PDF Version - The Wholenote Magazine

Back to the present: the November meeting of the Duke EllingtonSociety will be held on Friday November 18 at the TorontoReference Library, 789 Yonge St. The evening will be titled “TheDuke in Canada” and I’ll be there with a quartet playing the musicof Ellington and Strayhorn. You don’t have to be a member to attendand admission is free.Earlier the same week on Tuesday, November 15, from 6pm to9pm, there will be a “Jazz Party” at Quotes Bar & Grill, 220 KingSt. W., Toronto, with an all-star line-up of musicians and it is sureto be a memorable evening. Regular readers may remember thatthree months ago I wrote about Kate Weich who passed away June16 of this year. The event is a celebration of her life and there willbe a $20 cover charge at the door, all of which will go towards abursary to be established in her name at York UniversityAs always, happy listening.Jim Galloway is a saxophonist, band leader andformer artistic director of Toronto Downtown Jazz. Hecan be contacted at jazznotes@thewholenote.com.SidetrackedjACk macquARRIEWhen contemplating this month’s column I had intended todive right into reporting on the gathering storm of performancesby community musical groups for the coming fall andwinter season. However, four random recent events, each with someform of musical connection, have conspired to remind me just howpervasive musical influences are in my life, and to derail me frommy appointed task.The first of these was a paper recently published in the Journalof The American Psychological Association which compared theperformance of a variety of tasks by musicians and non-musicians.Having been a volunteer subject over the past few years for thisstudy at the Rotman Research Institute of the Baycrest Centre andthe Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, I wadedthrough the academic jargon. One phrase stood out: “Despite thescant data on aging and musicianship, the picture emerging is thatlifelong musicianship mitigates age-related decline in cognitivetasks …” In short, making music is good for you.I could have told them that: One year ago, I wrote about how theNew Horizons Band established at Long and McQuade had grownto 24 members by its third week. It’s now a daytime group and anevening group with total memberships of 42, and a new beginners’daytime group of 22 is under way with another slated to beginin January.In these startup groups the social rewards of playing in some formof musical ensemble have quickly come to the fore. As we see fromthe academic studies, making music with friends has many rewardsbeyond the pleasure of creating music. If you are not musicallyinvolved now, get on the bandwagon; it’s never too late.Second sidetrack, the ultimate in serendipity, happened a coupleof weeks ago on my way home from a rehearsal. Like so manyToronto streets at this time of year, my route was undergoing majorrepairs. To cut a long story somewhat shorter, as I stepped out of thecar to locate the source of the clanking, a gentleman walking a dogCombinableBags for: Guitar DJ Cello Wind Brass Ukulele LaptopDec. 10 St. Lawrence CentreToronto 416-366-7723Dec. 17 The Studio @Hamilton Place 1-855-872-5000Dec. 18 Markham TheatreMarkham 905-305-7469Limited EditionUkulele Gig BagsCall for the location of aretailer near you1 800 690-051526 thewholenote.comNovember 1 – December 7, 2011