Volume 15 Issue 10 - July/August 2010

er music collective) on August 7. And last but not least, the AshkenazFestival of Jewish culture returns for its eighth round of performancesshowcasing both local and international artists, August 31-September6. For details, visit www.ashkenazfestival.com and www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldroutes2010for details on all Harbourfrontfestivals.The 11th annual Bana Y’Afrique, a free outdoor festival of Africanmusic and culture, takes place July 24 and 25 at Metro HallSquare (King/John). Presented by Africa New Music, there willbe 16 performances by groups from across Canada and one fromabroad. Performers include M’bilia Bel (Congolese singer known asthe “Queen of Congolese rumba”), Ethio Stars Band (Ethiopian songsfrom the 1960s to the present), Afrafranto (Ghanaian “palm winemusic” – a style involving guitars, named after the drink served atgatherings where African guitarists played), Umurisho (a Burundian-Canadian drumming/dance group), and much more.Staying on the outdoors theme, Yonge/Dundas Square is a hub ofactivity throughout the summer. The Global Grooves series includesTambura Rasa on July 2, a cross-cultural group featuring Spanish guitar,gypsy strings, Afro-Latin percussion, Flamenco and belly dancers.Co-presented with Small World Music, another “ethno-fusion”band from Quebec, Apadoorai combines Australian didgeridoo, Reggae,Arabic, Celtic and folk music, July 23. Also a Small World copresentation,Les Gitans de Sarajevo plays Balkan/Gypsy style musicand song on August 13. For the full schedule of events at Yonge/DundasSquare visit www.ydsquare.ca and for more from Small WorldMusic, visit www.smallworldmusic.com.If you’re a jazz fan, the Danforth Mosaic BIA (www.danforthmosaicbia.com/blog)has a series of free outdoor concerts at the CoxwellParkette (Danforth, just west of Coxwell station), every Wednesdayevening beginning July 7. You can hear Suba Sankaran and Indianjazzfusion band Autorickshaw on July 14.If staying indoors is a must, head to Hugh’s Room on July 9 tohear the Gypsy jazz ensemble Gypsophilia; they’ll also be at London,Ontario’s Sunfest on July 10/11. And the Russians are coming!The Russian Cossack State Dance Company makes its Massey Halldebut on September 1. Thirty dancers, a chorus, vocal soloists, and a10-piece chamber orchestra present a colourful and lively evening ofsome of the most athletic dance and music around!Karen Ages can be reached at worldmusic@thewholenote.comJuly 1 - September 7, 2010 THEWHOLENOTE.COM 23