The Toronto Jazz Festival has been a staple musical event in the city for the last 20 years. It runs every year for 10 days during late June and early July. For a week and a half, artist play all over the city at 40 different venues. There are free shows during the day at the festival headquarters located at Nathan Phillips Square.
Prices for shows vary, but typically headliners during evenings at Nathan Phillips run between $30 and $40. For a little less money, you can catch some great intimate jazz shows all over the city and into the wee hours of the morning. For a little more money, you can hear some jazz greats with the Grandmaster Series, typically held at the Four Seasons Centre.
Artists that have played this festival over the years include luminaries such as Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Keith Jarrett and Wayne Shorter
2010
- 2010 Lineup Announced
- Tips, Tricks, and Tomfoolery
- Martha Wainwright, June 25, The Great Hall
- Maceo Parker, June 25, Toronto Star Stage
- Brandi Disterheft, June 26, Toronto Star Stage
- Herbie Hancock, June 26, Toronto Star Stage
- Maylee Todd, June 27, Lee’s Palace
- Esthero, June 27, Lee’s Palace
- Taj Mahal, June 27, Toronto Star Stage
- Tomasz Stanko, June 28, Church of the Holy Trinity
- The Roots, June 29, Toronto Star Stage
- Keith Jarrett, June 30, Four Seasons
- Angelique Kidjo, July 1, Toronto Star Stage
- Terry Clarke Trio, July 2, Trane Studio
- The Andrew Stew Art Project, July 2, The Rex
- Andy Milne & Dapp Theory, July 3, Trane Studio
- Xylopholks, July 3, HMV
2009
- Preview
- Sonny Rollins, June 26, 4 Seasons Centre
- Sharon Jones, June 26, Nathan Phillips Square
- Delerium, June 27, Church of the Redeemer
- Medeski, Martin and Woods, June 27, Nathan Phillips Square
- Gary Burton and Pat Metheny, June 29, Four Seasons
- Melody Gardot, June 29, Harbourfront Centre
- Chris Potter’s Underground, June 30, The Pilot
- Chucho Valdés, July 1, Enwave Theatre
- Dave Brubeck Quartet, July 1, Nathan Phillips Square
- Dave Holland Quintet, July 3, Nathan Phillips Square
- Branfod Marsalis, July 3, Nathan Phillips Square
- Waleed Kush & The African Jazz Ensemble, July 4, Trane Studio
