Toronto Travel: Beaches International Jazz Festival 2009

Toronto summers are highlighted by the myriad of street festivals that happen in different neighbourhoods and celebrate food, music and culture. Several times now I have had visitors in town at the end of July who I ended up taking to the annual Beaches International Jazz Festival. It's been a hit every time.

It was no different this year. On July 24 and 25, 2009 I partook of the Beaches Jazz Fest and on the second day my 5 European guests joined me in the 3 km long street party. More then 50 bands had been lined up, dozens and dozens of food stalls and souvenir stands lined the street, and about a million people showed up to enjoy the music. The atmosphere was phenomenal, and my visitors were blown away by the huge selection of high-quality live music and the ambience.

As always, I looked for some of my personal favourites: the Imbayakunas and Puente del Diablo entertained the crowed with Latin and Spanish rhythms. I stood in line for ½ hour to grab a front row spot to see talented master violinist Dr. Draw and his diabolically brilliant performance in front of a raptured crowd. Late at night, on my way eastwards to get home, I got drawn in by the alluring rhythms of the Rob Christian Band and its new lead singer (whose name I never got) who, with his improvised lyrics and catchy melody, got Torontonians swaying, tapping their feet and even jumping and clapping in utter exuberance. No doubt everybody had an awesome time.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Toronto
• Jazz Festival
• Toronto summer
• bands