York’s Department of Music will welcome spring this week with its four-day Jazz Festival running from today to Thursday, March 20, as part of the third annual York Fine Arts Festival. The talented young artists in Canada’s oldest and largest university jazz program will melt away with winter blues in six concerts, directed by leading lights of the Canadian jazz scene.
Performances feature the 19-piece York University Jazz Orchestra led by Al Henderson and Mike Cadó, four jazz choirs directed by Bob Hamper and Mim Adams, and 15 jazz combos – trios, quartets and quintets – directed by Mike Murley, Lorne Lofsky, Kelly Jefferson and Mark Eisenman.
All Jazz Festival performances are free. The large ensembles take the stage in the Tribute Communities Recital Hall, while the small instrumental and vocal ensembles entertain audiences in the informal, club-like setting of the Accolade East Lounge. There are shows nightly starting at 7:30pm plus a one-hour midday concert on March 19 at 12:30pm.
- Tonight
ACE Lounge, 219 Accolade East, at 7:30pm
Jazz Combos led by Artie Roth, Frank Falco, Kelly Jefferson, Mark Eisenman and Mike Murley - March 18
Tribute Communities Recital Hall, at 7:30pm
York University Jazz Choirs directed by Bob Hamper and Mim Adams
ACE Lounge, 219 Accolade East, at 8:15pm
Jazz Combos led by Kevin Turcotte, Roy Patterson, Lorne Lofsky and Kelly Jefferson
- March 19
ACE Lounge, 219 Accolade East, at 12:30pm
Vocal Ensembles directed by Richard Whiteman and Mike CadóACE Lounge, 219 Accolade East, at 7:30pm
Jazz Combos led by Anthony Michelli, Kevin Turcotte, Lorne Lofsky, Mark Eisenman, Jim Vivian and Mike Malone - March 20
Tribute Communities Recital Hall, at 7:30pm
York University Jazz Orchestra directed by Al Henderson and Mike Cadó
All performances are free and open to the public. Visit the Faculty of Fine Arts Festival Web site for more information on all the events.