A cluster of Dr. John fans - adorned in Mardi Gras beads and replicas of the colorful feathered headdress worn on his Locked Down album cover - waited impatiently, even howling at one point, for the second part of the Mavis Staples/Dr. John double bill. While they howled other fans snapped photos of the two skulls staring at the audience from the top of a black piano that silently announced that the "Night Tripper" would soon be in the building.

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The double bill of Mavis Staples and Dr. John was one of the most highly anticipated concerts of the 2013 TD Toronto Jazz Festival. It was a rare opportunity to see two venerable legends perform in one night. And it turned out to be a spectacular evening.

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I had never questioned my love of jazz. I never questioned my jazz preferences. I listened to it every day, and I simply enjoyed it, clumping it all together under the nonspecific label of jazz. But this year’s TD Toronto Jazz Festival has got me questioning what jazz is to me – and it is a thrilling experience.

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Last night, while most of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival’s audience was awaiting the arrival of either Smokey Robinson or Molly Johnson, a small crowd gathered inside a tiny venue at the corner of Richmond and Spadina. The audience emanated a palpable sense of anticipation that belied the number of attendees. This was a rare opportunity to see the ever reclusive Mary Margaret O’Hara, of Miss America fame (the album, not the pageant).

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A multi-faceted artist - song writing, design, performance art, to name a few - Maylee Todd stands out among singers whose careers are now built on ever morphing images and outrageous dress. Sly humour bubbling beneath the beauty and the style further distinguishes Todd from pop contemporaries.

Currently on tour — and prepping for her June 26th TD Toronto Jazz Festival performance — Todd took some time out to talk going solo, vagina costumes and the iconic Betty Davis.

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Congratulations to this year's winners of Jazz JUNOs - Test of Time by Murley, Bickcert & Wallace for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, Emilie-Claire Barlow for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year for her all-french Seule ce Soir and Joel Miller for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year (Swim!) Hamilton's Steve Strongman won Blues Album of the Year and Lorraine Klassen won the World Music category.

Toronto Downtown Jazz (TDJ) would like to congratulate violinist and composer Jaron Freeman-Fox on being one of three winners selected for the third annual TDJ Special Projects Initiative.

Earlier this week late night talk show host, David Letterman had Buddy Guy and Jose James on the show.

After much deliberation, our panel of judges have selected three projects to be part of the TDJ Special Projects Initiative.

Because it's the season of giving, we've got 10 CDS up for grabs!