WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 @ 6:30 PM
Gray Matter w/ The O'Pears
FREE
TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Nathan Phillips Square - Outdoor Stage
"The O'Pears"
Jill Harris - Vocals
Lydia Persaud - Vocals
Meg Contini - Vocals
Jon Challoner - Trumpet
Eli Bennett - Tenor Sax
Luis Deniz - Alto Sax
Todd Pentney - Piano/Organ
Justin Gray - Upright/Electric Bass
Derek Gray - Drums/Percussion
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THURSDAY, JULY 14 @ 7 PM
Gray Matter @ Music in St. James Park
120 King St. E
FREE
Andrew McAnsh - Trumpet
Luis Deniz - Alto Sax
Todd Pentney - Piano/Organ
Justin Gray - Upright/Electric Bass
Derek Gray - Drums/Percussion
"Eulogy" – paying homage to the late Canadian political leader Jack Layton – was composed around the words of Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes (Grand Marshall of WorldPride Toronto, member of the Order of Canada for his social activism on behalf of the LGBTQ community). With Brent’s blessing, the track features spoken word samples from Layton's state funeral, hugged by a four-part harmony blend from vocalist Jill Harris, and a sonic exploration lead by Ingrid Jensen – collectively offered as a heartfelt tribute to Jack.
As Jack wrote in his final letter to Canadians:
My friends, love is better than anger.
Hope is better than fear.
Optimism is better than despair.
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.
And we’ll change the world.
Ingrid Jensen – Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Eli Bennett – Tenor Sax
Todd Pentney - Hammond B3/Piano
Justin Gray - Upright/Electric Bass
Derek Gray - Drums/Percussion
feat. Jill Harris - Vocals / Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes / Lalo / Luis Orbegoso
"Footsteps" CD Release Tour (ON/QC)
Wednesday, March 11- Manhattans (Guelph)
Thursday, March 12 - Black Sheep Inn (Wakefield, QC)
Friday, March 13 - Diese Onze (Montreal, QC)
Saturday, March 14 - Brookstreet Hotel (Ottawa) *
Sunday, March 15 - St. Mark's Lutheran Church w/ Kingston Jazz Society
Tuesday, March 17 - Western University Workshop (London)
Wednesday, March 18 - Humber College Noon Hour Concert (free & open to public)
Wednesday, March 18 - Long and McQuade Workshop (Markham)
Thursday, March 19 - The Rex Hotel (Toronto)
Friday, March 20 - The Rex Hotel (Toronto)
Saturday, March 21 - The Jazz Room (Waterloo)