There is good news for enthusiasts of the Ragtime/Jasstime Festival in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., who were disappointed when the Spring and Fall 2007 meetings of the Festival had to be canceled. Organizers Wayne and Nancy Pauli have announced that the 2009 Spring Festival is a "go," and that it will be held on the weekend of May 22-24. There is a location change. The event is now set to be held at the Bonnie Castle Resort, Alexandria Bay. The musical program format will not change, and details of the weekend package are expected to be available shortly.

The last session in 2008 at the Lanc in Kitchener was Saturday, Dec. 6, when Dinny and The All Stars took the stage.

Congratulations to the Figleaf Jazz Band, based in Simcoe County, Ontario. The band recently celebrated 33 years of playing traditional New Orleans music and swing in the area. The band lineup is Ted Fry, drums; Roger Kerslake, trombone; John Potts, trumpet; Russ Strathdee, reeds; Jim Purdie, reeds; Geoff Mullholland, piano; Bruce Rumble, bass, and Dave Rawlings, banjo. Keep it up, guys! The next session of the Simcoe County Jazz Society is Sunday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m., at the Sticky Fingers Bar & Grill, 99 Essa Road, Barrie, Ontario.

The Queen City Jass Society (Buffalo, N.Y., area) scheduled its Christmas party for Dec. 7 at the Protocol Restaurant, 6766 Transit Rd, Williamsville, N.Y. , from 4-8 p.m., with the featured band being the Smugtown Stompers with vocalist Carol Mulligan.

In Toronto, the Climax Jazz Band will hold its Christmas party Dec. 20 at the Chic 'n Deli, Mt. Pleasant Ave., Toronto. From Jan. 3-10, they will be part of the JazzSea Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Statendam, Holland America Line. The cruise will include Turks and Caicos, San Juan, and Half Moon Cay. Details from www.jazzsea.com,

The Hot Five Jazzmakers will have their party a week earlier, on Dec. 13, at their matinee venue, C'est what?, 67 Front St. in downtown Toronto.

If you have any news of Canadian interest, please contact me at briantowers@msn.com.

December 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.