Trevor Falls Quartet at Tequila Bookworm

Hot music for a chilly night...the feeling of fall was in the air and at one point the musicians closed the overhead door to the street. Trevor Falls (drums), Jon Challoner (trumpet), Dan Fortin (bass) and Trevor Giancola (guitar) performed a number of their own originals to warm up the crowd. I am trying to come to this venue as much as possible to encourage programming jazz and especially as a place for younger musicians to get the opportunity to perform. Trevor G sat in with my friend John Stowell when he was in town and is also friends with Fabio Ragnelli, one of our "Jazzology" guests last year. The quartet performed one of Fabio's tunes and he was there to hear it. Again, forgot the camera....d'oh! That's a habit I need to get into so that I have a visual record. Baked some banana chocolate chip muffins this a.m. So this is turning into the "jazzy food blog" as my friend Nancy suggested....

Art by Surprise

Didn't realize today was the Queen West Art Crawl so I got in the last half hour of gallery wandering. Also, there was an Art Fair in Trinity Bellwoods Park with numerous artists and craftspeople...I was coveting some jewellery....no surprise there, I am a magpie when it comes to shiny things....

Gate 403 last night....

Doesn't this look like fun...Max Sennitt Y sus Amigos..Jacek Karlowski on guitar, Mike Wark on sax, Max on drums and Ben Miller on bass. They have all appeared on "Jazzology" and were rocking the house last night. I'm always so proud to hear them...

And then, the Jazz Safari showed up with Jaymz Bee's enthusiastic group, of at least 2 dozen to cheer them on...

Safari participants donate $250 each to Jazz Fm and Jaymz takes them on a tour of jazz clubs for one night, usually 5 locations and pays the cover.

I have been twice at Jaymz' generous invitation and it has been a blast!

This is me and Jaymz Bee, radio host, bon vivant, man about town and the Energizer Bunny of jazz...I don't know how he does it? I want his secret...as do many others....

The Raw and the Cooked....

Yes, two count them two postings in one day!! I was just so excited about the raw Veggie Pate from Rose's book..it's amazing...I have to restrain myself from eating it all..

The cookies are Maple Flax from Jae Steele's book "Get it Ripe". Jae also did a cooking demo at the Food Fair, which unfortunately I didn't get to see/participate in...oh well, her book rocks!

Raw Food "Uncooking" Workshop

This is a pictorial example of some of the items that Rose Vasile prepared last night in her workshop. They were all amazing and delicious...in fact she even pressed her "easy" button after each recipe was completed.

There were about 15 interested parties there and raw foods are getting more of a following all the time as people seek ways to take care of themselves without pills and through preventative "medicine"

We feasted on Smoothies with luscious kale, coronation grapes, blueberries, hemp seeds etc...it's her "Green Smoothie" recipe in the book, which can have infinite variations depending on what's available and your taste. Rose emphasized that there is so much choice there's no need to eat the same thing all the time and your body will appreciate it!

Then onto Amazing Avocadoes a creamy and savoury "dip", Veggie pate made with soaked almonds, sunflower seeds, veggies and spices/herbs, Savoury Crackers and finally Lemon Banana Pie...the dessert I didn't get to sample at the Food Fair cooking demo...it was well worth the wait and I can't wait to try all these recipes out.

Her straightforward instructions, suggestions and tips as well as her down to earth style make this a definite addition to your cookbook or "uncookbook" selection.

Rose hails from Kitchener but now makes her home in Courtenay B.C. on Vancouver Island. She also conducts retreats...the next one is in January, by the ocean. Sounds lovely.

Check out her website www.rawrose.com....

I am feeling healthier already....

I blame Mercury Retrograde...

Two errors which the writer will take entire responsibility for and hopes she hasn't ruined anyone's plans/caused undue grief.... 1. Steve Ward is not performing at Tequila Bookworm tonight....I am sure he will have many opportunities in the coming months...I just got a little excited. 2. Veggie Challenge is for 1 week not 3....again I got a little excited and optimistic... Tomorrow my "uncooking" class experience....

"Jazzology" preparations

We are gearing up for another exciting season of "Jazzology" on Jazz FM 91, hosted by the fabulous Larry Green...yes, he is my boss...:) There will be 5 students each from 4 schools: Mohawk, U of T, York and Humber and I'm looking forward to meeting all of them as well as hearing them perform at some point. The machinery is well oiled and ready to go... Russ Little, trombonist extraordinaire and dapper individual stopped by the station yesterday. He was purchasing extra tickets for the first Sound of Toronto concert - which he is conducting. He is my role model...he is such an enthusiastic and positive guy! He noticed me reading Martha Beck's "The Joy Diet" and was interested in the title...I told him he was already "on" it... Going to Tequila Bookworm tomorrow night to see Steve Ward who is one of this season's "Jazzology" victims, er, guests...another trombone player...was that a decent segue? Will let you know. Saw a harrowing and fascinating DVD last night, last year's best foreign film "The Counterfeiters" about a special crew selected by the Nazis to forge British pounds and U.S. dollars. An interesting exploration of doing what is right and doing what is necessary to survive...

Youssou N'Dour and Veg Food Fair

That blurry white image on stage is Yossou N'Dour, Senegalese performer and activist. He was performing at Yonge Dundas square on Friday night for free. There was a documentary being screened at the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) called "What I Bring is Love" about him. After standing around on concrete for about an hour punctuated by a run to Starbucks for a Pumpkin Spice Latte, my friend Lorraine and I didn't last very long into the show...oh well.

I am still figuring out my tiny Canon camera, it's a Powershot SD 600...

And now onto the next event...The Veg Food Fair..our 24th annual. I volunteered at the cooking demo and volunteer check in...here are some images below....

This is the World Cafe, where you can nosh on all kinds of yummy veg food from local restaurants and caterers...Caribbean, Asian and Indian food and great pizza and Italian from Magic Oven (a local gourmet pizza chain). I had some great stuff from Green Earth on Broadview...very convincing soy chicken...amost scary...

Here are some of the many booths selling veg food, animal friendly products like clothing and shoes, advocacy groups like Farm Sanctuary,

As you can see Harbourfront is a lovely area, the booths are along a quay and there are numerous boats docked in the little harbour next to it...

Lake Ontario is behind me...

Here are some of our TVA volunteers (we had 3 separate booths) informing people about the veg lifestyle, answering questions and trying to sell memberships, get people to sign up for the Veggie Challenge - that's going veg or vegan for 3 weeks....

And here is Siue Moffat, author of "Licking the Beaters" a cookbook of Low Fat Vegan Desserts...which of course I bought, since it had the word desserts in it....

I was also assisting in this area...my favourite volunteer job because you get to meet the authors and sample the goods!

Nettie Cronish did the first demo I was at and then Rose Vasile who has a website http://www.rawrose.com/ attracted a great crowd for her raw food workshop...she made a banana lemon pie...and yes, I bought her cookbook too...I do a lot of book shopping at the fair because the selection is so great AND the money goes to the TVA!!

Yes, it's that time of year again. Vegetarian Food Fair, what the...I thought this was a jazz blog...well, a person does not live my jazz alone they do need sustenance to be focused on listening to jazz...also a number of jazz musicians are "into" the vegetarian lifestyle...so there! See how I made that tenuous connection?

The Food Fair is probably now the largest in North America and in my personal opinion the best and most fun...because I will be there...:) I am volunteering at volunteer check in and cooking demo which is fast paced and includes samples....mmmm....samples. There are tons of free samples everywhere, as mentioned cooking demos with recipes, books galore, vendors, speakers, films...all down at Toronto's lovely Harbourfront! Check out http://www.veg.ca/ - you can even take the Veggie Challenge of going for 3 weeks on a vegetarian or vegan diet and win fabulous prizes..

If I remember to bring my camera, expects photos of happy and healthy vegetarians and food, food, food....Say hi if you see me, I will be carrying yet more cookbooks I'm sure/and or eating something yummy...

Check out the Sweets from the Earth people...they make baked goods that are as good as, okay, better than mine... cookies, cakes and these wonderful chocolate, pecan and caramel bars...all VEGAN!!

A special announcement coming on Monday re: Sound of Jazz Series at Jazz FM 91

Also, preparations are underway for the coming season of "Jazzology" and my much awaited California vacation...