Music
Our Favourite Toronto Bands
Toronto Lindy Hoppers rely on the large, vibrant community of Jazz musicians for the music that moves us. Here are just SOME of our favourite Toronto jazz bands.
Big Band
Martin Loomer & His Orange Devils One of Toronto swing dancers’ favourite band, Martin Loomer uses original and adapted charts by many of the great swing era bands like Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and others from the 1930’s to create an authentic, swing era feel.
Martin Loomer’s band has also been our ‘Toronto Celebrates World Lindy Hop Day’ feature band for the last few years.
Listen to Martin Loomer & His Orange Devils playing The Mooche at the Monarch Tavern.
A youthful band playing swing hits of the 1930s and 40s. You can often find them playing at special events, like the Toronto Jazz Festival or Swing Out to Victory.
Their finely tuned repertoire draws on the timeless appeal of the greats; Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw and arrangements by modern swing artists like The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Listen to the George Lake Big Band playing at the Dovercourt House “The Shim Sham Song” featuring Toronto Swing Dancers.
Formed in 1998, the 18-piece Toronto Jazz Orchestra is a classic Toronto big band, playing hits from the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Small Combo Swing
Roberta Hunt is one of Toronto Lindy Hop’s most popular current artists. You could often catch her band at the Dovercourt for Saturday Night Swing or inspiring creativity at dances and competitions at many workshop weekends.
Listen to Bertie and the Gents play C’est Magnifique at the 2013 Lindyworks Strictly Lindy Finals.
Although Alex Pangman grew up a couple of generations late to have sung with Teddy Wilson, the vibrant young vocalist is proud to be known as Canada’s Sweetheart of Swing. With pipes aplenty, Juno nominee Pangman possesses the requisite taste, talent and the historical knowledge of an avid record collector to breathe new life into the sturdy standards of the classic jazz era.
Check out Alex Pangman’s Video “Undecided” featuring some Toronto Lindy Hoppers
A Toronto favourite, Combo Royale plays New Orleans style jazz and even features some of Toronto Lindy Hop’s members!
Listen to Combo Royale play “St. James Infirmary” at the Gladstone Hotel.
Patrick Tevlin New Orleans Rhythm
New Orleans Party Music. See Patrick & his band perform at Saturday Night Swing at the Dovercourt House HERE.
The Happy Pals and the New Orleans Connection All-Stars
These two bands are made of a rotating line up of some of Toronto’s best jazz musicians. Be sure to catch them on Sundays at Grossman’s tavern.
Listen to the New Orleans Connection All-Stars Perform “New Orlean Connection” at Grossman’s Tavern.