[mplpost] Michael Pickett/Beaches Jazz Fest/TORONTO, ON

[Louise Pickett]

The Beaches International Jazz Festival has come and gone for yet another year and once more it was
a huge success.  We want to thank all the people who have been visiting our website and emailing us
to say how they were "blown away" by the performances and the music.  God knows we had a fantastic
time!  Even the weather was on our side.  Predicted rain/thunderstorms never happened... at least
the rain didn't come until Sunday and even then it didn't dampen the mood at Kew Gardens which
opened up to a sea of umbrellas and smiling faces.
Our gig in front of Scratch Danial's on Queen Street was incredible fun and this year we traded off
40 minute sets with Ray Montford and his band across the street in front of Gabby's.  Both Michael
and Ray generously introduced each other when it was time which gave the crowd a great sense of
community and had them coming back for more... and more.
Michael really got the crowd to participate, wandering out into the throng with mic in hand to
encourage a chorus... which was easy because they were already bopping to the music.  And there was
the group on the rooftop across the street which danced and waved all night long.  Shawn Kellerman
(guitar)  and Bill McCauley (keys) stunned the audiences with fired up solos while Gary Craig
(drums) and Steve Chadwick (bass) provided a totally musical and rock solid rhythm section.
On Sunday, Michael was a featured guest with Bill King and his Saturday Night Fish Fry and got up
and did a couple of tunes on the mainstage in Kew Gardens.  The crowd loved it!
The Beaches International Jazz Festival is one of the greatest events this city of Toronto has to
offer.  Hats off to Lido Chilelli (tireless festival producer and lover of the music), Bill King
(incredible jazz musician, story-teller, fan, and friend), and absolutely everyone who had anything
to do with the development, promotion, and maintenance of one of the world's best music festivals.
May it continue forever!
A special thanks to the management and staff of Scratch Danial's for their support, generosity, and
great spirit!

Louise
--
mailto:mail@michaelpickett.com
Mother Earth Management
Michael Pickett, Artist
http://www.michaelpickett.com
Wooden Teeth Records
Festival Distribution Inc.
http://www.festival.bc.ca
--
"'CONVERSATION WITH THE BLUES'  ... transcend[s] the urban blues idiom... "  BILLBOARD MAGAZINE


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