Toronto All-Star Big Band

about the toronto all-star big band

Mandate: to provide an outstanding development opportunity for keen young musicians aged 15-22 to realize their artistic potential through education and performance, seeking the highest level of achievement within a challenging nurturing and collaborative environment. To serve a broad community with accessible programming and high calibre productions at a range of performance venues.


One of the most exciting bands around, the Toronto All-Star Big Band revives the spirit style and sound of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s – that golden age of the big bands.

Armed with brilliant programming, choreography and engaging cultural nostalgia, this vibrant cast of awesome young talent has earned its position at the top of list of presenters throughout Ontario and in the USA. Theatrical engagements are far reaching, and recent gigs have included the Glenn Miller festival in Clarinda Iowa, the Villages and the Snowbird Extravaganza in Florida, the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival, Beaches International Jazz Festival, Art Park in Lewiston N.Y. and Toronto’s famed Palais Royale, Casa Loma and the Old Mill.

At the heart of the musical matter, the TABB provides one of the most intense and stimulating youth music programs in Canada. Behind their extraordinary entertainment, they engage cream of the crop young musicians from across the GTA in a rigorous regime of rehearsals, workshops and fantastic skill-building performance experiences with such international stars as Clark Terry, Doc Severinsen, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Eddie Daniels and Larry Elgart. The band has also worked with wonderfully talented Canadians…Peter Appleyard, Oliver Jones, Ranee Lee, Tommy Ambrose, Phil Nimmons and the great Jackie Richardson. In June 2009 TABB had the great pleasure of performing with Legend Benny Golson. His gifts of music will “no soon be forgotten”. All of these wonderful performers are a part of TABB’s legend series and have graciously shared their talents with these young musicians.

The band has enjoyed workshops with band leader Howard Cable, trombonist Al Kay, saxophonists Alex Dean, John Dankworth and Benny Golson, trumpeters Clark Terry and John McLeod.

Our touring cool yule show, “A Swingin’ Christmas with the Toronto All-Star Big Band” offers up swinging arrangements from the likes of Les Brown, Louis Armstrong, the Andrew Sisters and Harry Connick Jr., a refreshing departure from the usual Christmas concert fare.

For more information about the band and our performances, call the TABB office at (416) 231-5695


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Critic's Remarks

A dazzling display of consummate professionalism, amazing talent and infectious energy.

Joanna Manning The Welland Tribute

Had people virtually dancing in the aisles...like listening to Goodman, Dorsey, and Miller live.

David Hurst Roselawn Centre Theatre

As fresh and new as this morning's dew...to hear this band is a MUST!

Hugh Fraser The Hamilton Spectator

A superb swing band.

Phil Surgy The National Post

THANK YOU so much for your fabulous performance on Sunday. Exhibitors who had never experienced this before were blown away by the talent and amazed to learn that the players were so young.

Nancy Gibson Forever Young

Well, another Salah Bachir Show has come and gone... which means we are another year closer to the completion of St. Joseph's Bachir Yerex Family Dialysis Centre! This certainly wouldn't have been possible without you, your band, and their impeccable entertainment chops... so thank you — on behalf of everyone who had the chance to enjoy your amazing performance, and on behalf of everyone who will benefit from the life-saving medical facility your performance has helped fund. We are all truly fortunate to have had an entertainer of your caliber at our event, and only hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we all did. It was truly a pleasure.

Salah Bachir Cineplex Media

You didn't have to be a fan of the Big Band Era, or the vocalists - to just hear those old chestnuts played again by a group of young musicians who just loved to play them, would please and satisfy any music aficionado!

John Dowson Very Useful Theatre Company
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upcoming toronto all-star big band shows

Please note: all dates, times, and venues are subject to change

Click on the event titles to get more information and maps!

TBA = To be Announced. All times listed in Eastern Standard Time.

a christmas special

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Price includes shipping.
If you would like to purchase the CD, please click on 'Buy Now' below:

Launch sample player

To pay by Cheque or Money Order, please send an email to: info@torontoallstarbigband.com

1. Jingle Bells
2. Mistletoe and Holly
3. The Man with the Bag
4. Poppa Santa Claus
5. Skater's Waltz (In Swingtime)
6. Happy Holiday
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
8. December
9. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
10. Cool Yule
11. It Happened In Sun Valley
12. Christmas Is
13. The Nutcracker Suite
14. Santa Baby
15. Here Comes Santa Claus Medley
16. Twelve Big Band Gifts

in the mood

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Price includes shipping.
If you would like to purchase the CD, please click on 'Buy Now' below:

Launch sample player

To pay by Cheque or Money Order, please send an email to: info@torontoallstarbigband.com

1. Sing, Sing, Sing
2. Let's Dance
3. Somebody Loves Me
4. Moonlight Serenade
5. Manhattan
6. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
7. When The Saints Go Marching In
8. You Make Me Feel So Young
9. Brazil
10. Oh Johnny, Oh!
11. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
12. In The Mood
13. Marie
14. American Patrol
15. Sing, Sing, Sing (Reprise)

Bluray: Live At the Palais Royale

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Price includes shipping.
If you would like to purchase the bluray, please click on 'Buy Now' below:

To pay by Cheque or Money Order, please send an email to: info@torontoallstarbigband.com

1. I Can‘t Stop Loving You
2. I‘ve Got The World On A String
3. Begin The Beguine
4. Let‘s Get Lost
5. Roll ‘Em
6. My Baby Just Cares For Me
7. Lindyhopper‘s Delight
8. Java Jive
9. Dark Eyes
10. Moondance
11. Let‘s Get Away From It All
12. Trickle, Trickle
13. Big Noise From Winnetka
14. Two Of A Kind
15. Heebies Jeebies
16. It‘s A Good Day
17. Artificial Flowers
18. Operator
19. Sing, Sing, Sing
20. In The Mood

DVD: Live At the Palais Royale

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Price includes shipping.
If you would like to purchase the DVD, please click on 'Buy Now' below:

To pay by Cheque or Money Order, please send an email to: info@torontoallstarbigband.com

1. I Can‘t Stop Loving You
2. I‘ve Got The World On A String
3. Begin The Beguine
4. Let‘s Get Lost
5. Roll ‘Em
6. My Baby Just Cares For Me
7. Lindyhopper‘s Delight
8. Java Jive
9. Dark Eyes
10. Moondance
11. Let‘s Get Away From It All
12. Trickle, Trickle
13. Big Noise From Winnetka
14. Two Of A Kind
15. Heebies Jeebies
16. It‘s A Good Day
17. Artificial Flowers
18. Operator
19. Sing, Sing, Sing
20. In The Mood

Media

TABB In the Press

Support Us

Blue Champagne Club

Support the Toronto All-Star Big Band through our Blue Champagne Club!

If you've seen the Toronto All-Star Big Band, you know us for our on-stage persona - an exciting young orchestra delivering a smart musical production steeped in nostalgia, made new with fresh exubereance and the startling talent of this youthful cast.

What you may NOT know is back-stage and behind the scenes. The Toronto All-Star Big Band offers one of the most intense and stimulating youth music programs in Canada, engaging "cream-of-the-crop" young artists in a rigorous regime of rehearsals, workshops and masterclasses. Participating musicians are rewarded with a rare student employment opportunity, plus a thrilling roster of command performances at major theatres and festivals throughout Ontario and the U.S. New programs with Big Band legends like Peter Appleyard and Buddy De Franco are making vital connections between our young artists and the "who's who" of the Big Band world today. As our young musicians "graduate" from the Toronto All-Star Big Band, they are posed for exciting and rewarding careers as professional musicians in Canada.

To help us keep the young at art, we warmly invite you to join us in our Blue Champagne Club, a guild of the Toronto All-Star Big Band's finest friends. In thanks for your club membership donation, you will enjoy these special privileges:

  • Official Tax Receipt
  • Exclusive access to Club News, our quarterly Big Band newsletter
  • Advance mailing of theatre performance notices
  • Preferred seating for theatre productions
  • Invitation to our Blue Champagne Garden Partyfeaturing music by the Toronto All-Star Big Band and accompanied by "Blue Champagne" cocktail fare

Through your membership in our Blue Champagne Club, you will be making a very important difference!

  • Employing young musicians
  • Creating Canada's professional musicians of tomorrow
  • Reaching out to hundreds of thousands of theatre-goers
  • Cultivating the greatest music of our time

We urge you to join us in some Blue Champagne, and help us keep the young at art!

an official tax receipt will be mailed upon receipt of your donation

donation will be listed as "toronto faculty of music" on your credit card statement.

Click here for the online form Click here for the printable form Get Adobe Reader

You may also join by calling (416) 231-5695 or mail the printed form to:
Toronto All-Star Big Band
3820 Bloor St. W.,
Toronto, ON   M9B 1K8

Stage Plot

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Auditions

We're Auditioning!

The Toronto All-Star Big Band is currently accepting applications for all band positions for our 2023 summer program and beyond. Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs Program, this summer we are able to offer 22 PAID positions to young, local musicians ages 15-22. Get paid to play music, meet other like-minded musicians and music professionals, and gain experience in a professional performance environment.

SAXOPHONE · TRUMPET · TROMBONE · RHYTHM · VOCALS

By appointment at
Toronto Faculty of Music, 3820 Bloor St. W.,

Call: (416) 231-5695
info@torontoallstarbigband.com

★ High profile performances with internationally esteemed artists ★
★ Touring and recording opportunities ★
★ Masterclasses with top jazz musicians ★

Join the Toronto All-Star Big Band's "cream-of-the-crop"
young musicians in a professional setting ‐
and an exciting learning environment!

Click here for Online Application Form

Contact Us

Zygmunt Jedrzejek

Artistic Director

(416) 231-5695

info@torontoallstarbigband.com

Sally Kwan

Web & Print Graphic Designer

Mim Adams

Vocal Coach

Patti Cervini

Administrator

Alisha Oliver

Marketing and Development Coordinator

Justin See

Conductor

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Supporters of the Toronto All-Star Big Band