Editor’s note: Gloria Blizzard’s story” Black History at the Pilot Tavern” this past March/April looked back at a Black History Month weekly series at the Pilot Tavern – the brainchild of Trevor Bazilio, a long-time attendee at the venue, who queried the paucity of Black jazz musicians regularly featured at the venue.
Laudable as the series is, Blizzard wrote, “five nights of Black jazz musicians programmed to play at the Pilot Tavern, a jazz venue, calls attention to an absence on the musical landscape.” She goes on to note the efforts over time of some of “the many others at work on changing the jazz landscape [by ensuring] environments where Black audiences, with an embodied knowledge, even if not explicit history of segregation, could feel at ease.”
That work continues, as new venues arise, filling programming gaps in Toronto’s musical landscape and welcoming in new or underserved audiences.
Contxt by Trane
Contxt by Trane is a hidden gem. I have been a regular there since 2009, and selfishly don’t want too many more people to come! At 254 Lansdowne Avenue on the ground floor, a small door opens into a comfortable and welcoming space, great food and the most extraordinary programming taking place in the city.
Owner Frank Francis is filling a gap left by other jazz venues and features Afro-diasporic music and artists. Deeply established musicians from the grand canon of jazz history play here regularly, along with many up-and-coming jazz musicians of the diaspora.
Over the last few months, American greats such as Sir/Dr. Kahil El’Zabar have appeared multiple times, along with Alex Harding with their Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Both have also appeared in other formations. Most recently El’Zabar did two nights with the great saxophonist, David Murray, a contemporary of the late Sunny Murray. Alex Harding has played several times solo and with his long-time bandmate, Lucian Ban of Transylvania via New York City.
Francis also programs month-long residencies. Nicky Lawrence’s ‘Sunday Noir’ evenings took place in June. Tuku Bey (daughter of Salome Bey) and Budi have their own month- long residency in July.
Upcoming shows include Muneed Hermans and Teiku Klang. Weekly programming includes, the Thursday night Afro-Brazilica, featuring art, poetry and guest performance, and DJ Watts Saturday afternoon ‘Listening Room’. Contxt by Trane also presents concerts at larger venues such the Redwood Theatre and the Music Gallery.
https://contxtbytrane.com/events-in-contxt/
Instagram - @contxtbytrane and Facebook
Davie Studios
Davie Studios is made up of four small venues across Toronto’s west end. The Listening Room at Longboat Hall, Cassette at the Gladstone Hotel, Bevy at the Combine, and Apartment 200 are all under this umbrella organization.
Together, the venues focus on showcasing local Toronto musicians, expanding the reach of improvised music and jazz. A broad age-range of audiences and players is visible at the venues as Davie Studios is deliberately welcoming younger audiences into the worlds of jazz. They refer to “In Real Life” experiences countering the focus on streamed music.
Programming is fast, furious and relentless. Stay connected with them via Instagram - @daviestudiostoronto
And stay tuned. Lots more to come on new venues and innovative programming.
Gloria Blizzard writes on music, dance, culture and is the author of Black Cake, Turtle Soup, and Other Dilemmas: essays on music, memory and motion.
Instagram - @gloriawrites.
