Rafael Zaldivar was born in Camagüey, Cuba. Coming from a family of musicians, he started playing percussion and piano at age 10 and pursued his undergraduate studies at the Superior Art Institute of Havana. Moving to Canada at age 22, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Montreal and a Master’s degree at McGill University within three years. Rafael has studied with Barry Harris, Kenny Barron, and Greg Osby, and played with Steve Coleman, Francisco Mela and Danilo Perez.

• When: October 2, 2019 at 12:15 pm
• Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
• Cost: Free

Multiple JUNO Award-winner Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by a variety of diverse musical influences on a daily basis. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun­-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats. Later on, in the 70s, Durán was Chucho Valdés’ chosen successor in Cuba’s most modern big band, Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna. Hilario toured worldwide and performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Michel Legrand, among many others, and as part of Arturo Sandoval’s band where he was pianist/keyboardist, arranger and musical director for 9 years. Hilario is an adjunct piano professor and ensemble director at Humber College. Contumbao is his most recent recording as a band leader.

• When: October 30, 2019 at 12:15 pm
• Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
• Cost: Free

Start your weekend with the sounds of jazz from across the globe! Featuring  performances by Ravi Naimpally World Jazz Lab, Justin Gray Indo Jazz Collective, Justin Gray (Gord Sheard) Brazilian Workshop, and Hilario Duran Latin Jazz Ensemble 1.

• When: November 1, 2019 at 8:00 pm
• Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
• Cost: General: $15; Seniors/Students: $10; Humber Music Students: Free
• Purchase Tickets in Advance: https://bachelorofmusicworldshowcase.eventbrite.com/
• Questions? Contact: music@humber.ca

Avi Granite is a guitarist and composer best known for his Toronto-based improvisational sextet AG:6. Granite calls New York City home where his work is performed by his NYC-based quartet Verse and experimental project Graphic Tongue. Granite has performed around the globe and studied with some of the best musicians in the world including Joe Lovano, John Scofield and Chris Potter. Playwrights and string quartets have commissioned him as a composer. Honoured as guest lecturer at several universities, Granite has developed creative workshops for corporate education and taught students as young as 3 years old. He is sole proprietor of the boutique record label Pet Mantis Records.

• When: November 13, 2019 at 12:15 pm
• Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
• Cost: Free

This one-day symposium features some of Canada’s most prolific investigative reporters, news developers and data advocates providing an in-depth look into the strategies they use to turn raw data into tomorrow’s headlines.

• When: Friday, November 15, 2019, 8 am - 4 pm
• Where: Google (111 Richmond St. West, #12, Toronto, ON)
• Cost: Free
• Register: https://humberdatadriven2019.eventbrite.com

Featuring the work of graduating Theatre Arts – Performance and Theatre Arts – Production Students

• When:
  • November 21 at 7:30 pm
  • November 22 at 1 pm
  • November 22 at 7:30 pm
  • November 23 at 5pm
• Where: Humber Studio Theatre in the Humber Arts and Media Studios (300 Birmingham Street, Toronto, ON)
• Cost: Free
• Register: humberelektra.eventbrite.ca

Presented by XO Brass Canada. Sponsored by the Humber College Faculty of Media & Creative Arts and Long & McQuade.

• When: November 21, 2019 at 8:00 pm
• Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
• Cost: General: $15, seniors/students: $10
• Tickets: Purchase tickets in advance here.

• When: November 29, 2019 at 8:00 pm
• Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
• Cost: General: $15, seniors/students: $10
• Tickets: Purchase in advance via Eventbrite.

Click here to view the full performance schedule!

• When: December 3-6, 2019
• Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
• Cost: Free

Featuring:

• Mike Downes' Humber X Ensemble
• Kirk MacDonald's Advanced Jazz Ensemble
• Alex Dean's Enriched Jazz Workshop

Date: Friday, Jan 24, 2020
Time: 8pm
Location: Humber College Lakeshore Campus, A Building Auditorium

Tickets: General admission: $15, senior/student: $10. Humber Music Students are free. Tickets are available in advance here.

*Please note that only debit and credit will be accepted at the door*

This network event and showcase of students and their work will take place on Feb 20, 2020 from 5-9 PM at the Centre for Social Innovation (192 Spadina Ave at Queen Street).

For an invitation, please contact Anna Santilli or Cathy Bidini.

Date: Friday, Feb 21, 2020
Time: 8pm
Location: Humber College Lakeshore Campus, A Building Auditorium

Tickets: General admission: $15, senior/student: $10. Humber Music Students are free. Tickets are available in advance here.

*Please note that only debit and credit will be accepted at the door*

Date: Friday, March 6, 2020
Time: 8pm
Location: Humber College Lakeshore Campus, A Building Auditorium

Tickets: General admission: $15, senior/student: $10. Humber Music Students are free. Tickets are available in advance here.

*Please note that only debit and credit will be accepted at the door*

Date: Friday, April 3, 2020
Time: 8pm
Location: Humber College Lakeshore Campus, A Building Auditorium

Tickets: General admission: $15, senior/student: $10. Humber Music Students are free. Tickets are available in advance here.

*Please note that only debit and credit will be accepted at the door*

Check back for the full schedule, posted in late March.

This one-hour information session offers a student-eye view of the program with one of our recent graduates! Register here.

Featuring live and recorded performances, screenings, exhibits, networking events, and portfolio shows, Current celebrates the ingenuity and professionalism of an electric group of storytellers. Connect with them at humbercurrent.ca starting April 19, or visit the website now to reserve your free ticket to a live event!

Featuring Rich Brown, one of Canada’s foremost bass player, drum legend, Larnell Lewis, internationally acclaimed pianist Jeremy Ledbetter, and celebrated saxophonist Luis Deniz, the ensemble draws upon jazz-funk, fusion and rock influences. Their music engages progressive concepts in both harmony and melody, where complex rhythms produce an exciting, fresh, and contemporary sound.  

The ensemble earned a 2020 JUNO Award for their album, Abundance and recently released their follow-up recording, Abeng. Grounded in a spirit of resistance against oppression, the new album, and namesake of the group, is described by Ted Quinlan in The WholeNote as, “an impassioned reaction to, and path forward from, some of the darkest forces of human nature, specifically racism and divisiveness. [Brown] has chosen the abeng, an instrument originally fashioned by escaped Jamaican slaves, as a metaphor for a call to unity.” 

Larnell Lewis (Humber Alum) and Rich Brown are current members of Humber faculty; Luis Deniz has also been a regular teacher at Humber. 

When Emily Steinwall emerged on Toronto's jazz scene as a saxophone player, she was named one of CBC’s “35 best Canadian jazz artists under 35” at only 22 years old. She was also the recipient of JAZZ.FM91’s prestigious Mary Alice Stewart Award 2017, and was named Prince Edward County Jazz Festival’s 2018 Rising Young Star, all within her first couple of years since graduating from Humber’s Bachelor of Music program. 

With a new focus on songwriting, Emily formed a band to perform her original music perhaps be best described as "singer songwriter fused with jazz." The group quickly carved out a top shelf reputation in Toronto’s live music scene with their transcendent, psychedelic and bold performances. 

On November 8th, Steinwall will be joined by Jackson Steinwall on bass, and fellow Humber grads Joseph Martel on guitar, and Andrew McCarthy on drums, to perform music from “Welcome to the Garden,” her debut album which won the SOCAN Songwriter Prize in 2022. 

Emily Steinwall has performed on the “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”, the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert ” and “Austin City Limits”, and performed on world renowned stages, including Madison Square Garden, Scotiabank Arena (formerly the ACC), and at MTV’s European Music Awards. Humber Music is excited to welcome her back! 

Straight Ahead Jazz Ensemble: With a focus on the classic jazz idiom, this ensemble will perform repertoire from the great American songbook and canon of jazz compositions. Comprised of musicians with advanced musical skills this group will bring energy and enthusiasm to the standard jazz repertoire. This ensemble is directed by Juno Award winner Jocelyn Gould.

The Jazz Collective: Comprised of musicians with strong improvising and compositional skills, The Jazz Collective focusses on developing original repertoire. This ensemble is made up of very strong young musicians focused on deepening their improvisational skills and finding their own voices as composers. Led by composer and guitarist Sam Dickinson, the program features original compositions by Dickinson and members of the ensemble.  

---- CONCERT PROGRAM ---

STRAIGHT-AHEAD JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Jocelyn Gould, Director

Damian Lim - Vocals

Angelica Zavala - Drums

David Baik - Bass 

Alex Kohlsmith - Keyboard 

Rohan Mead - Guitar 

Jacob Kozlowski – Saxophone

Is That So? - by Lee Morgan 

I Concentrate On You - by Cole Porter 

Jingles - by Wes Montgomery 

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - by Richard Rodgers 

Early Bird 

 --- INTERMISSION ---

THE JAZZ COLLECTIVE

Sam Dickinson, Director

Nathaniel Ward - Drums 

Alex McPherson - Bass 

Nathan Tran - Keyboard 

Miles Cakebread-Kraus - Guitar 

Steffan Bello - Saxophone 

Angela Pincente -Trombone 

The Blessing  - by Ornette Coleman 

The Railroaders - by Miles Cakebread-Kraus 

Bless This Nightmare - by Sam Dickinson 

Earl Family History - by Alex McPherson 

Coming on the Hudson - by Thelonious Monk 

South Florida Task Force - by Sam Dickinson 

Special thanks for support and leadership to:

Guillermo Acosta, Senior Dean, FMCA

Jason Merai, Associate Dean, Music Cluster, FMCA

Andy Scott, PC, Bachelor of Music Program, FMCA

Special thanks for series vision and coordination to:

Kelsley Grant, PC, Introduction to Jazz Program, FMCA

Dewi Minden, Music Operations Manager, Music Cluster, FMCA

Special thanks for technical production to:

Andy Pryde, Audio Technician

Micaela Rae, Front-of-House Manager

There is nothing quite like the electrifying sizzle of the Jazz Big Band to transport the listener to the heart of swing! Humber's 19-piece Big Band will explore the great lexicon of American jazz that dominated 20th Century New York City as well as works of Canadian composers and arrangers.

The Manouche Ensemble kicks off the evening with the rousing music of the 1930s-1950s, and the jazz stylings of Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli. Often characterised by a fast-paced virtuosity, the ensemble showcases the multi-talented students on voice, violin, guitars and bass.

This concert showcases three Humber Music Student Ensembles, each one a unique genre, yet all three reverberate with a shared African heritage. Come experience the uplifting power of the Gospel Choir, the driving rhythms of the African Rhythm and Jazz and the infectious groove of Rhythm ‘n Soul for an evening that is uplifting, inspiring and energizing!

TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE: Ingrid-Jensen-Humber.eventbrite.ca

Ingrid Jensen, the New York-based, Canadian-born acclaimed jazz trumpet player, will be the featured guest soloist for a sizzling set of powerful music with the 18-piece Humber Jazz Big Band led by composer/arranger Shelly Berger. The concert program will also feature new modern jazz pieces for trumpet and the funk groove-based Forward Motion Ensemble, directed by acclaimed bassist Rich Brown. 

Ingrid Jensen has been hailed as one of the most gifted trumpeters of her generation. Originally from Victoria, BC, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Jensen toured Europe with the Vienna Art Orchestra and became, at age 25, the youngest professor at Austria's Bruckner Conservatory. Now based in New York City Ingrid performs with the Darcy James Argue jazz ensemble, is the Dean of Jazz Arts at Jensen at the Manhattan School of Music and is a dedicated jazz educator. 

Featuring Humber Music's extraordinary Latin Jazz Band directed by Hilario Duran, the Salsa Band Directed by Sean Bellaviti, and the Brazilian Jazz Ensemble Directed by Aline Homzy, this will be an enlivening evening of music combining the Afro-Cuban tradition with the musical language of American jazz.

Game collaboration testing for Game Programming and Animation 3D programs. The E Sports team will be running two games created by the students that spanned two semesters and two programs. The E Sports team will be providing insights into the game play and deciding a winner.

Featuring over 80 free artworks, this year's event is on the theme of Bridging Distance. It invites artists, curators and audiences to explore the multifaceted ways we experience and perceive distance through a multitude of independent works and commissioned projects by local, national and international artists. The event also offers free admission to some of the city’s finest museums, galleries and cultural spaces throughout the night, having activated their sites in response to the theme.

The ensemble is comprised of bandleader Matt Lagan on Saxophone and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument), Sean Clarey on guitar, Scott Hunter on Bass, and Louis Baranyi-Irvine on Drums. The ensemble will present works ranging from high-energy, bebop-influenced tunes to smokey, atmospheric pieces with a subtle groove.  

Matt Lagan is an internationally active saxophonist, EWI player and composer who graduated with honours from Humber College in 2017. A member of The Shuffle Demons since 2018, Matt recorded three albums and toured twelve countries with the ensemble. Since 2019 he has been living alternately in Germany, Italy and France recording and touring internationally as a member of the Italian funk sensation C’amma Funk.  

The concert takes place in the beautiful Recital Hall located in the newly opened Humber Cultural Hub (HCH) on Humber's Lakeshore campus.

Admission is free. No ticket registration necessary, but space is limited. 

Humber Music Presents JAZZ NIGHT! to kick off the first of this season's Student Showcase Concerts series. Audiences will be treated to an evening of music spanning contemporary compositions to vidoe game musical scores to recognizable classics of the Count Basie band and the Boss Brass!

No ticket registration necessary, but space is limited - come early to secure a seat!

Gene Dinovi, jazz pianist and composer comes to Humber to perform and share stories of his long life’s work with some of jazz’s greatest legends, from Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker to Doris Day and Tony Bennett. Having lived in Toronto since the 1970s, Mr. DiNovi, at 96, remains one of the few living connections to the earliest days of bebop. He will be joined, in conversation and performance, by Music Faculty Professor and Program Coordinator, Dr. Andrew Scott, also a jazz guitarist with whom Gene has made numerous CDs and performed many concerts. 

This Noon Hour Concert is an exciting opportunity to hear original compositions performed by one of Toronto’s most acclaimed and experienced jazz pianists and get the chance to hear firsthand accounts about the legendary jazz musicians with whom he performed.

More about the Featured Artist Gene DiNovi began his musical life as a jazz pianist on 52nd Street in New York sitting in with none other than Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Following that remarkable beginning, Gene went on to play and record with Lester Young, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Buddy Rich, and Chubby Jackson. Moving to Hollywood in the 1960s, Gene worked with Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, as well as virtually every great singer of that era as composer, pianist, and musical director. As a composer, Gene’s collaborations with Johnny Mercer have been recorded by Percy Faith, Nancy Wilson, Doris Day, Dinah Shore, Victor Feldman, Carmen McRae, and others. DiNovi has also composed during this time with Harold Arlen, Jimmy Van Heusen, and Harry Warren. DiNovi currently lives in Toronto and continues to perform throughout the city. 

Admission is free. No ticket registration necessary, but space is limited. 

Embarking on a sonic journey, this fusion music ensemble fuses the essence of Indian classical music with contemporary jazz. Inspired by Indian ragas, their repertoire combines structured compositions with spontaneous improvisations to create a unique and captivating sound. Each performance weaves a distinctive tapestry of energy and frequency culminating in an electrifying experience. This diverse ensemble brings together six talented musicians (including Humber student Adhithi Baskar and two Humber Music faculty members: Ravi Naimpally and Jonathan Kay,) blending the timeless tones of Veena, Piano, Saxophone, Drums, Tabla and Bass.

More About the Feature Artist: Radhika Baskar 

Radhika Baskar is an accomplished Veena player. Radhika has a rich knowledge of traditional South Indian Carnatic Music with skills in improvisation. Radhika was a recipient of fellowship from the Department of Culture, Government of India, to carry out a research project on rare ragas in Carnatic music. Radhika performs throughout the GTA both as a solo artist, as well as in musical ensembles. Beyond Indian classical, Radhika showcases her versatility in fusion music, fronting a dynamic and increasingly popular ensemble, which fuses the essence of Indian classical music with contemporary music and rhythms, creating a unique and captivating sound. Radhika's Veena mastery blends traditional Carnatic roots with contemporary flair and fusion sensibilities.  

In 2023 Radhika was awarded the Marty's Award by the Mississauga Arts Council, in the “stablished Music Instrumental” category, and a Civic Award of Recognition from the Mayor for her contributions in music to the City of Mississauga. 

Admission Free. Space is limited. Come early to get a seat! 

Humber Music Presents "VOCAL NIGHT" with folk favourites of the 1970s, contemporary pop songs of the 2000s, and original songs composed by Humber’s own talented music students. This evening will be full of sweet melodies, lush harmonies, and plenty of heart. 

The Songwriter Circle, a talented group of versatile vocalists and instrumentalists dedicated to the craft of songwriting, will perform their original songs collectively arranged by the group members.

The Pop/Folk Vocal Ensemble, an eclectic ensembles featuring lush vocals, guitars, keys, cello, bass and drums will perform a wide variety of contemporary genres. Fueled by sensitive lyrical deliveries, the group’s collectively dynamic playing will engage and inspire audiences of any age. 

No ticket registration required, but space is limited, so come early to get a seat!

This concert presents two contrasting genres, American Gospel music and Caribbean-influenced jazz, respectively, yet at their essence, both reverberate with a shared African heritage. Come let your spirit be uplifted by the powerful Gospel Choir directed by Natalie Stewart and your energy revived by the infectious groove of the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble directed by Jesse Ryan for what is sure to be a very memorable show!

[Photo by Peera Disttakorn]

No ticket registration required, but space is limited, so come early to get a seat! 

The extraordinary Canadian singer Dione Taylor brings her ensemble to Humber for the last Noon Hour Concert of the season. Her powerful voice and original repertoire is not to be missed. She calls her hard-to-peg genre the “Prairie Blues,” a mixture of Roots, Blues, Gospel and Americana. Dione is both a Humber Music graduate and a current member of the music faculty at Humber Polytechnic.

Admission is free. No ticket registration necessary, but space is limited.

Humber's Rhythm 'n Soul Ensemble will treat listeners to the African American-rooted genre of rhythm and blues with contemporary funk and soul music, in original arrangements by Will Jarvis. Also on the bill, the Future Pop Ensemble will deliver a fusion of modern music and innovation, offering fresh, energetic interpretations of contemporary styles.

No ticket registration required, but space is limited, so come early to get a seat!

Featuring three Humber Music ensembles: the Latin Jazz Band directed by Hilario Duran, the Salsa Band directed by Alex Naar, and the Brazilian Jazz Ensemble directed by Joaquin Hidalgo. This promises to be an enlivening evening of music that compels one to dance in one's seat, if not in the aisles! This final concert of the Student Showcase series for 2024-2025 is a terrific way to bolster one's spirits as we approach the academic finish line. Join us!

No ticket registration required, but space is limited, so come early to get a seat!