![Bellbird](https://s3.amazonaws.com/greatdarkwonder/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/01071054/image0-49-570x381.jpeg)
Bellbird: Live at Fredericton’s Jazz On The Wolastoq Festival
byJazz doesn’t always have the best reputation. While popular music relies on simple patterns and structures to connect with the listener, jazz can seem…
Jazz doesn’t always have the best reputation. While popular music relies on simple patterns and structures to connect with the listener, jazz can seem…
One of the greatest joys every New Year is planning out our upcoming concert-going adventures, and while many events were already circled on our…
When seeing the lineup for the 2022 Muskoka Music Festival, we quickly circled names of artists that we did not want to miss, which…
While we divert our regular weekly video features to artists appearing on festivals that we are attending this summer, we don’t want to let…
You may recall seeing several Canadian artists releasing cover versions of popular tunes as summer arrived last year – we were very impressed by…
Of all the connections in life, there’s one that stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of importance – that’s with yourself….
It’s a heady time, indeed, to be a fan of Louise Penny’s series of Armand Gamache novels – a new installment in the series…
Although I unfortunately seldom have the opportunity to write full reviews for our site as Martin does, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been listening…
Compiling a list of 20 memorable singles from the last twelve months originally came as an emergency replacement for our 10 memorable live concert…
We unlock the Video Vault once again to share some music from across Canada. Starting out west, we have a pair of great new…
Internationally acclaimed recording artist Emm Gryner may be a seasoned veteran of the music scene, but remains a proud local of the London, ON…
For this British half of Team GDW, “May Day” conjures up memories of a UK national holiday – one that commemorates the historic struggles…
Those of you who have enjoyed our musings about Canadian music for several years now may recall our previous interview with Brantford, ON emerging…
For many, with the arrival of 2022 came a sense of renewed optimism. A new year ushered in an ever-hopeful feeling that we were…
Jazz is all too often relegated to background-music status, befitting a classy event or a nice dinner out, perhaps, but not music that begs…
March is here, and with it, the knowledge that the long-awaited desire for the next season is just around the corner. But, while it…
One of the goals here at Team GDW this year (in addition to hoping for a safer global community and a return to live…
As Martin prepares to reveal his Final Four Albums of the Year tomorrow (and having already listed his Twenty Favorite Singles and Albums over…
As we approach the final week of 2021, my mind has a flashback to March 2020, when our lives were turned upside down. Daily…
The restrictions resulting from the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 placed a hiatus on our concert-going adventures, which in turn halted our…
Like so many other musicians, the COVID pandemic forced Toronto jazz pianist Jim Clayton (shown above with daughter Lenny) to pivot from his normal…
How crazy is it that another year has almost passed us by? Another ‘pandemic filled’ year, no less, but once again, the sheer volume…
Appreciating jazz is something that came to me later as my taste in music evolved. And as much as I have come to enjoy…
Comfort zones: we all have them, and we are often hesitant to leave them. But experience gives proof that venturing outside them is frequently…
By now you may think I’m biased, and admittedly it’s true, the Toronto jazz duo Dizzy & Fay have stolen my heart with their love songs. I have yet to…
Back in May, our monthly Snappy Singles feature concentrated on new releases from some of our favorite female Canadian artists, and I of course…
We seldom post on a Sunday, but with the sudden surge of great new music video releases, why not spend a little time this…
My favorite Canadian jazz duo are releasing a treat for us all today, just in time for Valentine’s Day, and it’s as sweet as…
We are always happy to feature some great Canadian jazz music here at Great Dark Wonder, and are excited to share this latest release…
It’s January, it’s 2021 – we’re finally free from 2020 – and no matter how good or bad your weather may be outside right…
Upon reflection, I would say that it was around the early part of summer 2020 when the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic hit home…
Following our look yesterday at the singles we deemed to be some of the finest releases from artists previously unknown to us, the spotlight…
Dizzy & Fay are a recently formed Canadian duo who are excited to unveil their first festive-themed single here today, just in time for…
With numerous solo albums and three JUNO nominations under her belt, Ontario singer-songwriter Emm Gryner is no stranger to the music scene, both in…
Toronto, ON based JUNO-nominated ensemble, OKAN, have just shared a new single, “Espiral,” the title track from their upcoming album scheduled for release on…
I had plenty of Aprils Fools puns ready to go when starting to compile this article, but given the global devastation and uncertainty faced…
A while back, we wrote about “Blued Dharma,” the terrific album from the duo Adrean Farrugia and Joel Frahm. We’re delighted that they’re shortly…
Two years ago I walked into one my local record shops and was accosted by the clerk who’d been waiting for me. “Steeeeve,” he…
Team GDW became huge fans of jazz pianist Jim Clayton after a chance encounter at the 2017 Kensington Market Jazz Festival in Toronto, and…
Last year, I had the pleasure of getting acquainted with Toronto-based violinist Aline Homzy, who was organizing the Bitches Brew jazz performance that I…
A who’s who of the Toronto Jazz scene returns with their third mesmerizing collection. Collective Order features a staggering 21 jazz musicians, all based…
With the winter months comes fewer opportunities to head north, and thus quite often some longer (than we are comfortable with) periods between live…
With the recent release of “Wander Wonder,” the Allison Au Quartet adds to an already distinguished discography that includes their Juno-nominated 2013 debut album “The…
With the quantity of excellent music that comes out of Canada each year, it’s always a challenge to select a few favorites. As regular…
Between my two writing gigs and my own personal record collecting, I’ve probably listened to a hundred albums released this year. 2018 has been…
We can’t believe that it has been almost twelve months since the last installment of our “Take A Chance On Me” series. Indeed, we’d…
With the impending holiday season comes a treasure trove of new seasonal music. As you’re preparing for the holidays ahead, crank some of this…
As has become our tradition here at Team GDW, the US Thanksgiving weekend is a perfect excuse to skip the turkey dinner and head…
I haven’t traveled to New Orleans in a number of years, but the opening bars of Way North’s second album, “Fearless and Kind,” immediately…
The unknown trajection and unpredictable behavior of “The Island of Form” by Ethan Ardelli is a significant part of its appeal. “The Island of…
In this episode, Team GDW talks with jazz drummer Ernesto Cervini about his ensemble Turboprop and their latest album, “Abundance.” SOCAN license #5052874
Very few sounds can attract my attention more quickly than well-played piano. “Got a Light?,” released by the Jeremy Ledbetter Trio in July, features…
Here at GDW HQ, a number of intriguing albums cross our desk on a regular basis (sadly, more than we can keep up with!). …
Aaron Shragge and Ben Monder’s “This World of Dew” is like a score for an exotic film noir, that doesn’t yet exist. Aaron Shragge…
It might seem quite odd indeed to admit that the first time I heard trumpeter John Pittman’s debut album, “Kinship,” was under water. I…
Chris Monson has astoundingly created a sultry, smoky and languid debut. Each instrument is masterfully played and captured in this timeless collection of jazz…
Last week we featured conversations with Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival performers Bassline and Mike Downes; for this second part of our festival preview, we…
Next week, Toronto will come alive with a fabulous cacophony of jazz, as this year’s edition of the Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival gets underway. …
You would think that after nearly two years of almost daily music blogging, new music would no longer be a cause for excitement in…
The breadth and depth of the Canadian music scene is an ongoing delight to me, and “Pardes,” the recent project from Amos Hoffman and…
In this week’s episode of “Gossip Talkin’ Blues,” Team GDW talks with jazz vocalist Amy Cervini about her new album, “No One Ever Tells…
Having enjoyed catching up with The Once during their Friday evening performance at the Sound Of Music Festival, Team GDW took delight in seeing…
The fifth album from Canadian jazz vocalist Deanne Matley, “Because I Loved,” is a tour de force, taking the listener on an emotional journey…
With her new album of self-penned compositions, jazz/soul singer Avery Raquel takes a major step forward in her progression as a musician. Embracing a…
In 1947, saxophonist Charlie Parker gathered a group of talented musicians (including a young Miles Davis) for a recording session in Detroit’s historic United…
A couple of weeks ago, we were privileged to post an interview with jazz musicians Aline Homzy and Emma Smith about their April 28…
The Winnipeg-based instrumental group Apollo Suns have just announced tours of eastern Canada in May and June, and western Canada in July. They’ll get…
In celebration of #InternationalJazzDay, we’re crowdsourcing a list of Canadian jazz albums; we’ve added a few but we’re counting on you, dear readers, to…
Michael Kaeshammer’s latest album, “Something New,” strongly evokes the best feelings of New Orleans (if you’ve ever been there, you’ll perhaps know what I…
Toronto-based jazz violinist Aline Homzy is curating a concert on Saturday night (28 April) at the Canadian Music Centre. Why, you may ask, is…
I’ve been living with this album for a while, letting it seep into my senses – some albums just need that space to breathe…
With his new album “Lost Villages,” jazz drummer Robert Diack is exploring not only the geography of Ontario’s nine “Lost” villages (submerged as part…
A fresh crop of newly released songs for your listening pleasure – enjoy! Dennis Ellsworth, “Caught in the Waves” Dennis Ellsworth has released “Caught…
If there’s one thing I’m learning about jazz as I dig more deeply into Canada’s jazz scene, it’s that the music can not only…
Being a music blogger presents unique challenges; one particularly painful thrill is hearing new music before it’s released and being so anxious to share…
We have another pile of terrific new songs to share that have recently arrived here at GDW HQ, so if you need a pick-me-up…
Since I’m still somewhat of a jazz neophyte (at least from the standpoint of listening it with a semi-critical ear), I can’t claim an…
Last week saw the announcement of the 2018 JUNO nominations – and a terrific slate of musicians it is, too. There are a number…
It’s a telling point that Laila Biali has chosen this, her seventh album, as the one to carry her name as the title. This…
The more I listen to jazz, the more deeply appreciative I become both of jazz musicians’ monster skills and of their ability to fuse…
One of the advantages of having eclectic musical tastes is that it keeps me open to new artists and projects that I might not…
The pairing of saxophonists Dave Liebman and Mike Murley could reasonably be considered a supergroup – both are masters of their instruments, and their…
Now that we’re thoroughly into 2018, it’s time to look forward instead of backward. We already know of a number of great albums coming…
As our regular readers know, we most frequently focus on Canadian roots and folk music. But we are eclectic listeners here, and we’ve started…
Although I am of a certain age to recall fondly my record player with tinny speakers and my spindle of 45’s (borrowed, I admit,…
Many of us with parents who grew up in the Great Depression undoubtedly heard stories about its miseries, and perhaps also heard some of…
For many people, the Christmas holidays are a time to pull out scads of holiday albums and crank up those old, familiar Christmas songs…
The Halifax Jazz Festival is expanding its annual holiday fundraiser this season, adding a new show, “Swing Into The Holidays,” for the evening entertainment, along with perennial family favorite, “Tales of a Charlie…
Tory Cassis, Murray Foster, and Jeff Ulster have each enjoyed significant careers, but (as for other musicians) there were still some musical avenues awaiting…
Today, two-time Juno winner Diana Panton celebrates the release of her new album, “solstice/equinox,” a celebration of the four seasons in song. Together with…
Wanting to enjoy yet another later summer weekend in southern Ontario, we had the good fortune of spending some quality time on Saturday afternoon/evening…