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Thank you, John Devenish for this week’s “The Artistry Of…Fern Lindzon”

A good story engages you. It reaches out and takes your imagination’s hands and holds them from start to finish. The grip may change as the story’s paths weave and take you on its adventures, landing you in its places, and it holds as fast to those hands as it holds your attention at every point along its ways.

Fern sings the story and sings it with the story in mind. The lines of the music become story-line and your imagination is given the stuff you need to develop the pictures and colors of the scenes and their settings. Lindzon’s touch at the piano may be delicate and refined but it is with the wit and character of any plot in a good tale.

Listen to how the notes she plays are as important as the words she sings. Just as any story needs background and setting, the song and its music exist and live because one enhances and supports the other, each doing the same for the other at different times throughout.

Fern Lindzon reaches out to the imagination’s hands, holding them fast from start to finish.

 

I’m thrilled to be returning to the Rex this Saturday, Sept 13 from 2-4:30 PM. Playing at the Rex always feels like coming home. I’ll be joined be 2 wonderful musicians: Colleen Allen (flute/sax) and Chris Parnis (bass). Some old, some new, some vocals, some blue. No cover. PWYC.

I’m grateful to the ROM for hosting 3 sold out performances in conjunction with the Auschwitz exhibit. Hosted by Ori Dagan, I was musical director featuring performances by Aviva Chernick, Judith Lander, Lenka Lichtenberg and Theresa Tova. The music was all related to the Holocaust and everyone lucky enough to get a ticket (it sold out in less than 30 minutes!) remarked on what a moving and meaningful evening it was.
We’ll find another venue, another time.

I’m thrilled to be returning to the fabulous Jazz Bistro next Tuesday, June 10 with Saulter Suite.

Saulter Suite is a collective formed by four vibrant veterans of the Toronto jazz scene. The group began in the pandemic as weekly socially distanced sessions during the slow rebound from months of isolation. Their repertoire is a salty sweet mixture of original material and deep dives into rarely performed Canadian compositions, and is as diverse and captivating as the performers playing it.
We are: Colleen Allen (saxophones/flute)
Fern Lindzon (piano)
George Koller (bass)
Jim Gelcer (drums)

For my friends in Barrie, I’ll be playing a solo noon hour concert at the Barrie City Hall as part of the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival. I’ll be playing and singing a lot of new repertoire, standards and originals. Bring your lunch. I’d love to see you on Tuesday, June 10!

I’m so thrilled to be returning to Hirut Cafe this weekend! On Saturday night at 8 I’ll be playing with Tryptique, my trio with Colleen Allen (flute/sax) and George Koller (bass). On Sunday afternoon at 4 we add on Jim Gelcer on drums to make up our Saulter Suite quartet. Hirut has become the go to place for jazz in Toronto. It is a wonderful listening room with a great sound system and the sweetest upright piano I’ve ever played!

I’ll be making a rare duo appearance with the fabulous George Koller on bass this Saturday evening. We’ll be playing in a very intimate venue and would love you to join us. It’s recommended to purchase a tic at the event website to secure your seat. Note the early time, 5:30-7:30.

George has played on all of my records, including my Juno Nominated “Two Kites” and my most recent, “Tryptique”. We have a massive repertoire we can’t wait to draw from!

Introducing Tryptique. My new jazz trio with Colleen Allen (saxes, flute) and George Koller (bass). This instrumental chamber/jazz trio features music by many Canadian composers, music inspired by Classical and World music, quirky, original and deeply communicative. We’re in the process of recording our first CD both in the studio and live at the Jazz Bistro and we’d love you to be part of our video recording on Tuesday, May 14.

Saulter Suite began as a “Covid” rehearsal band. Four great friends and fab musicians suddenly found time on their hands to session weekly. It was truly our pandemic “silver lining”. We focussed on some Canadian composers, our own compositions and just brought in whatever tickled our fancy. I mean we played just because we wanted to. It wasn’t for a gig, cause there just weren’t any. And in the process we discovered a lot of things about ourselves and about music. This Saturday, Feb 11 we’ll be bringing our collective to the wonderful Jazz Room in Waterloo. Please join us! With Colleen Allen (flute/sax), George Koller (bass) and Jim Gelcer (drums).