Volume 9 Issue 3 - November 2003

Then there is the grandfather of
all the London jazz clubs - 100
Oxford Street which was a Mecca
for traditional jazz during the post
WW2 revival - long before many
of the readers of this publication
were born! It has perhaps seen its
glory days, but still soldiers on,
although it is 'best to check who's
playing before committing.
Moving away from Soho, there
is the Jazz Cafe in Camden, which,
in, spite of its name, doesn't always
present jazz. (This is either
an indication that the management
can't make money on a steady diet
of jazz or yet more evidence of how
meaningless the word is today.)
That said, it is worth noting that
two nights before I arrived, the Jazz
Cafe featured Phil Woods with the
National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Now, I wish I had seen that!
As in Toronto, .after the main
clubs featuring largely import artists,
there are quite a few jazz venues
spread around the suburbs, operating
sometimes on a once per
week basis ~hich means that you
really have to check them out before
making the trip - and given
the magnitude of London, it can
be quite a cross-country expedition,
making the distance between, say,
The Rex and Gate 403 here in
Toronto seem like crossing the
street. Quite often your destination
will turn out to be that time honoured
institution, a British pub -
and here is a useful tip. If you go
into a typical British pub and sit at
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a table, one of you should go to
the bar to place the order; many of
these places do not have table service
and it is a common sight to see
a customer making his or her way
·through the crowd carrying an order
of drinks to the table.
A few of these outposts of jazz,
with, I might add, some quaint
names, are Shino's, Trafalgar Tavern,
Le Quecum Bar, 606 Club,
Two Halfs, Vortex, Half Moon
Putney and J2K at George IV. You
won't find yourself listening to
household ·names in jazz if you
decide on an evening in ·one of the
suburban spots, but you might just
find something well worth hearing
and you'll certainly pick up on some
local colour.
Buy a copy of one of the local
publications such as Time Out and
prepare to be staggered at the huge
amount of entertainment available
in this amazing, but oh so expen-.
sive city.
By the way, if anyone is "still"
interested, I found a shop in Soho
that stocks 700 different single
malts!
NOTES FROM HOME
Some weeks back Toronto lost one
of its true pioneers of traditional
jazz with the passing of bassist/
bandleader Jim McHarg. Before
coming to Canada from his native
Glasgow, Jim was an important
figure in British "tract" circles. A
catalyst, rather than a star player,
Jim made things happen, often in
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places where one might have reasonably
said it was too much of a
long shot and would 'never work.
But then Jim never did back away
from a challenge. His name was
synonymous with one of Britain's
leading traditional bands during the
"tract boom", the Clyde Valley
Stbmpers and Jim also· enjoyed
moderate success as a songwriter
with a folksy little song called ·
"Messing About On The River".
Like a number of his fellow musicians,
Jim made his way to Canada
and -chose Toronto as his new
home. He immediately set about
creating his own "jazz scene" in
this town and the relative success
of traditional jazz in Toronto from
the 60s right through into the 80s
was, in no small part, due to Jim
McHarg's terrier-like determination.
Throughout his career he
more than once ruffled the feathers
of those who did not share his
own unswerving views on jazz, but
no one could ever question his sincerity
and love of the music.
He is probably arguing the toss
in that big jazz club in the sky with
some other departed muso right
now!
You will be long and mostly
fondly remembered, Jim McHarg.
On a brighter note, one of the
most attractive little performing.
spaces in Toronto is the Heliconian
Hall on Yorkville's Hazelton
Avenue. It is the oldest building
in that area and is a charming and
intimate performance space. I did
Fern lindzon
a concert tµere years ago with a
band . that,· if I recall correctly,
included Milt Hinton, Marty Grosz
and Ralph Sutton.
On November 15th the vaulted
ceiling will reverberate to sounds
of a slightly different nature when
"Even Divas Get The Blues" is
performed by pianist/singer (and
scrabble player extraordinaire!)
Fern Lindzon, bassist Laura Cesar,
visiting from Switzerland where
she now lives, and special guest
Kathryn Moses, whom I enjoy as
a singer, flautist and . saxophone
player. I'm not sure whether she
is being one or all of the above on
this otcasion. In addition, poet
Myna Wallin will be reading some
of her own work. Sounds like an
interesting evening and if you are
interested, you can find out more
by calling (416) 225 6977.
Check out the listings on page 54
for all the other sounds of jazz in
the city.
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3225 Yon ge S t. PH (4 I 6) 483- 5825
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