Senegal Musicien Youssou-Ndour
June 4: Seven-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin in concert at Church on the Queensway, 1536 The Queensway, Toronto, 7 PM. Info: 416.837.4896 or 416.255.0141. Also appearing: Comedian Jay Martin.
TD Toronto Jazz Festival June 24 – July 3
Aretha Franklin and her 14 musicians and the 10-piece Toronto Jazz Festival Orchestra will perform at a free concert June 24th to kick-off the TD Toronto Jazz Festival’s 25th anniversary. The concert will be held at the Toronto Star Stage at Metro Square next to Roy Thomson Hall (55 John St., Toronto).
This year’s festival includes several top performers including opera singer Jessye Norman who will sing traditional jazz tunes, Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Robert Cray Band, Bootsey Collins, Dee Dee Bridgewater who will present “To Billie with Love” a tribute to Billie Holiday, and the world premiere of Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo’s duo project “Songs of Mirth and Melancholy”.
The festival’s 350 free and ticketed shows will be spread out across 40 locations – bars, nightclubs, theatres, etc., including the Koener Hall and the Sony Centre, and will feature 1,500 musicians. For information, tickets, etc. check www.torontojazz.com.
Aretha Franklin
June 28: 5-time Grammy winner Lionel Ritchie will perform. Rexall Centre – York University, 1 Shoreham Dr. (Keele St. South & Steeles Ave.)
July 23: Truth of Soul Gospel featuring: Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and Mighty Clouds of Joy – Rexall Centre
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July 12: Jennifer Hudson “I Remember Me” tour at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts – Toronto
