Volume 25 Issue 7 - April 2020

MAXIM LUCA BORTNOWSKI
The Artist: Julian Anderson-Bowes, bassist
The Event: Weekly residence at The Rex during the month of April
The Project: A trio, with guitarist Sam Dickinson and drummer
Anthony Daniel, and a quartet, with keyboardists Chris Pruden and
Yunjin Claire Lee, and drummer Eric West.
Contact details: www.instagram.com/nakedcatzz
Newness and risk in the unique space provided by The Rex: “Both of
these projects are brand new. I was inspired to pursue the trio project
with Sam and Anthony after we played a session together a few weeks
ago. Anthony is actually my roommate, and he had just returned from
a short vacation in New York City, jumping right into a jam with Sam
and me. I think everyone was super energized that day – I recorded a
couple tunes on my phone and I was taken in by the interaction and
the way we were navigating standards together.
“The other project is something that has been percolating in my
mind for quite some time. I wanted to put together a group that would
give me a chance to play electric bass and zone in on composing and
improvising using electronics. Chris, Eric and I have logged a lot of
hours playing together – there is a lot of trust and openness there,
which makes it easy to take risks. I’m really excited to have Yunjin
involved in this as well – we’ve played a handful over the years and I
always feel very present when I play with her, I think because she is
incredibly in the moment with her music-making.”
Inspiration and the Toronto music community: “I feel proud and
lucky to be part of a community that’s filled with so many talented
and interesting people! I basically never feel short of inspiration as
long as I’m present and open to what’s going on around me here in
Toronto. Maybe this is a nice chance to say thank you to all my fellow
artists who are so committed to creating and bettering themselves.
You really keep me going!”
The Artist: Meghan Gilhespy, vocalist (and U of T DMA student)
The Event: Doctoral recital, U of T
The Project: An ongoing duo project with guitarist Patrick O’Reilly
Contact details: www.meghangilhespy.com, www.instagram.com/
meghangilhespy, www.meghangilhespy.bandcamp.com
Performing with O’Reilly: “My most recent gigs have all been duo
with [O’Reilly], and so was this recital. We recorded at Desert Fish
Studios back in the fall, and this recital was going to be a lot of that
music. Some of my compositions, some Messiaen and some pop
music. We like to do Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and I Hope That I
Don’t Fall In Love With You.”
The impact of social distancing on academic life and music education:
“I am a Resident Massey College Fellow, and because of social
distancing I am moving out. I can’t teach my ensemble anymore (you
Julian Anderson-Bowes
Meghan Gilhespy
can’t teach jazz online, man). The libraries are closed which affects my
work a great deal. I’m not someone who works from home, so U of T
closing has been real rough in terms of researching and writing right
now. I was hoping to obtain candidacy by the end of this term, and
that doesn’t look like it can happen now.”
On dealing with the unique demands of self-isolation: “Academics
exist in their heads. We are asked to think all the time, and we have
to produce. This is similar to artists – we have to create, and also live
in/with/alongside our own thoughts. It can be torturous! At this
time I’m trying to not feel burdened with the need to produce work,
and grapple with my thoughts. I’m baking a lot. I am profoundly
committed to laughter and comedy – I think that one can take their
work seriously and still laugh about it. So I’m trying to make people
laugh right now.”
The Artists: Rob Clutton, bassist, and Pete Johnston, bassist
The Event: A double-CD release at The Array Space, for Clutton’s
new album Counsel of Primaries and Johnston’s new album False
Ghost, Minor Fears, sponsored by the Toronto Jazz Festival Special
Projects Fund
The Projects: The Rob Clutton Trio, with Clutton, drummer Nick
Fraser and saxophonist Karen Ng, and the Johnston-led See
Through 4, with Johnston, Ng, Fraser and pianist Marilyn Lerner.
Contact details (Clutton): www.robclutton.com,
www.bandcamp.com/robclutton
Contact details (Johnston): www.petejohnstonmusic.com,
www.all-set.bandcamp.com
VINCENT LIM
D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
Emmet Ray, The
924 College St. 416-792-4497
theemmetray.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover/PWYC
Grossman’s Tavern
379 Spadina Ave. 416-977-7000
grossmanstavern.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover (unless otherwise noted).
Hirut Cafe and Restaurant
2050 Danforth Ave. 416-551-7560
hirut.ca
Home Smith Bar – See Old Mill, The
Hugh’s Room
2261 Dundas St. W 416 533 5483
hughsroom.com
All shows at 8:30pm unless otherwise noted.
See website for individual show prices.
Jazz Bistro, The
251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299
jazzbistro.ca (full schedule)
Jazz Room, The
Located in the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N.,
Waterloo. 226-476-1565
kwjazzroom.com (full schedule)
Attendees must be 19+. Cover charge varies
(generally $12-$25)
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307
lula.ca (full schedule)
Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club
951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440
manhattans.ca (full schedule)
Mezzetta Restaurant
681 St. Clair Ave. W. 416-658-5687
mezzettarestaurant.com (full schedule)
Monarch Tavern
12 Clinton St. 416-531-5833
themonarchtavern.com (full schedule)
N’awlins Jazz Bar & Dining
299 King St. W. 416-595-1958
nawlins.ca
All shows: No cover/PWYC.
Nice Bistro, The
117 Brock St. N., Whitby. 905-668-8839
nicebistro.com (full schedule)
Live jazz and dinner, $45.00 per person. Dinner
from 6pm and music from 7pm to 9pm.
Old Mill, The
21 Old Mill Rd. 416-236-2641
oldmilltoronto.com (full schedule)
The Home Smith Bar: No reservations. No
cover. $20 food/drink minimum. All shows:
7:30-10:30pm unless otherwise listed.
Only Café, The
972 Danforth Ave. 416-463-7843
theonlycafe.com (full schedule)
Pilot Tavern, The
22 Cumberland Ave. 416-923-5716
thepilot.ca
All shows: 2:30pm. No cover.
Poetry Jazz Café
224 Augusta Ave. 416-599-5299
poetryjazzcafe.com (full schedule)
44 | April 2020 thewholenote.com