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

Critic's Remarks

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

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

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

A superb swing band.

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.

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.

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!