Volume 21 Issue 9 - Summer 2016

this repertoire, creating their own
arrangements, cultivating in their
vocal alchemy a very satisfying
sonic union.
Sunday June 26, at the other end
of this year’s Luminato Festival,
Biergarten-goers will find the
Toronto-based band Zuze. As far
as I could find out, it is comprised
of Iranian and Azerbaijani musicians.
Relatively new on the Toronto
scene, Zuze presents a self-described
signature mix of “popular & folk
melodies of Iran and Azerbaijan set to
Afrobeat rhythms.”
The most unusual and perhaps the most inclusive event at this
year’s Luminato is scheduled for June 22. “Iftar at the Hearn” is
billed as a “free, inclusive event welcoming newcomers from Syria.”
Iftar is the meal served to break the daily fast during the month of
Ramadan. A social event involving family and friends, iftar provides
an opportunity to share food as an act of kindness and generosity with
members of the community. Toronto has recently welcomed thousands
of Syrian refugees and Luminato brings together performers
from across the city, as well as food and refreshments, to welcome and
celebrate the presence of the newest arrivals to our famously multicultural
city.
The free event opens with a greeting by the Ojibwe elder Duke
Redbird, a journalist, activist, businessman, actor and administrator,
followed by music by the Nai Children’s Choir, a Toronto community
group singing in Arabic, English and French. JUNO nominee Cris
Derksen then performs on cello in an artistically edgy set with her
trio which includes Aboriginal hoop dancer Nimkii Osawamick and
drummer Jesse Baird. Derksen aims to blur genre expectations with
her “electro-aboriginally influenced” cello compositions.
Capping the Iftar at the Hearn evening, just prior to the communal
meal with traditional Syrian and Middle Eastern food, is a performance
by Toronto dancer-choreographer Sashar Zarif. His set features
collaboration with two leading young Azerbaijani musicians, the
kamancha virtuoso Elnur Mikayilov and award-winning mugham
singer Mirelem Mirelemov. Zarif is a multi-disciplinary performing
artist, educator and researcher whose “artistic practice…is steeped in
the artistry and history of traditional, ritualistic, and contemporary
dance and music of the Near East and Central Asia.” He has toured
widely “promoting cultural dialogue through intensive fieldwork,
residencies, performances and creative collaborations.” Integrating
dance, music and poetry the trio take themes from Sufi poetry in an
Nazar i Turkwaz enactment of sama (sufi ritual of
dance music and poetry) for iftar,
thereby celebrating the peaceful
spirit of Ramadan and setting the
mood for the communal supper to
come. It sounds lovely.
Harbourfront Centre: Perhaps
the granddaddy of all current
Toronto summer music festivals
happens down at Harbourfront
Centre. For more than 40 years
it has striven to present a crosssection
of the “mosaic of cultures
from within our country and around
the world.” I was among its earlyadopter
audiences and a frequent visitor, along with my children
when they were young, enjoying its eclectic, though typically high
quality music programming. Along the way I learned a great deal
about diverse musics. It served me well in my various future careers –
including this one!
One of Harbourfront’s charms is the intimacy of most of its venues.
It’s where I saw and met many international musicians over the years,
some of whom, like the Malian singer and guitarist Ali Ibrahim Farka
Touré, subsequently went on to grand international careers. I saw him
perform a laid-back but nevertheless memorably musical concert
at the 150 to 250 seat Lakeside Terrace within sight of the sunlight
glinting off the lake.
This summer’s family-oriented themed weekend festivals in July
include too many to discuss in detail here. I will however give my
picks. Starting with “Ritmo y Color: The Streets of Mexico,” July 15
to 17; we move to the Caribbean in “Island Soul” July 29 to August 1.
The following month “Habari Africa” co-produced by Batuki Music
Society, highlighting the “cultural diversity of global Africa,” will
take over the Centre’s venues August 12 to14. The next weekend
“TAIWANfest: A Cultural Tango with Hong Kong” is in the house
August 26 to 28.
September 3 to 5 Harbourfront’s festival season comes to a close
with the “Ashkenaz Festival,” produced by the Ashkenaz Foundation
in partnership with Harbourfront Centre. It is North America’s largest
celebration of Jewish music, art and culture and its musical breadth
and depth warrants a story of its own, perhaps in the next issue of The
WholeNote.
Summer Music in the Garden: Another summertime music success
story has been the annual Summer Music in the Garden concert
series. It is produced by Harbourfront Centre in partnership with
City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, with the support of
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