The legendary TD Toronto Jazz Festival is set to take place from June 20th to the 29th. This festival is a platform for all music lovers, with over 40 locations and 350 performances all over the city for 10 days straight.
The 2013 TD Jazz Fest is shaping up to be one of the best yet, and that says a lot for a festival that has been running for over 25 years. Started in 1987, the Toronto Jazz Festival now attracts over 500,000 audiophiles from all over the country and beyond. The musical genre is not just restricted to different styles of jazz, but also includes a variety of blues, Latin, R&B, hip-hop and funk performances. This annual 10-day festival is one of the main tourist attractions in the city of Toronto, and Artistic Director Josh Grossman knows how to keep the audiences entertained.
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Our Five Must-See Acts of the 2013 TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Willie Nelson and Family
The 2013 Toronto Jazz Festival kicks off with the ever-famous Willie Nelson. The 80-year-old country artist can be seen on the Massey Hall stage this year, bringing his laidback, throwback country/bluegrass/jazz stylings to audience ears. Willie Nelson and Family is definitely one of the main acts not to be missed.
Steve Martin
Formerly known as simply a Hollywood funny-man, Steve Martin now has emerged as an avid banjo player and artist. The comedian, alongside Edie Brickhell, has an album dubbed Love Has Come for You, and fans will be able to see Steve and band the Steep Canyon Rangers at the tailend of the festival.
Smokey Robinson
This singer-songwriter has received accolades aplenty, and is the proud recipient of the Grammy Living Legend Award and has been included in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. This comes as no surprise for someone who has been described by Bob Dylan as “America’s greatest living poet.” Smokey Robinson is sure to attract quite a crowd at this year’s Toronto Jazz Festival.
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Nikki Yanofsky
The local singing sensation Nikki Yanofsky, who’s also known for singing the CTV theme song for the 2010 Winter Olympics, will also showcase her jazz-pop talents at this year’s fest. The 19-year-old chanteuse from Montreal has become a stand-out star and is sure to reign in music lovers of all genres.
Pino Daniele
The Italian musician Pino Daniele can be seen as the genre chameleon of the Toronto Jazz Festival, and composes music in the fields of blues, rock, pop, rumba and jazz. Pino Daniele has been in the business for over 30 years and plays the violin, guitar and mandolin. A multi-faceted musician if ever there was one…
For the full list of this year’s talented acts at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, click here.
Photo courtesy of Brian Blain‘ Flickr Photostream from the 2012 TD Toronto Jazz Festival.
