Getting All Jazzed Up

For many of us, nothing says summer like a jazz festival. Little compares to the sun warmly landscaping Toronto amidst a soundtrack of smart and sexy music.

But for the TD Toronto Jazz Festival’s new artistic director, Josh Grossman, the idea is much bigger than that.

“I want it to be setting precedents in terms of the types of artists it brings in, making sure that we’re really representing what the next stage in jazz is going to be,” he says,“while at the same time, really recognizing the jazz masters making jazz what it is until today.”

So that being said, the Jazz Festival is coming back for its 24^th year and has announced its summer lineup, bringing a brilliant mix of jazz masters and new sensations — from guitar legend John Scofield to the young, Canadian Olympic theme song singer, Nikki Yanofsky. All in all, more than 1,000 artists will play over 300 different shows.

Like years before it, the Jazz Festival will take over Nathan Phillips Square with workshops, free shows and nightly main-stage performances. Various parts of the city will also be home to large-scale shows like headliner Harry Connick Jr.’s performance at the Canon Theatre, as well as intimate shows at small, cool clubs like Trane.

But unique points of interest will be discovered in the festival’s newer features. The Jazz Festival is introducing shows in the Hard Rock Café, and also hosting a Next Wave Series, which will give breadth to avant-garde jazz.

Grossman is particularly excited about that series. He says embracing the future of jazz can bolster the reputation of Toronto’s festival. When talking about his long-term plans, he’s quick to use phrases that include “cutting-edge” and “progressive” — big words for a festival that’s supposedly in Montreal’s shadow. Does that mean Grossman’s thinking of making Toronto a legitimate competitor?

He doesn’t hesitate to say it: “Have to. Have to.”

He said he isn’t sure if Toronto could boast public stages that hold tens of thousands like Montreal can, but he knows Toronto’s scene can still thrive at an elite level.

“There’s no reason why we can’t be leaders in that regard,” he said.

Grossman addresses this year’s festival as an indictor as to where to take the festival’s identity in his second year. But, no matter what, he’s aiming high and the festival is already as large as it has ever been.

There are myriad great reasons to help it along. Show Grossman what you like this June, and he’s only going to bring it bigger and stronger next year.•

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival starts on June 25 and ends on July 4. Everything you need to know about who’s performing and when can be found at torontojazz.com.

Photo Courtesy Of  Don Vickery