Toronto – Ah The Rex. For jazz lovers, the Rex is a Toronto institution. It’s a great place to soak up some live jazz in a casual atmosphere. I highly recommend it as the first destination for would-be jazz aficionados. The laid-back ambiance will make you feel comfortable chatting with friends over drinks, or just sitting back and listening to the music.
But the times, they are a changing. With a huge new office building glowering down on it, I wonder if The Rex is a remnant from an earlier age? An age when the Rex was just one of many vibrant jazz clubs in downtown Toronto. Fortunately for us, the Rex remains a guardian of live music in the city. It’s time to take a moment to remember the great jazz clubs that have left us in recent memory.
The first casualty was the Top O’ The Senator. Conveniently located on top of the Senator restaurant on Victoria; this sleek little club was the place to check out top jazz artists from Toronto, New York, and beyond. The long narrow room provided an intimate setting that was just, well, cool. Especially when the 1st setters would leave and the vultures would descend upon the remaining tables in front of the band. Top O’ the Senator closed down a few years ago and I still lament the loss.
The second casualty was the Montreal Bistro on Sherbourne. The Montreal Bistro first opened in the 80’s and the coolest thing about it was that they hadn’t changed a thing. The cutlery, the plates, the coffee cups, the bar, the tables, everything was authentically vintage. The last time I was there, I was happily sipping on my coffee from those old coffee cups you find in the basement kitchen of churches. Anyway, I thought to myself, “This place hasn’t changed a bit, and it never will!” Sadly, the Bistro closed its doors not two weeks later.
Anyway, the good news is the Rex is very much alive and kicking and it’s still a great place to check out live music. Mike Murley is a Juno award-winning sax player and he got together with his old quintet to rock it old-school. The good news about jazz shows is that there are at least two sets. A lot of people leave after the first set. This confuses me, because the 2nd (and 3rd) set is always better. The musicians have loosened up and are ready to dig in, and there’s nothing quite like it.
Anyway, this was a great show with his old Quintet. Just solid straight-up jazz best served with a glass of white wine, or a dry martini. It’s too bad that Murley wasn’t playing with his protégé, Tara Davidson. Because seeing both of them play together at the Rex is a treat that can best be had whenever they both play at the Rex together.
4 out of 5 Saxomophones