May 30 – June 1, 2025
Various Toronto Locations
Toronto’s jazz scene is getting a fresh spotlight with the debut of the JazzInToronto Community Celebration, a brand-new festival taking place May 30th, 31st and June 1st. This grassroots event will unfold across downtown Toronto and is dedicated to showcasing the city’s richly diverse musical talent. Produced by musicians Lina Welch and Ori Dagan—co-founders of JazzInToronto, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes live music—the festival is powered by a strong sense of community and cultural pride.
“Toronto is arguably one of the most vibrant cities in the world when it comes to musical diversity and talent,” says Artistic Director Ori Dagan. “The greatest challenge in curating this festival was narrowing it down—there are so many deserving local artists.”
Spanning genres from Swing and Bebop to Soul and R&B, the festival promises a dynamic line-up featuring both rising stars and established names.
Opening night on Friday, May 30 kicks off with free performances on Market Street, presented in partnership with the St. Lawrence Market District. At 5 pm, young sensation Trombone Charlotte, fresh from a tour of New Orleans, will launch the festival with a lively tribute to early jazz. She’ll be followed at 7 pm by Lady Son (Yeti Ajasin) leading an electrifying Afro-Cuban quartet. The night will wrap up with a Tap Dance Jazz Jam at C’est What, hosted by Cori Giannotta—a vibrant celebration of Toronto’s tap community.
Saturday’s highlights include a morning performance by the Ona Ensemble at The Rex Hotel. This Canadian-Brazilian chamber jazz group blends choro, samba and jazz with unique instrumentation. Later in the day, flamenco guitarist Roger Scannura will perform an intimate set at Liss Gallery in Yorkville. That evening, TD Music Hall at Massey Hall will host the festival’s flagship concert, Overjoyed: Celebrating 75 Years of Stevie Wonder, featuring pianist Michael Shand and an all-star band.
The festival concludes on Sunday, June 1, with a masterclass by pianist Mark Eisenman, followed by the album launch Alex Samaras Meets Judy Garland at The Rex. The finale, held at Jazz Bistro, will reunite Jane Bunnett and Marilyn Lerner for a rare performance of jazz classics, honouring nearly five decades of friendship and musical partnership.
