BackTrack standing steady as saxist Kristen Au moves forward | TorontoMoon.ca 180103We | Shows for Wed. January 03, 2022

Kristen Au featured on lead sax with BackTrack @ Don Mills Bier Markt -GARY 17

Kristen Au featured on lead sax with BackTrack @ Don Mills Bier Markt -GARY 17

\TO WEST\

A true showband that is known for its full Motown/R&B/Soul sound, BackTrack depends mightily on its multiple-horns section for not only its musical presence but also to give the show a visual zing that sets it above your average covers outfit.

Kristen Au on tenor sax with BackTrack -GARY 17

Kristen Au on tenor sax with BackTrack -GARY 17

So you wouldn’t think the departure in a couple of weeks of tenor sax sensation Kristen Au, who’s moving to Yellowknife (in January!), would be a cause for celebration by the group.  In a combo that performs as seven to eleven pieces and often features two or three sax players, her role as the lead horn in the show is vital.

But veteran leader and guitarist Marty Zatzman knows how to make the best of any situation after 50-plus years in the biz, so is making the big band’s return engagement at Cadillac Lounge tonight into a spectacular bon voyage party for the eight-year veteran of the group.

Au, who’s a multi-talented artist and performer, also heads up her own self-titled Jazz act that has performed at several toney venues in the city in the past while and also chips in a lot of vocals with BackTrack as well.  In addition, the Bachelor of Music graduate from U of T also teaches music.

Kristen Au as Miss Canada Tourism on stage with sax at Canada Day concert in 2014 -kristenau.com

Kristen Au as Miss Canada Tourism on stage with sax at Canada Day concert in 2014 -kristenau.com

On top of her musical activities, Au is also a model who was selected as Miss Multicultural Canada in 2013 and won Miss Canada Tourism in 2014.  In 2014 she actually wore her MCT sash on stage while performing with BackTrack at a Ribfest concert right after appearing as an attraction in a Canada Day parade!

While the lineup of guests for tonight’s send-off hasn’t been announced, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see some of the various horn players who have sat in with the group over the years, such as Abigail Neale, Vitoria Cox, Shannon Chapman and Carrie Chesnutt, come out to pay tribute to Au and no doubt to perform.

And who will be the new lead sax player for the group?  Perhaps tonight’s 7-midnight no-cover affair in the room at 1296 Queen West a little west of Dufferin will help to dispel the mystery!

-Gary17, TorontoMoon.ca
[email protected] * [email protected]

 

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, January 03, 2022

For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.

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ON AIR / ONLINE

*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

*5-8> Tony Quarrington @ Boland’s Open Kitchen, 575 Mount Pleasant Rd. ~solo Jazz guitar; $0

6-8> Alan Cohen & Friends @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6:30> Richard Whiteman Four @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz

*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.

7:30> Troubleshooting & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~Jazz

**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$10-20/pwyc

8-1> open mic with hosts Aberdeen Alley Cats @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave.

8> Wordspell @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. ~spoken word

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

9> Hard Charger; Sago @ Coalition, 282 Augusta Ave. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

*9> open Funk/Jazz/Hip-Hop jam @ Nocturne, 550 Queen St. W.

9> Tomcasts; El Kabon; Hotseat @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W.  ~Punk/Thrash; $

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.

9> Downturns; Joncro; BlankScreen; Animal Type @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

*9:30-2> The All Nighters open jam @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.

9:30> The Bill Todd Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

10> NPNP; Hutchie; Please @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

10> Richard Brooks; Razaq El Toro; Redmond @ Edenhall, 193 Baldwin St. ~indie; $

*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10

*11-2> “Boozy Broadway open stage” for musicians & singers with hosts Mandy Goodhandy, John Amato & band @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$0

416 – TORONTO EAST

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

8:30-10:30> Civil Wray @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~songwriter

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan Tavern (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

8-1> Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line  ~songwriter

*9-1> open mic with Daniel Gagnon @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W.

9-12> Space Jazz jam @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~Jazz; $5/pwyc

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

8> Dan Walek & friends @ Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

416 – TORONTO WEST

7-12> BackTrack featuring Marty Zatzman hosts bon voyage party for departing saxist Kristen Au @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~Soul/Motown/R&B; 0$

*7-10> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Juno-winning Blues

8> Side Hustle; Mookie Morris; Wily @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~indie; $

*8-10> Banda Trama @ Chalkers Pub, 247 Marlee Ave. ~Brazilian Jazz; $

*8-10> Emily Devlin & Nathan Arges @ The Oakwood Hardware, 337 Oakwood Ave. ~Rock/Top 40 covers

*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues

8:30-10:30> Hump Night Blues with host band featuring Dave McManus & George Baumann & special guest Tom Robertson @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W. ~Blues

9> Steed @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Roots-Rock

*9:30> Spy vs Spy vs Sly @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

*10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz

519

6:45-11> open stage (sign-up starts at 6) with feature by Roelf Zantinge @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph; pwyc

*6-8:30> ukulele jam @ Idea Exchange, 5 Tannery St. E., Cambridge

7-10> Doug Larson’s “Stories From The Hill” @ Guelph Museums, 52 Norfolk St., Guelph ~songwriter; pwyc

7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph

7:30-10:30> Azalea @ Consestoga College’s Venue Pub, 299 Doon Valley Dr., Kitchener ~original Rock/Pop

8-12> acoustic jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph

8> jam night with Ian Taylor @ Pops & Ruby’s Tap & Grill, 200 Preston Pkwy., Cambridge

8-11> John Lee & The Hookers host Blues jam with guest Jesse Webber @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener

8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener

*8-11> A New Ground @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic

*10> Mike Todd @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo

705

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

*8> open stage @ Dobro Restaurant, 287 George St. N., Peterborough

*8> Ken Tizzard @ Church-key Pub, 26 Bridge St. W., Campbellford

*9-12:30> Josh Morgan & Mike Francis @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

9> Cody Watkins @ McThirsty’s Pint, 166 Charlotte St., Peterborough

905 EAST

*8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*8-10:30> open mic jam with Rob Foreman & Clayton Yates @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope

9> open mic @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

*10> Emerson Ireland hosts open mic jam @ The Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

905 NORTH-EAST

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker (sign up at 7:30) @ Unionville Arms, 189 Main St., Unionville

*8:30-12:30> Jared Christopher Stafford @ Falcon & Firkin, 10300 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

8:30-11:30> open mic & acoustic jam with Don Fleming & Laurence Walters @ Father’s Moustache Grill, Aurora, 15570 Yonge St.

905 NORTH-WEST

8> acoustic jam with Frank Logue @ Shepherd’s Crook, 86 Main St. S., Georgetown

*8:45> open mic jam @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

905 SOUTH

7:30> open mic jam with Dave Gould @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

7:30> open mic with Keith Toms @ Staircase Bistro, 27 Dundurn St. N., Hamilton

8> Chris Chambers or Adam Ostrosser @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas

**8:30-12> Matt Maloney & guest Sjane Glover @ Zyla’s, 299 James St. N., Hamilton ~original Pop; pwyc

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Singalong with Judy Marsales @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

*9> open mic with Alfie Smith @ L’Etranger on James, 109 James St. N., Hamilton

*10> Jazz jam @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton

10:30> Adam Cooke & Adam Ostrosser @ Gallagher’s Bar, 29 Augusta St., Hamilton

905 WEST

*4:30> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington

7> open mic with Gillian Nicola @ Copper Kettle Waterdown, 312 Dundas St. E., Waterdown

9-1> Kevin Reid and the Dedbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~Rock/Pop; $

9-1> Mimico Bill hosts jam night @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

LISTINGS KEY

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

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