Live Music at The Jazz Room
Featuring local, national and international performers Friday and Saturday nights,
Soul/R&B shows on select Thursdays, and special Sunday matinees.
This calendar includes only Grand River Jazz Society shows. For other events booked
in The Jazz Room, please contact the event organizer directly or search online for
event details and ticket information.
London’s award-winning Jazz songstress Sonja Gustafson is a talented vocalist with a unique style and polish. Her traditional approach reflects an appreciation for the forerunners of vocal jazz, bringing a cool verve to classic and lesser-known standards. Honest and soulful in her delivery and grace, Sonja Gustafson is dazzling whether performing torch ballads, scatting with abandon, or crooning popular covers. Her collaborations with many of London’s top jazz instrumentalists led to the release of her debut CD “Sonja Gustafson” in 2007, as well as a double Christmas CD entitled “Comfort & Joy” released in December 2010. Both albums were well-received and can be heard on CBC radio and found on iTunes, or ordered at www.sonjagustafson.com.
Her audience is often surprised to learn that she is also an accomplished classically trained soprano with a MMus from UWO. She is a popular guest with symphonies, choirs and big bands alike and has been soprano soloist at First St. Andrew’s United Church in London, ON since 1999. Sonja also has her own opera company, Diva Lounge Productions, which produces fully staged chamber operas. But make no mistake, when it comes to jazz, she is the “real deal” according to her listeners and colleagues – her mellow jazz vocals are worlds away from her soprano roots. So whether singing in an intimate jazz club or in front of a symphony, this multi-faceted performer is an engaging songstress who connects deeply with her audience and shares her love of song with passion.
Personnel: TBA
Checkout: “Overjoyed” “Fields of Gold”
Roy Patterson is an award-winning Canadian jazz guitarist, composer, and educator renowned for his evocative, melody-driven style. Born in rural Nova Scotia, Patterson spent his formative years playing in regional rock and commercial bands before relocating to Toronto in 1978. There, he strictly dedicated himself to the jazz idiom, rapidly establishing himself among Canada’s elite instrumentalists.
As a bandleader, Patterson made history in 1996 when the Roy Patterson Quartet won the prestigious Prix de Jazz at Montreal’s Festival International de Jazz—becoming the first Toronto-based ensemble to capture the award. This milestone propelled him onto the global stage, leading to extensive touring across Europe, Asia, and the United States, alongside national radio and television profiles. He was later named Guitarist of the Year by The Jazz Report magazine and is profiled in Scott Yanow’s definitive book, The Great Jazz Guitarists.
Beyond his extensive discography as a leader, Patterson is a highly respected educator who holds a Master of Music degree and serves as an adjunct faculty member at York University. Celebrated by The Toronto Star as “a perfectionist with a big, round and dominating sound,” Patterson continues to push creative boundaries, seamlessly blending traditional jazz with instrumental Americana
Personnel:
Roy Patterson-guitar
Michael Davidson-vibes
Paul Novotny-bass
Norbert Botos-drums
Checkout: “Roy Patterson Music”
The Jazz Room welcomes back powerhouse vocalist Quisha Wint and her dynamic band back to the stage for another unforgettable night of rhythm, emotion, and pure soul. With every note, Quisha and her band capture the essence of what makes soul music so magnetic: passion, truth, and the power of storytelling through song.
Full show description to come! Get ready for an evening that uplifts, inspires, and moves you from the first note to the last encore!
Personnel:
Quisha Wint – vocals
Check Out: Private Dancer The Sky is Crying live at Hugh’s Room Georgia on My Mind
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/quisha-wint-2.
Robert Fekete is a Canadian Jazz pianist who has been performing throughout the province of Ontario with various artists for the past 36 years. He is a graduate of the Master of Music degree from the University of Toronto. Robert is a composer with two self-titled releases: “Ternary”, and “Transition”, and has composed for television as well as other forms of media.
He has also performed in Great Britain at Ronnie Scots in Birmingham and the Cardiff Bay Jazz Festival in Whales. Robert has performed in Holland in the cities of Amsterdam and Groningen as part of a Jazz fusion tour. Robert has performed with Canadian singers Heather Bambrick, and Avery Rachel.
When he is not performing Robert teaches Jazz at The Faculty of Music at McMaster University and Mohawk College in Hamilton.
Personnel:
Rob Fekete-piano
Check out: “Mood Swing Demo” “Darn that Dream”
The Tom Reynolds Trio emerged from the context of performing for Sunday worship services at St. Andrew’s United Church (near Bloor and Yonge in Toronto), where it is known as the “St. Andrew’s Trio.” Providing jazz music in a liturgical format opened unique possibilities for performing in a more contemplative, textured, and reflective mode, even while retaining the distinct elements of improvisation and spontaneous interaction among the musicians.
When performing live in clubs in Toronto, such as the Rex or other venues, the trio ratches up the intensity. Reminiscent of Bill Evans and Keith Jarett trios, the trio foregrounds the flexible and collaborative elements of jazz performance. Each original composition is melodically and harmonically structured to open space for responsiveness between musicians (piano, bass, drums), expressed in both subtle and full-bodied emotional contours. Strong melodic content and layered harmony through the writing provides a bedrock for the performance to convey intensity of feeling and improvisational vitality. The contemporary jazz sound that results is distinctive and unique to the trio, as each musician brings their own voice to the performance. The ‘band vibe’ is very much alive in what we do.
Personnel:
Tom Reynolds-piano
George Koller-bass
Lorne Nehring-drums
Check out: “March 2022”
With their always-irreverent but always-relevant takes on Christmas music, the Tom Nagy Christmas Experience always brings the hits and then some!
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/tom-nagys-christmas-spectacular-friday.
With their always-irreverent but always-relevant takes on Christmas music, the Tom Nagy Christmas Experience always brings the hits and then some!
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/tom-nagys-christmas-spectacular-saturday.