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Jaymz Bee pays tribute to JAZZ.FM91 with benefit concert at Koerner Hall

By Jonsaba Jabbi 2024/09/11

Jaymz Bee, Genevieve Marentette

Two months after signing off the air at JAZZ.FM91, Toronto’s Ambassador of Jazz Jaymz Bee is paying it forward with a benefit concert on Wednesday, October 16 at Koerner Hall in support of the station.

The former host of Jazz in the City and Jazz Gone Wild left JAZZ.FM91 in July after a storied 22-year career to pursue his growing career in filmmaking full-time. However, he’s using his talents to produce and curate Jaymz Bee presents THANK YOU JAZZ.FM91, a night of vibrant, local jazz with proceeds going back to the station. “I love the station and want to continue to help make sure it thrives,” Bee expressed in an interview. “I thought wouldn’t it be nice to do a big show (like Jazz Lives) where I take the risk and JAZZ.FM91 gets the money?”

The night will open with “Music from the Secret Agents,” a tribute to James Bond and other iconic tunes featuring the likes of Irene Torres, Adam James, John Finley, Serafin LaRiviere, Gavin Hope, Simone Denny, and Queen Mary (formerly Queen Pepper). The concert will also be the album release of vocalist Genevieve Marentette’s Songs of ’69, an album of hit songs from 1969 recorded with a contemporary jazz flair.

“My connection with JAZZ.FM91 goes way back—right to the old building, where I volunteered as a Humber student, working events, doing voiceovers, and of course, many unforgettable Jazz Safaris and fundraising events and shows,” she says, “I’m so thrilled that Jaymz is making my album release part of his efforts to give back to the station that means so much to all of us.”

Other artists include the night’s house band of notable local musicians such as Michael Shand, Eric St-Laurent, Bill McBirnie and more!

Jaymz Bee presents THANK YOU JAZZ.FM91 takes place on next Wednesday, October 16 at 7pm at Koerner Hall. Tickets are still available here.

Genevieve Marentette - You've Made Me So Very Happy

Left to right: Michael Shand, Eric St-Laurent & George Koller

Michael Shand (piano)

Shand (the Hand) is one of Toronto’s most sought-after pianists and music directors. He’s performed with Molly Johnson, Sean Jones, Divine Brown, Shannon Butcher, Jacksoul, and countless others. As a teen he studied classical at the Royal Conservatory and then York University where he moved into jazz, blues, latin, reggae, soul and virtually all styles of music. He picked up the coveted Oscar Peterson Scholarship Award.

Eric St-Laurent (guitar)

Eric was raised in Montreal and lived in New York and Berlin before settling in Toronto. He has released over a dozen albums and has played on countless more. Eric leads his own band and also has acted as MD for The Tiki Collective and Music For Secret Agents. His just released an album called “Darn That Band” which thrilled those who attended his concert at The Kensington Market Jazz Festival. Eric is played on JAZZ.FM91 on a weekly, if not daily, basis. His albums range from solo to trio to sextet and he has performed at many station events over the years.

George Koller (bass)

George is a multi-instrumentalist and producer, best known as a jazz bassist. He’s performed with Holly Cole, Peter Gabriel, Dizzy Gillespie, Moe Koffman, Larry Coryell, Shuffle Demons and countless others. He’s played on literally hundreds of recordings and released six under his own name. George has performed on stage for JAZZ.FM91 at countless Live to Air shows, Sound of Jazz concert series events and Jazz Lives.

Left to right: Alison Young, Ben Wittman & Bill McBirnie

Alison Young (saxophone)

Alison was born and raised in Ottawa and moved to Toronto in the early 2000’s, studying at University of Toronto and immediately taking the city by storm performing with notable bands such as Heillig Manoeuvre, Alysha Brilla, Big Rude Jake and Joe Sealy Quartet. She also toured Canada with Cory Hart. Alison still performs regularly with Queen Mary and leads her own band.

Ben Wittman (drums)

Ben is a percussionist, composer and producer now based in Toronto after having lived in Vermont, Massechusetes and New York. He’s played with Paul Simon, Laurie Anderso, Jackie Richardson, Heather Bambrick, Sting and Laila Biali.

Bill McBirnie (flute)

Bill is Canada’s most sought-after flautist, and has records with international acts such as Irakere, Four80East, Memo Acevado and Junior Mance. Locally it would be easier to make a list of who he hasn’t played with, but here’s a few notables: Bernie Senensky, Robi Botos, Emilie Claire Barlow and Mark Eisenman. Bill can be heard regularly on JAZZ.FM91 and has performed at countless station events over the past two decades, including most recently at the 24 HOURS LIVE! event in July.