Performing a repertoire of
Bjork’s music, Bjorkestra brings a fresh approach to the big band sound that is uniquely 21st century. Direct from Russia, the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival brings you Billy’s Band. Playing the music of Tom Waits, Billy’s Band is performing Saturday, June 21 at El
Mocambo and on Sunday, June 22 at Healey’s Roadhouse.

Every afternoon, enjoy free concerts at Nathan Phillips Square starting at 12 Noon except on weekends at 1pm) and again at 5pm (except on weekends at 4pm). Whether it is the acappella vocal play band Naturally 7 or pianist, composer and singer Laila Biali, the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival has it covered for all budget sizes. There’s no better way to experience
the Festival than to take in a free concert on a bright, sunny afternoon.

Celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day with some jazz on Tuesday, June 24. The festivities begin with a free concert at 12 Noon featuring vocalists – Michel Berube, Chantal Chamberland and George Evans performing free at Nathan Phillips Square. In the evening, visit Harbourfont Centre as Montreal’s own Michel Donato Trio takes to the Enwave Theatre. The French
Connection continues throughout the remainder of the week as the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival salutes Québec and France.

Late night jazz continues for another year as hundreds of music lovers continue the party until the wee hours of the morning. With extended liquor licenses until 4am, late night jazz jams can be heard at Dominion on Queen, The Rex and Lolita’s Lust. Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett and so many more have all jammed after-hours in some of our
local watering holes. This year, you just never know who might show up ready to jam.

Voted Canada’s Best Jazz Festival by the National Jazz Awards in 2006 and 2007, more than 1,500 musicians will entertain as the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival gets underway this summer, running June 20 – June 29, 2008. From bop to swing, cool to fusion and all musical points in between, Toronto will play host to a musical celebration like no other. Soak up the cool sounds of jazz as more than 350 concerts across 40 locations take over the city! For more information visit www.torontojazz.com

Media Contact: Anna Tom
publicity@tojazz.com
416.928.2033, x21