Request for Endorsement of Event for LLBO Purposes -

du Maurier Downtown Jazz Toronto 1998 (Downtown)

 The Toronto Community Council recommends that Council, for liquor licensing purposes, declare the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival taking place at various locations set out in the communication (April 17, 1998) from Ms. Patti Marshall from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 28, 1998 inclusive, to be an event of national and municipal significance and indicate that it has no objection to it taking place.

 The Toronto Community Council submits the following communication (April 17, 1998) from Patti Marshall, Director of Operations, du Maurier Downtown Jazz Toronto:

 On behalf of the Toronto Downtown Jazz Society, organizers of the du Maurier Downtown Jazz festival, I am formally requesting declaration of du Maurier Downtown Jazz 1998 as a special event of national significance. This declaration will enable me to apply to the LLBO for an extension of serving hours for the official host hotel of the festival for the duration of the festival. The 1998 festival dates are Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 28th.

 Once again the Toronto Colony Hotel on Chestnut Street is our host hotel. Out-of-town artists, media and visitors will be accommodated there and the media centre as well as, all festival operations will run from the hotel.

 For the past four years the festival=s official host hotel has, with city approval, operated a licenced, after-hours jam session from 1:00 am - 4:00 am in the hotel=s club. For three years it was the Judy Jazz Restaurant at the Holiday Inn On King and last year Dewey=s Lounge at the Toronto Colony Hotel assumed this role as official host hotel. With your approval we will apply for the extension of serving hours until 4:00 am for the duration of the festival.

 The festival has established a tradition of having an official late night spot where visiting and local musicians gather to jam and the host hotel is most accessible for the resident musicians. The after-hours jam sessions are a very important component in this overall festival experience and contribute to the success of the festival. They provide the opportunity for participating artists to socialize and perform together. Ordinarily, this is impossible since many artists perform until closing at other clubs. The jam sessions create a unique and spontaneous, special-event atmosphere. The international camaraderie makes the Toronto festival a special highlight for both visiting musicians and the general public. Everyone involved agreed that the jam sessions have been one of the great aspects of the festival.

 The mandate of the Toronto Downtown Jazz Society is to promote interest and awareness of jazz and to advance knowledge of jazz culture and tradition throughout Canada. The du Maurier Downtown Jazz festival is Toronto=s annual opportunity to grasp the attention of the world=s jazz fans, musicians, tourists, journalists and festival-goers.

 du Maurier Downtown Jazz has become one of the most successful summer music festivals in North America. 1997 was the 11th Anniversary celebration of the festival and was a huge success attracting over 600,000 people. This year more than 1600 of the finest performers from all over the world will entertain every day and night for ten days from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 28, 1998, in over 50 venues including concert halls, indoor and outdoor stages, clubs, lounges, restaurants, hotels, and in the streets of Toronto.

 Each year the festival surpasses its reputation for excellence and receives more international attention from media and visitors. Since 1987 it has been proud of its commitment to show casing leading-edge Canadian jazz artists from Toronto and nationwide. Impressive outdoor stages treat crowds to free and ticketed performances featuring all styles of jazz including blues, gospel, traditional, bebop, avant garde, Latin jazz, worldbeat and more.

 Toronto is renowned as a clean safe and cosmopolitan city. Visitors come from around the world to experience the jazz festival in one of the world=s truly great cities. 1600 performers, many journalists, media representatives, and over 600,000 listeners make beautiful downtown Toronto their destination every year to enjoy this celebration of music. Most festival venues are centrally located in downtown Toronto within easy walking distance of each other. Most free concert times are staggered to allow visitors to walk between locations.

 From the unique du Maurier Stage marquee located at the corner of King and John Streets ... to Harbourfront Centre situated on Lake Ontario ... to the elegant concert venues of Roy Thomson and Massey Halls ... from the outdoor stage at Nathan Phillips Square with views of Toronto=s old and new City Halls ... to the dozens of popular night clubs and restaurants where culinary delights abound and interesting people mingle. Free concerts daily, ticketed shows featuring today=s hottest jazz stars, free jazz film screenings, workshops and dozens of jazz nightclubs, parades, art and photography displays and even theatre performances. It=s all part of the du Maurier Downtown Jazz festival experience.

 The general public and jazz audiences benefit the most from the festival. The free, outdoor stage focus of the event makes it possible for everyone to be exposed to the music and jazz fans are in their element. The essence of the festival is democratic and accessible - the curious bystander, delightfully surprised tourist, or the committed jazz enthusiast all have equal opportunity to enjoy the music that enlivens Metro Toronto.

 Not only the artists and audiences benefit from the festival activity. Benefits are recognized by clubs, restaurants, venues, record labels, tourism industry, retailers, media organizations, community, regional and national publications, the hospitality industry, etc. etc. The positive effect on the musical form and its impact on public consciousness cannot be measured. There is undeniably a major benefit derived by artists, record companies and agencies to both the increased interest in the music, the networking and information sharing that occurs through the festival and the appreciation of the work of many talented artists who might otherwise remain unknown or under-recognized. Since 1987 festival organizers have been presenting jazz enthusiasts with thousands of the world=s best performances.

 I hope you will contribute to the success of du Maurier Downtown Jazz 1998 by declaring the festival an event of national significance.

 Thank you for your assistance and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or require further information.