Events

Upcoming

& Past

Katz in Calgary! Calgary Shows/Workshops: May 20-30th

When: May 26, 2023
Time: 8:00 pm
Where: Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, 7th Avenue and 1st Street SE, Calgary, AB
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Solo Guitar Concert: Improvisations & Compositions (and what lies in-between)

Katz in Calgary! Calgary Shows/Workshops: May 20-30th

When: May 24, 2023
Time: 12:00 Noon
Where: The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer 604 – 1st St SE Calgary, AB T2G 5H8
proarts

Concert: Pro Arts Society, Calgary

For this special concert, Katz will perform original compositions on the piano and guitar, with some leanings towards his Jewish-themed compositions; to compliment the program, he will be joined by his long-time colleague, the exceptional Yiddish singer, Allan Merovitz  and woodwind player, Frank Rackow.  

Katz in Calgary! Calgary Shows/Workshops: May 20-30th

When: May 23, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, 7th Avenue and 1st Street SE, Calgary, AB
asylum_for_art

Workshop for Guitarists: “From Noodling to Composition”

Guitarists love to “noodle,” a process that is rich, bearing tremendous fruit when one is guided structurally, resulting in flowing open (free) compositionally oriented improvisation that also reveals one’s truest musical voice. In this hands-on workshop we’ll not just honour ‘noodling’ but learn to craft wonderful music from it! All ages, levels and styles welcomed. Come with your guitar— and an open mind.

The Quieter Side of Klezmer

When: May 5, 2023
Time: 7:30 pm Start
Where: The Living Room 51 Claxton Blvd Unit A Toronto, ON M6C 1L9
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Acclaimed klezmer clarinettist/flutist Jonno Lightstone and famed jazz and Jewish music artist Brian Katz combine their talents to explore rarely performed klezmer repertoire: songs from the collection of Russian ethnomusicologist Moyshe Beregovski; tunes by cimbalom virtuoso Joseph Moskowitz; and music of the greatest masters of klezmer clarinet: Dave Tarras, Naftule Brandwine, and Shloimke Beckerman. Bringing together a multitude of musical styles and experience, Jonno and Brian create a variety of diverse moods by weaving the melodies of klezmer music with the sounds and textures of chamber music, modal jazz, Indian raga, and down-home blues. The inviting texture of the classical guitar and flute will especially intrigue listeners who have yet to hear the quieter side of klezmer.

  • 7:00 PM – Doors open
  • 7:30 PM – The Quieter Side Of Klezmer
  • 9:30 PM – Eat, Drink, Chat, & Be Merry
  • 11:00 PM – The Living Room goes back to being one

Audiopollination (Concert of Improvisations) with Brian Katz, Martin van de Ven and surprise guests.

When: April 7, 2023
Time: 8:00 pm start
Where: Array Music, 155 Walnut Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 3W3
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ARRAY PRESENTS:
AUDIOPOLLINATION 22|23_7
APRIL 7, 2023 @ 8:00 PM ET

Live Audience at the Arrayspace: Pay What You Can
Livestream Online: Free

PROGRAM

Marking their 10-year anniversary at The Array Space, Audiopollination returns for the 2022/23 season with a smorgasbord of monthly events featuring spontaneous music-making from leading lights of Toronto’s vibrant improvisation scene. Curated by Michael Lynn and co-presented by Arraymusic.

Story Night at Danu Social House

When: March 13, 2023
Time: 8:00 PM
Where: 1237 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L4
with Storyteller Dan Yashinsky
with Storyteller Dan Yashinsky

“Dear Children of Scheherazade,

Hope you can join me at Danu Social House, 1237 Queen Street West, next Monday night, March 13, 8 pm.  Danu is a great, wheelchair-accessible bar in Parkdale, and Josh (the owner) and I have been co-hosting a night of folktales once a month since last summer.  This coming Monday I’ll be joined by guitarist extraordinaire Brian Katz, pianist Doris Du, mbira virtuoso Moyo Mutamba, and dance artist Annemarie Cabri.  As always, the night will unfold in surprising ways, with many twists and turns (and cocktails from the Danu drink menu).  “What the ear does not hear cannot move the heart,” according to great Cape Breton storyteller Joe Neil McNeil.  Which is why we humans like to get together and share stories.  Hope you can make it next week.

Here’s to heart-moving,” Dan Yashinsky

Dreaming Wordless Melodies: The Jewish-themed music of Brian Katz

When: November 24, 2022
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Where: York University 219 ACE (Accolade East Building) 83 York Blvd Toronto, ON M3J 2S5
Briankatzevent

Renowned multi-instrumentalist Brian Katz and JUNO-nominated woodwind virtuoso Ernie Tollar offer an evening of original compositions.

The Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies and the Department of Music in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design are proud to present “Dreaming Wordless Melodies: The Jewish-themed music of Brian Katz” as part of the year-long performance series “Sound and Sense: Jewish Music @ York”.

Internationally renowned guitarist, pianist, composer, educator, Brian Katz, is celebrated for his instrumental mastery and evocative compositions, where he forges jazz, Jewish, classical, and various world music influences into a very personal sound. This suite of his Jewish-themed compositions was inspired by contrasting life events such as: performing a concert in a bomb shelter on a kibbutz; meditating in an olive grove outside of Jerusalem; dreaming a nigun (wordless melody) note for note while staying in a hotel—packed with Rabbi’s— in Elora, Ontario. For this special presentation, Brian will be joined by long-time colleague, Juno-nominated woodwind virtuoso, Ernie Tollar.

Reserve your ticket HERE

Live Music: KatzTollar

When: November 12, 2022
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m
Where: Toronto Reference Library 789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8 Atrium Stage (1st Floor)
katztollar

Join us for a live music performance by Brian Katz (guitar/piano/vocals) and Ernie Tollar (sax/bansuri flute/ney). KatzTollar performs original compositions in the “world jazz” genre. Their music is rooted in the modern jazz tradition and extends outwards to embrace elements of Middle Eastern, klezmer, East Indian, classical, and various world music traditions.

For more information, please contact the Toronto Reference Library Arts Department at 416-393-7157.

Brian Katz & Jonno Lightstone Duo

When: June 3, 2022
Time: 6 - 8PM
Where: DROM TABERNA, 458 QUEEN STREET WEST, TORONTO, ON, M5V 2A8
Lightstone_Katz

Dinner set (6-8) with ace klezmer Jonno Lightstone this Friday June 3rd at Drom Taberna on Queen; drop by for some delicious Eastern-European food and sounds!! ($10 suggested for music).

Brian Katz’s Jewish Musical Journey

When: May 26, 2022
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Where: Columbus Centre 901 Lawrence Avenue West Toronto, ON M6A 1C3
katztollar
It’s a glorious musical trip with the legendary Brian Katz!

About this event

Internationally renowned and beloved by Toronto audiences, guitarist, pianist, composer, educator Brian Katz is celebrated for his instrumental mastery and evocative compositions. He forges jazz, Jewish, classical and various world-music influences into a very personal sound. This special program of his Jewish-themed compositions was inspired by contrasting life events. With Ernie Tollar on sax.

Brian Katz’s long-standing love of Jewish music has led to collaborations with some of the world’s leading Jewish music artists. Brian has also worked alongside many esteemed jazz and world-beat artists including Jane Bunnett and jazz legend, Barry Harris. Noted European music critic Alexander Schmitz wrote of Brian’s recording Leaves Will Speak: “If you want music that speaks—here it is.”

Ernie Tollar has garnered international praise for his exceptional musicianship, creativity and enormous versatility on woodwinds. Ernie and Brian often perform as the duo, KatzTollar.