King Swings celebrates 10th anniversary July 19 to 21

Jeff Healey will be appearing with the Jazz Wizards to open this year's King Swings.

King Swings, the annual music festival in the big tent behind Daniel's of Nobleton, is now in its 10th year.

This year's edition runs from July 19 to 21. A portion of the proceeds will be going to Hospice King-Aurora, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in the community living with a life-threatening illness and who are bereaved.

It all started in 1997, when the Hot Antic Jazz Band made Daniel's a stop on their Canadian tour. They're doing it again this year, in the July 21 (Saturday) show, hitting the stage at 8 p.m.

It was a huge success thanks to Val Saunders and volunteer members of the Classic Jazz Society of Toronto. The setting behind Daniel's was perfect for listening to great jazz in a garden party atmosphere. Since then, King Swings has expanded to a three-day event and has hosted some great musicians - most notably, Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards - who have graced this stage for the past six years, and will be opening the festival again this year.

Blues also plays a part in King Swings and has included Juno award-winning Jack de Keyzer; radio-celebrity and musician, Danny Marks, as well as Mike McKenna's Blues Band. This year the festival presents The Harmonica Knights led by one of Canada's great harmonica players, Mike "Bird" Stafford for the Friday night show July 20.

Traditional Jazz from the '20s and '30s is the mainstay of King Swings and The Hot Antic Jazz Band is one of the very finest Festival bands from France. In addition to the extraordinary talent of Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, and the visiting Hot Antics, some of the great bands who have played to appreciative audiences include the Hot Five Jazzmakers (Canada); The Savannah Jazz Band (U.K.); Jambalaya Jazz Band (Buffalo, NY); The Ragweed Jazzband (Canada); and The Climax Jazz Band also from Toronto.

King Swings has grown into a highly successful event and has featured some excellent local talent with David Dunlap's Gypsy Swing Band and The Good Brothers Band. For this 10th anniversary year Daniel's is excited to welcome back the distinguished performers in The Hot Antic Jazz Band who were here at the beginning - 10 years' ago. This highly talented 6-piece group performs in major international jazz festivals throughout Europe, U.S., Canada, Japan, India and Africa, specializing in the music of the '20s and '30s. They have performed with some legendary jazz musicians - much in the style of the legendary trumpet player, Jabbo Smith.

The Festival opens with Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards in their seventh appearance at King Swings. Even though Jeff is world famous as a blues guitarist and singer, his first love is traditional jazz. He performs with an excitement, emotion and humour that is mirrored by the whole band and is strongly felt by the audience. Guest vocalist, Terra Hazelton, is sensational as is the band featuring Jesse Barksdale, Christopher Plock, Reide Kaiser, Colin Bray, Ross Wooldridge and drummer, Gary Scriven.

The blues component this year features The Harmonica Knights. Harp player, Mark "Bird" Stafford jams with Chuck Jakson to create an unforgettable and compelling sound. Mark is steeped in traditional blues, influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter Jacobs, Big Walter Horton, Junior Wells and James Cotton. He injects his own style to the music with respect and creativity. From the frenzy he can generate on the dance floor to the smooth mercurial side of his musical personality, Mark Stafford is exciting to hear.

Tickets are $35 for the Thursday night show, $30 Friday night and $35 for Saturday night. For information, call Daniel's at (905) 859-0060.