Fantastic time in Toronto!
July 29, 2011I was in Toronto a few weeks ago just at the beginning of the heat wave. I wouldn’t have noticed the change of humidity in the air because I was too preoccupied with checking out live shows and playing my own shows. The city felt like it was on fire. On fire with energy that is! Yes, it was hot. But yes, there is a LOT of live music to be had in Toronto so somehow it was worth the pain.
I stayed at the fantastic Rex Hotel which is a cute boutique hotel just upstairs of The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar where I played my first performance. The venue is such a neat room and I was welcomed with open arms! We had a fantastic crowd and met some really lovely people after the show. I played with Toronto’s talented musicians Adrean Farrugia on piano, Michael Davidson on vibraphone and Ethan Ardelli on drums (plus my bassist/musical director Michael Rush) and enjoyed 6 nights downtown while doing shows and checking out the city. I can’t believe how many jams there are and how much live music is embraced in this city. It was nice to be on tour and unusual for me to have some days off to really hang out and get into the vibe of the city that we are touring…
Our gig at the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival was really wonderful. It was a hot sunny day but I was thrilled to be singing on a big stage outside right in the heart of Waterloo. The band played great and we were treated to a delicious dinner at the Rude Native restaurant next door. It was delicious!
We capped off my tour with a little show at Gate 403 and I reunited with some of my old friends. I was sad to say goodbye to Toronto and my new musician buddies but happy to come home to rainy Vancouver and be back at my home by the seaside once again.
