At top left is Don Valley Stompers banjoist Miles Thompson. Also in the back row is clarinetist Demeisnes Reynolds. Second row: trombonist Lindsey Kotowitch, next to leader Toby Hughes, alto sax, and Marla Dixon, trumpet. Front row: Tyler Thomson, string bass, and Paul Brady, hanging onto the bass drum to stop it from rolling out of the photograph!

Toronto's newest traditional jazz band is the Don Valley Stompers, and it is good to see that the younger generation, while enjoying themselves immensely, is taking the old jazz seriously and clearly intends to carry the old tradition into the future. Photographer Henry Wertman, who is always "looking for an angle," took the photograph of the band shown here.

I mentioned that the gang takes their jazz seriously -- they all went to New Orleans last April to take part in the French Quarter Festival.

Wynton Marsalis was in Toronto in October for a concert at Massey Hall. Imagine the delight of the fans and musicians at the Rex Hotel Jazz Bar on Queen Street, Toronto, when he dropped in for a blow. With him were two sax players from his orchestra, along with his pianist. Doing the gig that night at the bar were the Ross Macintyre Trio. Wynton and his boys joined in for the last set, though Wynton played from the floor as he could not go onstage for contractual reasons.

Toronto's Hot Five Jazzmakers have been invited to take part in the Whitley Bay International Jazz Festival in Northern England next year, over the weekend of July 10-12. The band is presently debating whether or not to extend the  tour and take in some other clubs or festivals.

The Climax Jazz Band was set for the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival Nov. 6-9, and the Ragweed Jazz Band plays a concert at the Scarborough Civic Centre, Toronto, on Nov. 23 from 2-4 p.m. New Orleans trumpeter Gregg Stafford is in Toronto for a concert at Grossman's Tavern, Spadina Avenue Nov. 21 from 8 till 11 p.m. Supporting him will be Roberta Hunt, piano; Chuck Clarke, drums (both from the Happy Pals) Jack King, banjo; Colin Bray, bass, and, from the Hot Five Jazzmakers, Janet Shaw, reeds, and Brian Towers, trombone. Tickets are $25 for the 8-11 p.m. period. After that time, there will be no cover charge, and the action will carry on with Marla Dixon's Darkpark Brass Band. Mary Simpson has all the details and can be contacted at simpsonmcan@sympatico.ca. It looks like it is going to be quite a night!

Every year Manfred and Theresa Koch organize a Jazz for Haiti benefit. This year it was held Oct. 5 at The Chick 'n' Deli in Toronto and at the gig at The Lancaster jazz club, Kitchener, on Oct. 11 where Manfred played trombone with Dinny's All Stars. The Chick 'n' Deli event was attended by many musicians from the various bands in the city. Manfred reported that $2,000 has been raised, 10% more than last year. All the funds go directly to the building of schools on the impoverished island, which has been heavily affected by hurricanes again this year.

The City of Guelph, Ontario, is blessed with a group called the Royal City Saxophone Quartet, which plays ragtime, classics and jazz. Ernie Kalwa is the leader and plays baritone and bass sax. Robert McQuade handles the tenor saxophone, while Larry Moser plays alto sax. Bradley Moggach doubles on soprano and alto saxes. The group has just released a new CD entitled That's A-Plenty,and they will be airing selections from it at a Nov. 16 concert at 2 p.m. at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, It's part of the Sunday Gallery concert Series. The Wellington County Museum is between Elora and Fergus in Ontario.

November 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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