Free jazz night at The Old Mill
Posted on 14. Apr, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E
Patrick Faller
A&E Reporter
Humber musicians can get a front row seat to see some of the best jazz in town when the Old Mill presents its weekly Thursday Night Jazz Club, free to students in the music program.
“We know students aren’t the richest guys on earth and that’s why we offer this deal,” said Fay Olson, organizer of jazz programming at the Old Mill.
“We want people who wouldn’t normally come to be able to afford the experience and hear some of the best jazz around.”
(Patrick Faller) Bill McBirnie (left) and Pat Collins (right) perform at the Old Mill’s Jazz Club.
Olson has over 30 years experience booking jazz performers and said she hopes students will be a part of the experience as she tries to give jazz lovers a Thursday-night venue.
“I only book top-name musicians. We’re trying to provide a real ambiance.”
Music program co-ordinator Denny Christianson said he would recommend students go on Thursdays as an alternative to expensive concerts at venues like Massey Hall.
“It’s a real advantage for students to see something close to that calibre at a much lower price,” he said.
“A lot of Humber faculty members have played there. It’s a good learning experience for music students to see performers of another level.”
Cat Fawcett, a public relations representative for the Thursday Night Jazz Club, said the decision to offer students free entry was a natural one.
“A lot of the artists teach on the side. It was a good fit to marry music education with these performers,” she said.
Fawcett said while most Thursdays are free for students, the jazz club has a few select nights sponsored by Toronto Downtown Jazz and the TD Jazz Festival where tickets are necessary.
Some upcoming acts that are free with a student card include Jim Galloway’s Echoes of Swing sextet, which appears tonight, the Brigham Philips Big Band, on April 29, and Alexander Zonjic and Friends, on May 6.
The Jazz Club takes place at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Old Mill dining room until June 24.
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