November 2017

It was a night to remember with sax and rhythm blending to fill the Stage with music at the Studio Theatre of Toronto Centre for the Arts.
Now Harry Allen goes to bat for Jazz Performance and Education Centre (JPEC).

Letter from Harry Allen on behalf of JPEC:

Dear Jazz Fan

On Saturday night, October 21st, my All-Star New York Saxophone Band performed a sold-out concert in the Studio Theatre of the Toronto Centre for the Arts. The show was presented by Jazz Performance and Education Centre (JPEC) and the response was amazing.

When Rochelle Koskie, co-founder of JPEC, first contacted me about this concert, I did not know that JPEC was a non-profit organization. I learned that next year is JPEC's 10th anniversary. For the last 10 years they have been delivering top-notch jazz performances to people like you. But as a non-profit, that's not all they do. Every year, JPEC delivers approximately 35 workshops to students in underserved schools in Ontario including school with little or no music program. JPEC contacts teachers, organizes and pays the musicians and makes sure the kids have a great learning experience.

I also found out that even though JPEC sells tickets to its events, they assume a loss on every one because their purpose is not to make money but to keep jazz alive. Ticket prices are generally $35 and $20 for students. JPEC receives support from sponsors but to make sure they offer the best in performance and education, they need your help.

My purpose in writing you today is to ask you to consider supporting JPEC with a personal donation. Any amount is important and JPEC provides a tax receipt for nay amount over $25. Learning about JPEC first hand this month has convinced me that they are a strong supporter of jazz - from performance to education to preservation and well worth your time and money.

Thanks for listening. And if you didn't hear me on October 21, come on down to New York.

To donate, go to JPEC's website, www.jazzcentre.ca/supportJPEC.html and click on donations.

You may also send a cheque payable to JPEC.

c/o Raymond Koskie, 20 Queen Street West Suite 900, Box 52, Toronto Ontario M5H 3R3

Your truly,
                  

Harry Allen      harry@harryallenjazz.com

Jackie Richardson Honoured on
Nov. 6 in Toronto

A TAPESTRY OF DANCE, MUSIC, LAUGHTER
Monday, November 6: 7:30 p.m.
Trinity St. Paul Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts

Turn up the Quiet: Diana Krall's newest album
Featured at Massey Hall November 24
& 25

Jazz Loves Puerto Rico
Bobby Sanabria, Miguel Zenon, John Scofield, Branford Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Candido Camero, Paquito d'Rivera, Randy Brecker are all in for a fund raiser in New York for the island of Puerto Rico which was hit so badly this fall by Hurricane Irma.

Oscar's Name Will Live On Annually in Canada
The first Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival will be held Feb.16-18, 2018 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The festival, which is intended to be an annual event, will help to Oscar's desire to have his musical legacy carry on into the future in new ways. www.niagaraonthelake.com

The Jazz Café and Living Heritage of Jazz Room, UK
The Jazz Café and Living Heritage of Jazz room opened on October 7, expanding the Jazz Centre UK's facilities for exhibitions and live music.

Nominations for British Jazz Awards
The British Jazz Awards 2017 have announced nominations in 16 categories for 2017, winners to be decided by public vote. Voting can be undertaken online at the award's voting pages, or by requesting a paper copy of the voting form via email to Big Bear Music. Results will be announced via the British Jazz Awards page at Big Bear Music, in issue 149 of The Jazz Rag, and on the British Jazz Awards Facebook page.

Two JPEC performers Nominated for Junos Amanda Tosoff and Barbra Lica
Both nominees performed in Spring is Here, JPEC's 2017 Spring season.

And the JUNO winners are:
Vocal Jazz album of the year

Matt Dusk & Florence K Quiet Nights
Heather Bambrick You'll Never Know
Barbra Lica I'm Still Learning
Bria Skonberg Bria
Amanda Tosoff Words

Jazz Album of the Year: Solo

Brandi Disterheft Blue Canvas
Renee Rosnes Written in the Rocks
Shirantha Beddage Momentum
Seamus Blake Superconductor
Mike Janzen Nudging Forever

Jazz Album of the Year: Group

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society Real Enemies
Dave Young Quintet One Way Up
Metalwood Twenty
Quinsin Nachoff's FLUX Flux
Order of Canada Band Sweet Canadiana

Sandy Thomas, JPEC Director and Chair
Outreach Program

JPEC pays musicians and arranges workshops in high needs areas, to present interactive workshops which are available for students at any grade level or combination of grade levels from elementary to high school.

These workshops examine the various components of jazz, the roles of various instruments, the importance of improvisation, composition and more. Since 2013, JPEC has provided musicians to more than 100 schools.

If you would like to know more about this program, please see our website at www.jazzcentre.ca, under Education - School Outreach.

Schools and teachers served in 2017:
- James S. Bell Junior & Middle Sports &
   Wellness Academy,
   W. Cruickshank & M. Chard
- Rawlinson Community School,
   Joshua Ball
- Victoria Village Public School,
   Kerry-Anne Russ-Gillespie
- Highview Public School,
   Kavita Arya
- Macklin Public School,
   Gavin Record & Yvette Blackburn
- West Humber Public School,
   Satanand Sawh
- Brookview Middle School,
   Layne Clarke
- John G. Diefenbaker Public School,
   Mario Bullin
- Dixon Grove Junior Middle School,
   Eryn Smith
- St. Mary's Catholic Academy,
   Nigel Pitt
- Dixon Grove Junior Middle School,
   Kevin Hewitt
- Brandon Gate Public School,
   Mary Inneo
- General Crerar Public School,
   Michael Demeter
- Driftwood Public School,
   Lynne Stewart
- Lamberton Public School,
   Joan Lattie
- Calico Public School,
   Gayathri Sinmayanandan
- Warden Woods Public School,
   Marlo Brookin
- Scarlett heights Entrepreneurial
   Academy,
   Avital Stopnicki
- Rose Avenue Public School,
   David Crichton & Adeshola Agbaje-Ojo

Check out Live Jazz in Toronto

www.torontojazz.ca

JazzFm - In the Clubs: www.jazz.fm under Events

Straight ahead: www.comingupstraightahead.com

Jazz Bistro: jazzbistro.ca