There’s no place like the Tranzac. Home to countless artists and audiences for nearly 40 years, it’s far more than a building rich with history. Initially intended to promote and foster Aussie and Kiwi cultures, with the passing decades the Toronto Australia New Zealand Club has become less focused on “Down Under” and more inclusive of “all over.” In other words, it has become a truly Canadian institution which values diversity, freedom and respect.
A springboard for the arts, the Tranzac has launched successes like Rock Plaza Central and The Evil Dead: The Musical; it has also housed the Blocks Blocks Blocks recording club, which has released over 50 albums, including releases from two Polaris Prize-winning groups. Closely associated with the Tranzac are the Flying Cloud Folk Club, a presenter of folk and roots music in its 28th year; and the Nomad Acting Group, a drama collective kicked off by rugby players some 35 years ago.
Just about every night in the Tranzac one can find cutting-edge, non-commercial music, including folk, jazz, fusion, experimental and avant-garde. Venues that welcome creativity over commercialism – not to mention where audiences are encouraged to closely listen rather than talk over the music – are rarities on Toronto’s live music scene. The Tranzac is a non-for-profit arts organization subsidized by member support, bar sales, donations, rental of facilities and grant funding.
Following a loss of $48,000 last year (the result of ongoing mortgage debt, drop in revenue, unexpected building maintenance, rise in property taxes, security fees and being dumped by the Fringe Festival) the Tranzac recently announced a desperate need to raise $40,000 by the end of 2010 in order to keep the doors to the Main Hall, Tiki Room and Southern Cross Lounge open.
For many Torontonians the Tranzac is invaluable. “My colleagues and I have relied on the Tranzac as a home to a vibrant and diverse arts community, and a platform to develop our musicianship and grow artistically,” says guitarist Harley Card. “There is no other venue in Toronto where we feel as encouraged to do this.”
Artistic director of Toronto Downtown Jazz, Josh Grossman is also a fervent supporter. “The club’s willingness to program and invite challenging forms of art should be applauded. Without boundary-pushing artists, art cannot advance – and without venues such as the Tranzac, boundary-pushing artists will have nowhere to ply their trade. It is my hope that the Tranzac will come through its current financial challenges and remain an important player on Toronto’s cultural scene.”
The Tranzac’s manager, Michael Owen-Liston, is optimistic about the fundraising campaign. “The energy and momentum that we are mobilizing now will be a great asset to more than just short-term fundraising. We know that the people who are stepping forward with their support right now feel a unique connection to this community, a relationship that they don’t have anywhere else, and we have an opportunity here to capitalize on that investment.
Working together, we can create a stronger, more sustainable vision for the Tranzac to be able to serve this community.”
Membership categories at present are at $25, $250, and $500. To find out how you can help, visit www.tranzac.org.
More CD Releases Than You Can Shake Your Cash At!
• “Show Off” by Gabi Epstein. Sunday Nov. 7 at Revival, 8pm-midnight with Mark Kieswetter (p) Artie Roth (b) Daniel Barnes (d). Epstein’s extraordinary pipes and a flair for both drama and comedy have resulted in whispers of her being “The next Barbra”. Look out world, you’re gonna hear from Gabs!
www.gabiepstein.com
• “A Meadow in December” by Lara Solnicki. Saturday Nov. 14 from 6-9pm at Chalkers Pub with Neil Swainson (b) and Reg Schwager (g). Solnicki makes a difficult melody seem easy; her incredibly pitched vocals are rich with shades of colour. Playing with the very best jazz musicians in the business doesn’t hurt. www.larasolnicki.com
• “A Pink-Filled Sky” & “Epoch”: Double CD Release by Gillian Margot Trio & Eric St-Laurent Trio. Tuesday November 23rd at Hugh’s Room, 8:30pm. Featuring Stu Harrison (p), Jordan O’Connor (b), Michel DeQuevedo (perc). Jazz vocalist/composer Gillian Margot sings with impeccable tone and has recently begun focusing on her poetic originals. Eric St-Laurent is a terrific guitar player whose “Epoch” has already been warmly received by radio across the country. Featuring very special guest singer Justin Bacchus, this promises to be a highly entertaining evening.
www.gillianmargot.com, www.ericst-laurent.com
• “Ticket to Ride”: Pat Murray sings the Beatles Book. Saturday November 23 at The Rex, 3:30-6:30pm. Powerful Murray re-imagines songs by the Fab Four in a modern jazz setting, accompanied by Mark Kieswetter on piano, George Koller on bass, Davide Di Renzo on drums and Bruce Cassidy on trumpet. www.patmurray.ca
• “Mosaic”: Deborah Staiman & Guests. Sunday November 28 at The Annex Live, 2:30-5pm. The recording features Operatic arias, German Lied, French Chanson, English Art Song, Yiddish Song and Sacred Jewish music. At the CD release Staiman will perform two different sets, each of which will consist of selections from the CD and Broadway gems. www.singingstudio.ca
Jazz at the Gallery Studio Café and the Reservoir Lounge
Lovers of instrumental jazz, take note: 2010 Juno Nominees and jazz composers Al Henderson and Kirk MacDonald have created a duo to perform both original compositions and jazz standards every Thursday evening in November from 7-9:30pm at the Gallery Studio Café (2877 Lakeshore Blvd. West), a newly opened space in south Etobicoke. MacDonald and Henderson are two of the most respected jazz musicians in Canada, and cover is a steal at $7:
www.alhenderson.ca, www.kirkmacdonald.com
Last but not certainly not least, a warm note of congratulations from everyone here at The WholeNote to Sophia Perlman and the Vipers on their 5th Anniversary of Monday Nights at The Reservoir Lounge! Hear here: www.myspace.com/vipersjazz. The Vipers are: Howard Moore (trumpet), Pat Carey (saxophone), Mitch Lewis (guitar), Jeff Halishchuk (drums), Ross MacIntyre (bass) and Sophia Perlman (voice). The official celebration is on Monday, November 22, which marks a half-decade of the Vipers calling “The Res” their musical home.
Ori Dagan is a Toronto-based jazz vocalist, voice actor and entertainment journalist. He can best be contacted at jazz@thewholenote.com.
