markham august 20-22

markhamjazzfestival.com

• TURBOPROP• JESSE RYAN• TANIKA CHARLES• ELMER FERRER• JOY LAPPS PROJECT• JENIE THAI• JOCELYN GOULD• FRIENDLY RICH• ADREAN FARRUGIA’S UNICITY• DONOVAN LOCKE • MONEKA ARABIC JAZZ AND MORE!

Markham August 20-22

VirtualMarkham August 20-22

Virtual

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24TH ANN IV ERSARY markhamjazzfestival.com

We asked a lot of questions this year. Mostly, how are you?

As our team and our community cautiously, hopefully, make steps for coming together, we are enticed to explore. To reach out to our creative community. We trust the artists will keep track for us; they will document this time and process it in a beautiful, moving and honest way.

This festival is a creative collaboration. A community coming together to document a time. It is an offering of the musical experiences percolating throughout a pandemic.

It is an impressive collection of creative content.

We are very proud to have had the opportunity to create an archive – a collection of stand-alone concerts and conversations with artists and members of the community. This footage captures the tumultuous emotion of the past year. It also communicates the joy and exhilaration of coming together and making music.

It is evidence of a team rallying, a community rising.

Thanks to the artists who have shared their experiences, those who offered us a reflection of an unusual time. To the sponsors and organizations who align with music creators to bolster stories and experiences. To the TD Markham Jazz Festival team, a group of creative thinkers and makers who are open, adaptive and willing to change for the love of sharing jazz. To a community coming together to share the experience.

Thanks for tuning in!

WELCOME! to the 24th Annual TD Markham Jazz Festival Message from the Artistic Director

Sarah Kim TurnbullArtistic Director, TD Markham Jazz Festival

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markhamjazzfestival.com 24TH ANN IV ERSARY

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR August 2021

The Corporation of the City of Markham, Anthony Roman Centre, 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, Ontario L3R 9W3 Tel: 905.475.4872 Fax: 905.479.7775 [email protected] www.markham.ca

Frank Scarpitti Mayor

August 2021

MESSAGE FROM MAYOR FRANK SCARPITTI On behalf of Members of Council and the City of Markham, I am pleased to extend a warm and sincere virtual welcome to everyone participating in the 24th Annual TD Markham Jazz Festival. TD Markham Jazz Festival continues to be one of the most cherished community jazz festivals in Canada that attracts diverse, eclectic and talented performers. Although we are unable to attend this year’s festival in person, music has the power to bring people together while the shared experiences keep us engaged and connected. I would like to say a big thank you to the board and committee members at TD Markham Jazz Festival for your steady commitment to organizing this beloved festival. The vibrancy of our community is enhanced when we promote creative and artistic expressions. I extend my sincere appreciation to all the jazz artists, performers and volunteers for being an important part of this festival. Thank you for sharing your talent and passion for jazz with us. As the Mayor of Markham, I am very pleased to show my support and am hopeful that we can unite in person next year to enjoy the 25th Annual TD Markham Jazz Festival. Best wishes for an enjoyable and successful virtual jazz festival! Sincerely, Frank Scarpitti Mayor

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 22

Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley

Tune in to our full 2021 festival streaming online August 20-22 at markhamjazzfestival.com

Jazz standards and timeless blues, safely presented at Hilton Suites in Markham.

Superb live music in the

Hilton’s rooftop Zen Garden

(indoors if weather changes).

Generously supported by:

Exclusive – 2 live performances!

• 3 pm • 5:30 pm

Tickets $20 each. Space is limited! Purchase in advance at markhamjazzfestival.com

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Exceptional music and more!JUNO winners, Grammy nominees, jazz, blues, Afro-Caribbean, Latin-inspired hot tunes – all are part of this year’s TD Markham Jazz Festival!

While we can’t gather yet along Main Street Unionville, we’re committed to keep presenting the best musicians in Canada – all recorded live and streaming out to you. Hear conversations with featured artists, thanks to a co-presentation with Friendly Rich’s Industry Tactics podcast, plus a chat with Markham’s mayor and interviews by Seneca College journalism students and our team.

Find the complete schedule on the next page, and see page 10 for details on how to view the virtual festival.

Live on Main St. UnionvilleOn Saturday, August 21, catch two great bands – JUNO nominee flutist Bill McBirnie at Jakes on Main (1:00 pm) and the Brian O’Kane Trio at Sweetie Pie (3:30 pm).

Live at the Hilton Tickets are selling fast for two, limited-attendance performances by Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley at the Hilton Toronto / Markham Suites. Available only in advance at our website.

Join the party next year!Plan to join us back in Unionville in 2022 to help celebrate our 25th anniversary! Mark your calendars now for August 19, 20 and 21. We can’t wait to see you!

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24TH ANN IV ERSARY markhamjazzfestival.commarkhamjazzfestival.com 24TH ANN IV ERSARY

Friday, August 20 Saturday, August 21 Sunday, August 22

• Interview: Elmer Ferrer

• Interview: Jesse Ryan

• Interview: Tak Arikushi • Interview: Jenie Thai

• Interview: Jocelyn Gould • Industry Tactics: Elena Kapeleris

Welcome: Heather Bambrick – Jazz.FM91• Interview: Mayor of Markham – City’s growth

• Industry Tactics: Brandi Disterheft

Welcome: Heather Bambrick – Jazz.FM91• Interview: Mayor – How best to enjoy the TDMJF

Welcome: Heather Bambrick – Jazz.FM91• Interview: Mayor – Role of arts and culture

• Industry Tactics: Allison Au• Interview: Mayor – Music brings us together

• Industry Tactics: Sarah Kim Turnbull, TDMJF Artistic Director

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5:15

1:00

2:00

2:45

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4:45

6:00

7:00

8:00

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12:45 12:00

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8:15

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Moneka Arabic Jazz

Jocelyn Gould

Jessica Lalonde

Donovan Locke

Tak Arikushi

Adrean Farrugia's Unicity

Jesse Ryan

Joy Lapps Project

Tanika Charles

Friendly Rich – “The Henson Suite”

Turboprop

Alexis Baro

Jenie Thai

Thank you for attending!See you in 2022

Elmer Ferrer

Carlo

VIRTUAL SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Tune in at MarkhamJazzFestival.com

Saturday, August 21

1–2:30 pm Bill McBirnie TrioJakes on Main

3:30–5 pm Brian O’Kane TrioSweetie PieSee page 13 for location details

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Moneka Arabic Jazz7:00 pm

Rooted in jazz and blues, Moneka Arabic Jazz draws from leader Ahmed Moneka’s Afro-Irapi heritage, flavoured by Toronto’s rich multicultural mix. Ahmed founded the group in part to reflect the stories and songs of his background. His work has led to collabo-rations with the Canadian Opera Company, Aga Khan Museum, Tafelmusik, Koerner Hall, Modern Times Stage, and Jaberi Dance Theatre, among others. The group’s repertoire introduces maqam and weaves African identity and influences into its music.

FRIDAY August 20, 2021 FRIDAY August 20, 2021

Elmer Ferrer8:15 pm

Carlo9:15 pm

Carlo is an old friend. You’ve known them since you can’t remember when. You’re not sure when you stopped seeing them regularly, but now that you’re reunited, it’s like no time has passed. You understand the great ifs, whats and whys of each other’s lives, the darkness and the irony, the fun and the frivolous, the dubious and the reliable. A fresh take on vintage surf tunes in a complete sight-and-sound experience. carlosurf.bandcamp.com/album/carlo

A 2021 JUNO nominee for his most recent album, “Básico, no Básico y Dirigido,” Cuban-born Elmer Ferrer is a multi-award-winning guitarist, composer and producer now based in Toronto. He has recorded over 150 CDs, including two Latin Grammy-nominated albums, and per-formed with Zucchero, Chucho Valdes, and Sting, among many. Recent work includes record-ing and touring with Canadian fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Mark Kelso & the Jazz Exiles and the Larnell Lewis Band. www.elmerferrer.com

Virtual viewing, real brilliance!This year, we take the TDMJF online with a program of superb performances, recorded in multiple venues and streamed out to wherever you choose to view it. Hold a party, share the link with friends, applaud! This is jazz at its best!

To attend the virtual festival, simply go to markhamjazzfestival.com throughout the weekend of August 20–22 and click on the Festival Link box.

Subscribe to YouTube and join the online conversation as the music and interviews are airing.

Our thanks to the following for allowing us to record at their locations: the Varley Art Gallery’s McKay Art House in Unionville, Pfaff Auto Group’s Porsche Centre Markham, BMW/Mini Markham, the Biltmore Theatre in Oshawa, and Genie Lamp Studios in Markham.

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905-470-6955

www.jakesonmainunionville.com

Jocelyn Gould1:00 pm

Called “a leader in the next generation of great mainstay guitarists,” Jocelyn Gould earns rave reviews wherever she goes – not to men-tion winning the 2021 JUNO Jazz Album of the Year for her debut release, “Elegant Traveler.” She’s performed around the world with Grammy-nominated vocalist Freddy Cole, trumpeter Etienne Charles and trombonist Michael Dease, as well as recording with many. Jocelyn is also an educator, leading guitar studies at Humber College. www.jocelyngould.com

SATURDAY August 21

Donovan Locke3:00 pm

Donovan Locke is a multi-talented vocalist based in Toronto. He started singing in church at an early age and joined the Toronto All-Stars Big Band in his teens, perform-ing across Ontario and in the U.S. Donovan has been a part of several Canadian produc-tions, from David Ferry’s “The Postman” to Ann-Marie Donovan’s “Sounding Rituals,” and has sung with Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Jackie Richardson and many others.

SATURDAY August 21

Jessica Lalonde 2:00 pm

A classically trained soprano with a focus on the bel canto style, Jessica Lalonde studied opera at Wilfrid Laurier University and went on to perform and take part in masterclasses across Europe with

legendary composers and opera luminaries. Shifting back to her first love, jazz, Jessica has performed extensively here in Canada. In 2018, Jazz.FM91 named her as one of “eight Canadian women in jazz you need to know.” www.jessicalalonde.com

905-415-9961

Bill McBirnie TrioSaturday, August 21

1:00 – 2:30 pm

Brian O’Kane TrioSaturday, August 21

3:30 – 5:00 pm

202Main Street

Unionville

190Main Street

Unionville

on Main St. Unionville

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Adrean Farrugia’s Unicity6:00 pm

Tak Arikushi4:15 pm

A veteran of the Canadian Jazz Manouche scene, Tak Arikushi started in Vancouver before relocating to Toronto. He now leads his own project, “Onyuuden,” an exploration of the crossroads between Japanese culture and jazz music. It combines the red-hot style of Django Reinhardt and the introverted moods of tra-ditional Japanese music. His single “Sakura Swing” has been featured multiple times on CBC radio. www.takarikushi.com

Award-winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia is one of Canada’s most distinct voices and sought-after pianists, touring exten-sively around the world. He’s played on more than 40 albums, working with a who’s who of artists, from Ernie Watts, Sheila Jordan, Randy Brecker and Brad Goode to Matt Dusk, Molly Johnson and Joel Frahm. To date, Adrean has released five albums, penned more than 30 original tunes and earned two JUNOs and eight nominations. www.adreanfarrugia.com

SATURDAY August 21

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Jesse Ryan7:00 pm

Praised as a fresh new voice, Trinidad-born saxophonist and com-poser Jesse Ryan was the 2020 recip-ient of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Emerging Jazz Artist Award. As an arranger and producer, he’s worked with many jazz, gospel and world music artists. His ambitious Bridges project is an eclectic quintet that joins both jazz and Afro-Caribbean traditions. Jesse is set to take Caribbean Jazz out of its niche of ethnic fusion and into the mainstream. www.jesseryanmuzik.com

SATURDAY August 21 SATURDAY August 21

Tanika Charles9:00 pm

Joy Lapps Project8:00 pm

Joy Lapps-Lewis is an artist, educator, creative consultant and creative womanist, widely recog-nized for her proficiency on the tenor steel pan. She’s performed at festivals in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean, and is busy writing, recording and developing work that celebrates the contributions of women to the steel pan community. In 2019, Joy presented her multi-disciplinary project “From Skin 2 Steel and Beyond” at the Toronto Evergreen Brick Works. www.joylapps.com

Twice JUNO-nominated and twice Polaris Prize long-listed singer Tanika Charles has become a staple on the scene at home and abroad. Backed by her band The Wonderfuls, Tanika has embarked on five tours across nine countries since releasing “Soul Run.” She moves seamlessly

between faithful recreations of her studio record-ings and cross-genre nods to rock, gospel and

country influences. She was named the inaugural Polaris artist-in-residence for

2020 at the Studio Bell National Music Centre. www.tanikacharles.com

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Friendly Rich1:00 pm

A self-described mad composer, Friendly Rich reunites with Cory McCallum and the Boringville Pielsticker Three to reimagine their her-alded avant-jazz/beat poetry opus, The Henson Suite, a puppet-fueled music-and-poetry spectacle that defies descriptions. Friendly Rich composed music for MTV’s The Tom Green Show and recently earned a PhD in Music Education. Cory McCallum has contributed to all genres in the Canadian music scene for more than 25 years, most recent-ly with the doom metal outfit, Olde. www.friendlyrich.com

SUNDAY August 22

Turboprop2:00 pm

Electrifying Toronto jazz drummer Ernesto Cervini radiates energy from behind his kit and on multiple musical and educational projects. With his JUNO-winning sextet Turboprop, Cervini creates a landscape of textures and moods on which his monster bandmates can play. The band’s JUNO-award winning third album, “Abundance,” dropped in the fall of 2018. www.ernestocervini.com/turboprop

SUNDAY August 22

Jenie Thai4:00 pm

Alexis Baro2:45 pm

By age 19, Havana-born Alexis Baro was playing lead trumpet for Cuba’s National Radio and Television Orchestra. In Toronto from 2001, he flourished as a writer and member of Kollage earning three nominations for “Best Jazz Trumpeter” by the Canadian National Jazz Awards. Alexis has performed with David Foster, Michael Bublé, Hilario Duran, Robi Botos and Andrea Boccelli, among many, as well as opening for Herbie Hancock, touring globally and releasing six solo albums, including the JUNO-nominated “Sandstorm” in 2018. www.alexisbaro.com

Jenie Thai is a classically trained pianist who sings, writes and plays gritty barrelhouse piano steeped in the blues. In Edmonton, she attend-ed Grant MacEwan University’s jazz and contemporary music program as a performance major. Her first full-length album, 2013’s “Only the Moon,” received extensive airplay, and she’s earned three Maple Blues award nominations since 2016. After touring Canada with her latest album, “Night on Fire,” Jenie is opening for Downchild Blues Band as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. www.jeniethai.ca

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Heather Bambrick is a JUNO and ECMA-nominated vocalist, a Canadian Radio Award and National Jazz Award-winning broadcaster (on Toronto’s JAZZ.FM91), and a busy voice actor, working on Emmy-win-ning animation series and numer-ous commercial campaigns. She’s performed with renowned artists in various styles, including Rob McCon-nell, Fred Hersch, Guido Basso, Peter Appleyard, Ian Shaw, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and many others. Heather is also a respected educator and sits on the Advisory Council for Music Canada.

Virtual Festival Host HEATHER BAMBRICK

Music builds our community. Vaccines will keep it healthy.

thisisourshot.ca • reidmcalpine.ca • [email protected]

CONGRATULATIONS!Happy to support the 24th Annual

TD Markham Jazz Festival!

[email protected]

DON HAMILTONDeputy Mayor of Markham

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Thank you for supporting live music in Markham!

TITLE SPONSOR

PRESENTING SPONSORS

EVENT, MEDIA & TECHNICAL PARTNERS

COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

GOVERNMENT PARTNERS & FOUNDATIONS

Jazz lives in Markham!

Mailing Address: Markham Jazz Festival 4261 A-14 Hwy #7, Suite 281, Unionville, ON L3R 9W6

MJF Hotline: 647-983-7777

General inquiries: [email protected]

markhamjazzfestival#markhamjazzfestival@markhamjazzfest #markhamjazz

THE MARKHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION OPERATED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. © 2021

Theme illustration developed by Giacomo Pincin © MJF/RH+A. Event photography provided by Robert Hyland, Larry Fruitman.

HONORARY CHAIR Councillor Jack Heath

PRESIDENT & CHAIR Linda Briggs*

VICE PRESIDENT & SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR Mark Lemieux*

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Christie Day

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Sarah Kim Turnbull

SECRETARY/TREASURER Michael Clarke*

PAST PRESIDENT Dave Coutts*

SPONSORSHIP CHAIR Tammy Mang*

VOLUNTEER CHAIR Tim Henry*

JAZZ HOT SPOTS Alison Skeels*

COMMITTEE Wendy Kadlovski* Neil Archer

LEGAL ADVISOR Alan Direnfeld

WEBMASTER Marc Mousseau

GRAPHIC DESIGN Robert Hyland + Associates

* Denotes Director

Markham Jazz Festival Committee

markham august 20-22

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