The 18-piece Toronto Jazz Orchestra (TJO) was created in 1998 to perform music by some of the most important composers in jazz – writers like Thad Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, Phil Nimmons, Rob McConnell and more. Over the past 24 years, their repertoire has evolved to include compositions and arrangements ranging from classic swing tunes to the leading edge of contemporary jazz, with an emphasis on Canadian composers and arrangers. The TJO seeks to educate, entertain, and increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of big band jazz.  Since 1998, the TJO has performed regularly at Toronto’s Rex Hotel. Their fourth CD, 20, was released in June, 2018.  The ensemble won top prize at the Markham Jazz Festival’s Jazz Stars of the Future competition in 2000, and has since appeared in the JVC, Beaches, Lakefield, Markham, Brantford, Kensington Market, World of Jazz and TD Toronto Jazz Festivals.  The TJO has also performed at the Milton Centre for the Arts, the Richmond Hill Performance Arts Centre, Ottawa’s Shenkman Centre and as part of the Welland-Port Colborne Concert Association and Sarnia Concert Association series. As part of their regular performance schedule, the TJO has undertaken special projects including: the Cuban Fire Suite (as recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra); an evening with Phil Nimmons, featuring a performance of The Atlantic Suite; music from West Side Story, featuring 12 new arrangements by 5 local composers; Miles Ahead, with guest trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, featuring the original Gil Evans arrangements from the Gil Evans/Miles Davis collaboration; the Big Band Gospel Project, a collaboration with the Toronto Mass Choir; the Big Band Tap Revue, featuring the TJO performing with five tap dancers; and twelve editions of the Radiohead Jazz Project. The ensemble has also presented tributes to the orchestras of Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, and was featured at the inaugural Toronto International Tap Dance Festival with soloist Ted Louis Levy. The TJO has been honoured to perform with a variety of guest artists including local musicians Phil Nimmons and Kevin Turcotte; Canadians living elsewhere including Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen, Seamus Blake and Socalled; and Americans including Geoffrey Keezer and Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling. The performance of Canadian repertoire is a key component of the TJO mandate, and each year the ensemble presents “O Canada”, a performance exclusively featuring original Canadian big band compositions. The TJO was nominated for a 2006 National Jazz Award in the Best Big Band Category, and has been awarded grants by the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. 

Toronto Jazz Orchestra founder, Artistic Director and Conductor Josh Grossman is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Jazz Performance Program where he studied trumpet with Chase Sanborn and Kevin Turcotte.  He has performed in big bands under the direction of Phil Nimmons, Paul Read, Ron Collier and Paul Ashwell, and is a regular member of the Chris Hunt Tentet. Josh has been Artistic Director for Toronto Downtown Jazz, which produces the annual TD Toronto Jazz Festival, since 2010.

This concert, celebrating our talented young people, is always an audience favourite!

This year the Young Artists Recital will feature:

• St. Basil School Choir under the direction of Maria Adams
• Branek Cicci – trombone
• Tina’s Cello Studio under the direction of Tina Labanowicz and Olivia Arva
• Laura Nyburg – piano

BROADSWAY:  four of Canada’s finest musical theatre, jazz, and cabaret artists doing the music of Broadway their way and delighting audiences in the process!

Founded by JUNO / ECMA-nominee and Heather Bambrick, with Dora Mavor Moore award-nominee Diane Leah, BROADSWAY combines musical theatre and humour in a way you’ve never seen – or heard – before. Their show has been called “a fun-filled, top-notch musical evening” (Louise Pitre, Tony-nominated actress) and “a super fun treat” (Laila Biali, Saturday Night Jazz, CBC Radio). BROADSWAY performances combine classics and lesser-known gems from beloved Broadway shows (and more), delivered with creativity, humour, jazzy spontaneity, and overall showmanship, bringing crowds to their feet at every show.

Over the years, they’ve delighting audiences at renowned venues and festivals, including Roy Thompson Hall (Toronto, ON), Birdland (New York, NY), Flato Markham Theatre (Markham), Burlington Performing Arts Centre (Burlington, ON), St, John’s Arts and Culture Centre (St. John’s, NL), Metropolitan Room (New York, NY), Victoria Hall (Cobourg, ON), and many others!

And, as always, the best testimony comes from their audiences:

“Do yourself a favour and make sure you catch Broadsway bringing down the house!” (M.B.)

“If you can, see this group – they are fantastic!!” (K.H.)

“The best thing to happen on any stage since the spotlight!” (N.S.J)

“I love Broadsway! I just love this show!” (S.S.)

With a marvelous musical meshing, and a healthy dose of humour, it’s Broadway, THEIR way!

www.thebroadswayshow.com