Toronto is going to be the centre of the jazz world for four days this week. Hosted by the International Association for Jazz Education, a global convention is bringing in artists from over thirty countries to various venues in the city.
With attendance expected to exceeed 7000 at locations such as the Sheraton and Metro Convention Centres, the event that began Tuesday night at the Palais Royale is bringing to Toronto the well-known 24-year old Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu from Karlsruhe, Germany. Prize winner in the solo piano competition at last year’s Montreux Jazz Festival, the young artist has a string of amazing accomplishments to his credit, from a series of first prizes in youth competitions during his teen-age years to scholarships and concerts in jazz, contemporary and classical music in practically every European country.
Toronto jazz clubs such as the Rex, Senator and the Montréal Bistro will be offering alternatives to jazz lovers who are not able to atttend the registration-only event, since there are no day passes or single tickets for the conference program. Registration is $450 and includes the complete packed schedule of events. Local registration begins Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the convention centre.
The Estonian community in Canada will have an opportunity to meet Kristjan Randalu at a concert in the main hall of Tartu College on Friday Jan. 17th at 7:30 p.m., an event sponsored by the TC Cultural Programme. At the suggestion of the pianist Armas Maiste, the Music Department of Humber College is also inviting the young artist to hold workshops and give mini-concerts at the Lakeshore Campus.
The Tartu College event will be well within the comfort zone of most music lovers. The young artist will concentrate on Estonian themes and on his own compositions. The Cultural Programme aided by members of the mixed choral society “Ööbik” will act as hosts and provide refreshments as well, including a cash wine bar. The minimum contribution for visitors will be $10. The hosts have requested that the artist bring along his latest CDs recorded recently in Estonia.
Jazz pianist Kristjan Randalu in Toronto
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