Today marks 60 years since “the greatest jazz concert ever” and the event and resulting live album, which has many legendary layers, that saw Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, Max Roach in their one and only live collaboration.

Without any rehearsals or even a sound check, this is the first blast of music where the quintet performed – “Perdido:”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDFAnjmP4vQ

And then listen to Charlie Parker as he explains:

“At this time we would like to play a tune that was composed by my worthy constituent Mr. Dizzy Gillespie in the year of 1942. We sincerely hope that you do enjoy – ‘Salt Peanuts.’”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFIG-2Grclg

And a personal favourite “Wee” also known as “Allen’s Alley” which showcases an incredibly melodic and classic Max Roach drum solo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbwA8cAWjv8

In 1995, the live album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and has been recognized as one of the most significant live events in the history of the genre.

The thing that is so intriguing to me about this story (of the 1953 Toronto concert) is that the music being performed is spirited and largely based on improvisation. It’s about understanding your instrument so well and knowing how they converse with the other instruments, musicians and their sounds that turn Jazz into a real art. You have to really understand the language in order to have an informed expression of music and these five players, no doubt, among the best that have ever performed, meet for one time only – no rehearsal, no set list – not even a sound check – and go on to (quite likely, unknowingly even!) celebrate all that was great about the be-bop era. And its influence is still felt to this day. It’s pretty mind-blowing, if you think about it.

Jazz and Massey Hall have a long and significant history together dating back to the 30s with George Gershwin performing Rhapsody in Blue. Through the past century this very stage has housed performances by the great Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and more.

On October 25, 2001 the live collaboration of Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker & Roy Hargrove celebrated the music of Miles Davis & John Coltrane with Directions in Music. Their live album went on to win a Grammy Award in 2003 for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. This coming season’s series of Jazz at Massey Hall (which you can read all about here) includes an exciting collaborative concert by what is being called The Spring Quartet – four Jazz masters, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding & Leo Genovese.

The culmination of the ghosts of those notes, so-to-speak, from performances past inform those of today and with each subsequent milestone inspire those of the future. It’s an exciting part of Massey Hall’s history and indeed May 15 seems like an appropriate time to honour these great events in the iconic buildings musical history and look forward to the fact that we can be here now to enjoy it fully.

Stephen McGrath is Soundboard Editor and Media Relations Manager at Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCyGBNKlrPI

JUST ANNOUNCED
Last week, we announced the Jazz at Massey Hall series for our 2013-2014 season. We’re excited for what promises to be a really engaging season of music at storied Massey Hall, home of the “Greatest Jazz Concert Ever” and some other seriously impressive collaborations. This year’s season is decidedly one of collaboration and dynamic teamwork within the genre. The series kicks off with Wayne Shorter 80th Birthday Celebration featuring the Wayne Shorter Quartet with Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade as well as ACS, a trio made up of Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Esperanza Spalding (whom we were just wowed by at Massey Hall last month). ACS will perform works from Shorter’s mid-career days with Weather Report. The second of four concert events in the series is a return engagement by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis performing a very special Big Band Holidays concert in December. February brings The Spring Quartet  featuring the impressive talents of Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding and Leo Genovese. Finally, the series concludes with a performance by Brad Mehldau Trio in April. Details on all four concerts and the subscription packages are all here: masseyhall.com/jazzatmasseyhall. Tickets are available for renewing and new subscribers right now.

MISSING LINKS
Fun fact: Chilly Gonzales is a producer on the forthcoming album from epic music-makers Daft Punk. You can read about the collaboration and watch a video of Gonzo describing the process on Rolling Stone. The album Random Access Memories drops on May 21.

Have you seen the “50:50” project over at NOW Magazine? They’re partnering with Rogers to bring to the internet and its followers videos of “50 great bands covering tracks from the 50 best Toronto albums ever.” Tunes covered are by some of our fave artists including Neil Young, Blue Rodeo, Feist, and Gordon Lightfoot. You can check it out here: nowtoronto.com/5050.

Last week we talked about International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield’s role in Music Monday. Now, just when you thought this “Tang-drinking troubadour” couldn’t get any hipper, a new video has been making the rounds where one Hadfield sings a version of Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” Globe and Mail has the video and some important context on the “tweaking” of the lyrics.

ACCOLADES
Congrats go out to Buddy Guy for earning “another hefty trophy, straining a mantle already groaning under the weight of many honors” in the NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement. You can read about the award, and about how Quinn Sullivan, who opened for Buddy Guy when he performed at Massey Hall last month, performed a “surprise tribute” at the event in USA Today.

Stefania Paterak is Programming Associate at Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

JUST ANNOUNCED
Last week in their budget, the Government of Ontario committed $8 million toward the revitalization of Massey Hall. As we noted in the March 26 edition of the Buzz, the Old Lady of Shuter Street is looking forward to this revitalization thanks to the pending transfer of land by MOD Developments (announced in 2012). You can read the Corporation’s statement on the Province joining the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto in supporting the preservation of Massey Hall’s legacy here.

WEB WATCH
Yesterday was Music Monday in Canada – a day that “celebrate[s] the galvanizing power of music in Canada and demonstrate[s] how that power is rooted in school music programs” championed by the Coalition for Music Education. This year was a particularly out-of-this-world edition as the official Music Monday song was co-written by Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies and Chis Hadfield of the International Space Station (the actual Space Station – even though it sounds like some hip new band). CBC Music has tons of content on the special day including this video of the duo singing alongside the Wexford Gleeks, the sheet music and details on the song, “I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing,)” as well as ‘Letters to my teacher’  from a variety of musicians, and can’t-miss stories (and some great pics) from musicians about their first instruments. Yesterday at exactly noon EST, thousands of school children from across the country sang “I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing).”

YOU SHOULD KNOW
As mentioned above, the Government of Ontario recently released their budget and in addition to the funds committed to the revitalization of Massey Hall, they have also committed $45 million (over three years) to a new Ontario Music Fund. You can read about that announcement in the Toronto Star.

AUDIO FILE
NPR has some good stuff available for your streaming pleasure this week including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on World Café and a First Listen to the soundtrack to the latest film version of The Great Gatsby (which is released in cinemas this week) featuring, perhaps unexpectedly, contemporary tunes from the likes of Florence + the Machine, The xx, Gotye, and Jay-Z (who also executive produced the soundtrack). For even more Gatsby fun, the Toronto Star has five fun facts you probably didn’t know about the book and its film interpretations.

And Preservation Hall Jazz Band has announced that they will be releasing their first album of original tunes this summer. You can read all about the disc, and the band’s collaboration with Jim James of My Morning Jacket, in the Rolling Stone.

ACCOLADES
Last week the Jazz Journalist Awards were named, and one of our faves – Mr. Wayne Shorter – came out a serious winner. Wayne Shorter won both the Soprano Saxophonist of the Year award as well as an award for Lifetime Achievement. The Wayne Shorter Quartet was honoured with Small Ensemble of the Year. You can review all of the awards here (via Stereophile).

Stefania Paterak is Programming Associate at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfIvfqP1jAA

JUST ANNOUNCED
This past week we announced the upcoming return of the Royal Canadian Military Institute to Roy Thomson Hall’s stage for the 24th Annual Massed Military Band Spectacular on October 27. This year’s theme is New Beginnings, Honoured Traditions and the concert promises an afternoon filled with your favourite marches and fanfares as well as contemporary tunes all performed by more than 120 pipers, drummers, brass, and woodwind players from 10 of Toronto’s Navy, Army and Air Force unit bands. As in the past, the doors to Roy Thomson Hall will open at 12:30pm for viewing of military displays in the lobby. Tickets are available for FriendsFirst members now and to the general public on May 11.

Last week we also announced that Cody Simpson will be performing at Massey Hall on July 8 as part of his upcoming North American headline tour. Simpson, who toured with one Mr. Justin Bieber on his Believe tour, is about to release his second album this summer following the release of his debut, Paradise. The evening will also feature performances from Ryan Beatty and Before You Exit. Tickets for this event are on sale now.

PERFORMANCES
Deepak Chopra (Tonight – Tuesday): Deepak Chopra returns to Roy Thomson Hall, this time with his talk The Future of Well-Being. The very accomplished Chopra (he has authored more than 70 books including 21 New York Times bestsellers) will share with the audience his suggestions for experiencing “higher consciousness, transformation and healing.” Chopra will also be signing copies of his latest book following the lecture.

Agincourt Madrigal Singers & Northlea Junior Choir (Thursday – FREE!): The fourth and final event in this season’s Free Choir & Organ Concert series, aptly titled Youthful Treasures, features two award-winning choirs from the Toronto District School Board. You can read all about the choirs performing at this noontime event here and review the program in advance, here.

Jill Barber (Friday): After performing two sold out shows at Glenn Gould Studio in the Fall of 2011, we’re ever so excited to see Jill Barber take the stage at the Winter Garden Theatre this Friday. Barber recently released the critically acclaimed Chansons (check out great reviews from CBC and The Montreal Gazette), a collection of French cover songs from the 40s, 50s and 60s which we’re looking forward to seeing live at the concert this Friday, as well as favourites from Barber’s previous work from Mischievous Moon and Chances.

AUDIO-FILE
Last week Michael Kaeshammer announced that his eighth studio album, With You In Mind, will be released at the end of May. We’re looking forward to hearing the new album which Kaeshammer says is the first time he’s dedicated a full record to someone else’s music. In this case, With You In Mind, was inspired by the career and works of the great Allen Toussaint. Michael Kaeshammer performs at Massey Hall (with special guest Kellylee Evans) on May 25. In the meantime, you can listen to his interpretation of “Sweet Touch of Love,” from the upcoming album, here

MISSING LINKS
Here’s a fun fact – the birthday of Willie Nelson is in contention: the Huffington Post is reporting, in a nice feature story, that Mr. Nelson says it was yesterday (April 29) and Texas State says it’s today (April 30). The Strombo website also brings up this fact but includes some great video clips including the 1981 PBS special Swingin’ Over the Rainbow and a download of Bahamas doing a killer cover version of “Stardust” – In any case, we wish the man, the legend, a very happy 80th birthday this week and look forward to seeing him at Massey Hall on June 20 as part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of iTunes, Rolling Stone has a great historical review of how iTunes came to be and the resulting changes to the recorded music industry. Wired, on the other hand, has a shopping list of suggested improvements  for the folks over at Apple to “Make iTunes Awesome Again.”

The New York Times reports the opening of the new Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma (which had its grand opening this past weekend).

Stefania Paterak is Programming Associate at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2XgXStPms4

JUST ANNOUNCED
We’re so, so excited to announce to you that we’ll be presenting the one and only Fred Penner in two performances at the Enwave Theatre (located at Harbourfront Centre) on June 8. The shows, which will take place at 1pm and 4pm, will be fun for the whole family as well as those of us who grew up on “The Cat Came Back,” and other classics, and are now looking for another chance to joyously sing along, “if I had a hundred sandwiches, I’d eat them all at once!” Tickets for both shows are available for purchase now.

We also just announced a very special performance by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo at Massey Hall. The singer of “Love is a Battlefield” and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and longtime collaborator, guitarist (and husband) will hit the stage on Friday, August 9, at 8pm. Tickets are on sale now.

ACCOLADES
The JUNO Awards took place in Regina this weekend and what a fun-filled show it was, complete with musical appearances by some of our faves: Metric, Hannah Georgas, the Tenors, and David Myles (with Classified). We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of Canadian musicians and the Canadian Music Industry over the past year – but we can’t help ourselves but send out props in particular to:

- Monster Truck, who recently opened for Deep Purple at Massey Hall, for their win of the Breakthrough Group of the Year award

- Metric, for Alternative Album of the Year for their Synthetica (and to James Shaw, winner of the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year award and Justin Broadbent, winner for Recording Package of the Year, for their work on the album)

- Rush, for winning Rock Album of the Year (hot on the heels of their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

- Emilie-Claire Barlow, winner of Vocal Jazz Album of the Year for her record Seule ce Soir

- David Myles, featured on Classified’s winning Rap Recording of the Year: Inner Ninja

- Rose Cousins, earning herself a statue for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo for We Have Made A Spark

- The Tenors, (who just performed two shows at Roy Thomson Hall earlier this month,) winners of Adult Contemporary Album of the Year, for their Lead With Your Heart

We also can’t forget to congratulate Tom Cochrane for the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award and k.d. lang for her induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The National Post has a really nice summary of some fellow musicians lauding lang for her impressive career and well-deserved award.

Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees at the 2013 JUNO Awards. You can read the complete list of winners here.

MISSING LINKS
Here’s a cool new thing from Twitter: an app that integrates iTunes, Spotify, and Rdio into your twitter habits (via CBC).

The TSO just announced that Peter Oundjian will continue on as conductor and music director through the 2016-2017 Season – the National Post has the details here.

The lovely Kellylee Evans just released her latest album I Remember When – you can get a taste of the sound here and be sure to check her out when she performs as special guest to Michael Kaeshammer on May 25 at Massey Hall.

And if you saw Emma-Lee and Peter Katz perform at the Rivoli earlier this month, then we’re sure you were charmed by the original tune they sung together called “What’s on Your Mind.” The song is now available as a single on iTunes – you can check it out here.

Stefania Paterak is Programming Associate at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UwYCIgis1M

Today we send congratulations to RUSH on their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You can listen to Geddy Lee himself talk about his own and the band’s special relationship with Massey Hall in this City Sonic short film. CBC has got a great review of the ascension of Rush including video of an interview with a fan, photos, and Rush “by the numbers.” Even CNN’s resident nerd (she produces Geek Out! for CNN and has been a fan of the band since 1990), Ann Hoevel, is talking about what this means to RUSH fans everywhere, especially in the context of the band’s history.

If you’re not in LA for the fete, we recommend you listen to your copy of All the World’s a Stage (recorded live at Massey Hall in 1976) to honour the occasion.

She was a class act and a true music champion. We are saddened by the loss of Rita MacNeil and are grateful to have hosted her on our stages on so many occasions throughout her career. Our thoughts are with her family and all those who were close to her at this time.

We came across this video of her on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and wanted to share it with you here. It made us smile and remember what an incredible lady she was and what an inspiring life she had lived.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31_Bjif2KZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRInT8JuqaM

PERFORMANCES
Emma-Lee & Peter Katz (Wednesday): We’re thrilled to see both of these singer-songwriters take the Rivoli stage this Wednesday as part of our Canadian Songbook at the Rivoli series. Both artists will play individual sets with full bands (Peter Katz at 9pm, and Emma-Lee at 10pm) and then the pair will close out the night playing some tunes together. For a flavour of what you’re in for, check out the embedded video from Emma-Lee above and this video from Peter Katz. Mr. Katz has proclaimed that he thinks it’s “going to be one of [his] favourite shows of the year” has promised some “new tunes and surprises” via Twitter. We’re ready to experience something really special this Wednesday at the Rivoli – we hope you’ll join in the fun!

Aretha Franklin (Friday): The one and only Queen of Soul returns to perform at Roy Thomson Hall this Friday. In March, Ms. Franklin celebrated her 71st birthday and in her tenure as music royalty, she has won 17 Grammy Awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Grammy Living Legend Award and was the 2005 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom honor (the highest honour in the United States). Needless to say, this icon deserves your R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We can’t wait to show ours when her voice takes control of Roy Thomson Hall.

Engelbert Humperdinck (Friday): Over at Massey Hall on Friday, we feature another living legend – Mr. Engelbert Humperdinck. Made famous for songs like “Please Release Me” and “Spanish Eyes,” his undeniable ability to keep audiences enthralled will be showcased for the first time in ten years in Toronto .

Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano (Sunday): Spend Sunday afternoon at Glenn Gould Studio for the fourth and final vocal recital in our 2012-2013 Canadian Voices series. Ms. McHardy will be accompanied by Stephen Ralls on piano in a program that includes works by Schumann, Berlioz, and Rossini.

MISSING LINKS
Baseball season is upon us and we were pretty excited to see that Metric’s Stadium Love is the “official anthem of the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays.” You can read about how that came to be in the National Post. For more Metric news, read up in The Star about their just announced performance as part of the JUNO Awards on April 21.

Need more baseball meets music? CBC Music has a feature on when baseball players become musicians here.

And from the department of the medium is the message, Alan Cross points to a 90-minute documentary on the 8-track and The Grid discusses the visceral experience that is the vinyl recording and why kids dig it.

AUDIO FILE
CBC Music has two other fun things you should know about starting with video of Jill Barber performing the songs of Hank Williams. Jill Barber performs at the Winter Garden Theatre on May 3. You should also be sure to check out Belle Starr performing their five favourite Canadian country music songs. Belle Starr returns to our stages on Tuesday, April 16 when Massey Hall presents the trio at the Drake Underground for their album release concert.

Stefania Paterak is Programming Associate at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpDMLPixO8s

PERFORMANCES
The Tenors (Thursday and Friday): The Tenors return to Roy Thomson Hall for two highly anticipated performances this week. You can watch them perform “Free the Children” as they did recently for We Day Seattle here. The video for the title track for their latest album, Lead With Your Heart, is also available for your viewing pleasure here.

Esperanza Spalding (Friday): Three-time Grammy Award winner, Ms. Esperanza Spalding makes her Massey Hall debut this Friday with her Radio Music Society concert. You can read all about the project and the album (a companion album to her other recording Chamber Music Society) on her website here as well as videos (including the official trailer for the album) here and above.

National Geographic Live: Tim Laman & Ed Scholes (Monday and next Tuesday): Next week marks the final iteration in the 2012-2013 National Geographic Live series at Roy Thomson Hall and we’re very excited to see Laman, photographer, and Scholes, ornithologist take the stage for their presentation Birds of Paradise – Extreme, Bizarre, Extraordinary. To prepare you for their presentation of the delightful and strange ways of the Birds of Paradise, you can watch this awe-inspiring video from the pair on the National Geographic site.

Mendelssohn Singers (Monday – FREE!): This 70-voice ensemble will perform at noon on Monday as part of Roy Thomson Hall’s Free Choir & Organ Concert series. The performance, entitled Sacred and Secular Choral Gems, will be conducted by Artistic Director Noel Edison and the group will be joined by organist Rachel Mahon. You can peruse the program, concert notes and bios here.

MISSING LINKS
CBC has a list of the Top 25 Canadian Singers ever which you can study here. The list includes many of our faves across a wide variety of genres including Gordon Lightfoot at #25, Bahamas at #16, Bryan Adams at #13, Ben Heppner at #12, Feist at #4 and more.

And if you missed it on our Twitter Feed, check out the latest lyric video from the Barenaked Ladies, a lovely video love letter to the scenery and architecture of Toronto including cameos from our own Massey Hall.

And this is kind of fun – yesterday, amidst the usual barrage of April Fool’s tricks and memes (with particular kudos going out to the announcement from the TTC regarding the “Personal Car”), Billboard was kind enough to share these 20 musical jewels for fools. Tech Crunch is tracking the more epic April Fool’s jokes here and National Geographic has a wonderfully odd anthology of seven animal hoaxes from history to celebrate the occasion.

Stefania Paterak is Programming Associate at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

JUST ANNOUNCED
Last week, the Government of Canada announced its 2013 Economic Action Plan and the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall is thrilled by the commitment of $8 million to begin the revitalization of our cherished Massey Hall, thanks to the offer of land by MOD Developments, which was announced in 2012. Details of the recent announcement, including a statement from the Corporation’s President & CEO, Charles S. Cutts, are here and you can listen to Charlie Cutts speak with Matt Galloway on Metro Morning from last Friday, here.

MISSING LINKS
The recent win of the inaugural Prism Prize – an award given to the best Canadian music video of the past year – by Rich Aucoin reminded me that you have to see his now-award-winning video, if you haven’t yet. Exclaim! has the details of the awards and the video for your viewing pleasure. Arcade Fire took home the “secondary” Prism Prize Audience Award” for their “Sprawl II.”

And also from the department of Arcade Fire news, word on the street is that the band is now working on a follow up to their The Suburbs. Rolling Stone has the update.

And also from Rolling Stone, Pink Floyd fans are in for a virtual treat this week. This article outlines that fans can “gather” online at 8pm (EST) on Saturday in order to stream The Dark Side of the Moon in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Fans can also tweet their Dark Side memories with the hashtag #DarkSide40. Earlier this month, Massey Hall presented Classic Albums Live performing Pink Floyd’s Dark Side note for note, cut for cut.

AUDIO FILE
NPR’s First Listen has The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver streaming for your listening pleasure here. The compilation, to be released on April 2 – what would have been Mr. Denver’s 70th birthday – includes contributions from Kathleen Edwards, Lucinda Williams, Brandi Carlile & Emmylou Harris (the latter of this duo having just performed at Massey Hall last week), as well as J Mascis & Sharon Van Etten (the latter of this duo having just opened for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Massey Hall, also last week).

Stefania Paterak is Programming Associate at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall