CONNECTED WORLD: A WINTER WORLD MUSIC CELEBRATION... VIRTUALLY!
The TD Niagara Jazz Festival presented CONNECTED WORLD: A Winter World Music Celebration on Sunday, December 20, 2020. The event was a full-day lineup of World Music performances, interactive workshops, food & beverage demonstrations, dance-alongs, sing-alongs, and fun for the whole family!
This was a FREE event and you can continue to enjoy the performances and workshops here on this page.
CLICK on the play icon to the left to view the promo video. CLICK on the individual artists to view their concerts!
Please enjoy!
*The festival would like to thank TD, Ontario Creates, the City of St. Catharines, and the Humeniuk Foundation and for funding this event.*
Support us in keeping music alive in Niagara and beyond by shopping with our CONNECTED WORLD business partners!
Amanda credits her longtime band for being a huge support to her career. “They are world class musicians who I feel lucky to play with. Each one contributes to our overall sound.” Her band features her long time guitarist and now-producer Kevin Laliberté, husband/bassist Drew Birston, and Cuban Canadians Rosendo “Chendy” Leon (percussion), Alexander Brown (trumpet), Osvaldo Rodriguez (violin) and Pablosky Rosales (tres).
Her songs have been selected for four Putumayo world music collections: Bossanova Around the World, Latin Dreamland, Cafe Latino and Mexico.
Career highlights include headlining the Blue Note jazz club in NYC, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the Pan American Games in Mexico and Canada. She has also been a guest recording and touring artist of award winning guitarist Jesse Cook. She has sold out Toronto’s Koerner Hall multiple times and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre and Winter Garden Theatre.
Amanda has been recognized with multiple nominations as Latin Jazz Artist of the Year (Canada’s National Jazz Awards) Best World Music Artist (Canadian Folk Music Awards) and won Best World Music Artist (Toronto Independent Music Awards).
Her albums have reached the top 10 of iTunes World Music charts. Amanda has worked as a radio host (launching Canada’s Latin Jazz program) TV personality (BRAVO Arts & Minds, Star TV!) and actress (including Designated Survivor, Regenesis and Suits).
She hosted Panamania during CBC’s coverage of the PanAm Games and the web series Ingredients for a Good Life, showcasing Mexico to Canadians. Ms. Martinez is a musical ambassador for SOS Children’s Villages Canada and was awarded Top 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians by the Hispanic Congress.
She is passionate about empowering artist entrepreneurs through her workshop series The Artist Office.
Amanda lives in Toronto with her husband and 3 young children. She holds a Master’s in International Business.
Amiri was born in Tehran, Iran where much of his youth was spent studying the santur, a 72-string hammer dulcimer that lies at the heart of Persian classical music. Classically trained, Amiri has always sought to explore the limits of his music, stretching beyond the constraints of classical thought. Arriving in Canada in 1996, Amiri found the ability to do just that while in residency at The Banff Centre for the Arts, a haven of inspiration to which he has returned many times. Since then, Amiri has worked extensively as a performer, composer, musical director and consultant for numerous Canadian dance and theatre companies, orchestras, concert series, and has considerable experience in film and television. While continuously exploring the limits of his music, Amir keeps coming back to the conclusion that there are none.
In an imaginary point in the Mediterranean, Ziryab, Fayrouz, Led Zeppelin and Chick Corea are dancing in unison, on a kaleidoscopic wave of harmonies in different languages, melodies and traditional rhythms. A soundscape which moves between mountains and cities, seas and deserts, ancient and modern in an intoxicating expression of positive energy.
In these strange times, with borders closed between cousins and siblings, Hamsa Hamsa, with its YalahVamos ethnic pop/rock, invites the listener to transcend borders and take a trip through a new sonoric universe.
Itamar's music holds a depth and sensitivity that touches listeners deeply.
It blends the delicateness of Middle Eastern music, the freedom found in jazz and the passion of flamenco, creating a unique sound all his own. Recipient of the 2014 ACUM Prize for Special Achievement in Jazz and the prestigious 2014 Landau Prize, Itamar Erez is an internationally renowned composer and guitarist who has shared the stage with such musicians as Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Jean-Louis Matinier, Zohar Fresco, and others.
Itamar has released 4 CDs so far, two with his quartet The Adama Ensemble: “Desert Song” (2006) & “Hommage” (2010), “New Dawn” (2013), is a duet collaboration with Yshai Afterman (percussion), with special guest Antonio Serrano (harmonica).
His most recent CD “Mi Alegria” was released in June 2019 with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and has received raving reviews, both nationally and internationally, including a nomination for the 2020 Instrumental Artist of the Year Award from the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Itamar performs internationally and gives workshops and masterclasses, teaching his unique approach to music and guitar playing.
In recent years, Itamar has performed in Canada, USA, Israel, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Austria, Cyprus, Israel, India, Tunisia, Hungary, Colombia & Surinam. Itamar made his Carnegie Hall (NY) debut Apr 2018 performing with the Omar Faruk Tekbilek Ensemble with Ara Dinjkian & Brian Keane as special guests.
Among the venues and festivals that Itamar played throughout his career were: Barbican Hall (London UK), Sydney Opera (Sydney, Australia), the Jerusalem Jazz Festival (Israel), Oman Opera House, The Megaron (Athens, Greece), Schauspiel Leipzig (Germany), Amsterdam Jewish Music Festival (Holland), the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall (NY), and others.
Between September 20th- October 15th 2019, Itamar toured in Europe with ‘Nacht Der Gitarren’. With him on stage were Lulo Reinhardt (Germany), Daniel Stelter (Germany), Yuliya Lonskaya (Belarus). Circa 20 shows were booked in venues in Germany, Holland and Austria. In 2022 Itamar will be performing at ‘JazzAhead’ Bremen (Germany) with his quartet.
Apart from his busy composing and touring life, Itamar is also teaching at the guitar, jazz and world music faculty at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School Of Music.
For more current info and getting in touch with Itamar please go the website:
Jamie Snider has been involved in traditional Canadian music since 1974, playing fiddle, guitar and recording with Figgy Duff, The Wonderful Grand Band, Red Island and Tip Splinter. Several of his songs including U.I.C., Evangeline, and The Babylon Mall have become Maritime standards. Truly a product of Canadian traditional music, he claims as his musical fathers, Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit of Newfoundland. Jamie recently played fiddle and sang in the 2018 Canadian documentary, “You Are Here: A Come From Away Story”. He remains active songwriting and recording. Recent CDs are Angels Row -2019 (solo) and New Socks from an Old Sweater- 2017 (with Neva Tesolin).
Neva Tesolin is a classically trained pianist from St. Catharines. She has enjoyed playing the accordion since 1998, and has performed and recorded with Stewed Roots and BroadBand. Living in the Niagara Region gave her many opportunities to perform as a soloist, a side player, and to teach music. A composer of classical suites, instrumentals and song, Neva currently is focusing on composing for solo piano. You can find her on YouTube.
The goals of Neema Children’s Choir are to provide Christian ministry and personal testimonies, to raise awareness of the problems faced by Uganda’s youth and to fundraise toward the goals of Neema Child Project.
Neema Children’s Choir first visited Canada in 2013 and again in 2015. With the help of Neema Child Project, they returned once every summer since 2015. The choir is directed by Pastor Daniel Mutibwa of Kingdom Child Project, our Ugandan implementing partner. They have spent entire summers dancing, singing and spreading God’s Light all over southern Ontario at schools, churches, markets, music festivals, community events, service clubs, private events and summer camps.
The choir members are orphaned and impoverished children aged 8 to 18 who are being raised by Pastor Francis Daniel Mutibwa and his wife Winifred Tumu Mutibwa of Kingdom Child Project. They represent hundreds of thousands of children in Uganda and millions more in the rest of Africa who have been orphaned due to the effects of AIDS, civil wars and under-developed social systems. The choir not only raises funds for themselves but for their brothers and sisters who remain back in Uganda and are supported by Kingdom Child Project.
Their messages are heartfelt and heartbreaking but also inspirational and motivational. Their energetic and impactful presentations have been well received by tens of thousands of Canadians to date. You can check out our social media pages for more behind the scenes looks into the Neema Children’s Choir.
In 1998, Kay Charles introduced the members of the youth group she was leading to steel pan music lessons offered by Patrick Nunes. They took to it like ducks to water. The youth named the group PK Hummingbird and met twice per week to learn steel pan music. In 2000, PK Hummingbird was invited to participate in the Niagara Folk Arts Festival. In 2018, PK Hummingbird is celebrating 20 years of offering free steel drum music lessons to youth and their families of the Niagara Region.
PK Hummingbird has been offering free music lessons to all youth of Niagara since 1998.
Some past performances:
Thorold Santa parade
Pelham Summerfest
Balls Falls Thanksgiving Festival
Fort Erie Friendship Festival
Chatham Market Days
Hamilton Easter Seals Regatta
Princess Detroit Caribbean Dinner Cruise
PK Hummingbird holds practice sessions in Thorold South. For more information, Google PK Hummingbird, new members are welcomed all year round.
Stepping into Valérie Ekoumè’s world will be one of the most interesting and fulfilling experience you may have.
In her colorful world, Love is King and Afropop is the music she chooses to express it. After Djaalé in 2015, her second opus “KWIN NA KINGUE” has been released in November 2017. In this new album, and with the help of Guy Nwogang, Valérie EKOUME digged deeper into her cameroonians roots, the result is Bikutsi or even Essèwè which are popular rhythms from Cameroun. So get ready to dance on original and meaningful songs mixed with Mangambeu or even Essèwè and welcome into her colorful world, where traditional music is a real base and love is the answer.
From a musician family, Valérie EKOUME is a French Cameroonian singer based in Paris. She grew up listening to various musical styles from congolese rumba, pop music artists (as Michael Jackson), to cameroonian Music. Singers like Miriam Makeba (Mama Africa) and Whitney Houston were, as she called them her virtual vocal coaches, as she learnt to sing with them. Her life took a different turn when in 2004, she started to actively worke with Manu DIBANGO in the Soul Makossa Gang. Touring with this great musician for 8 year, was for Valerie one most incredible experience of her life. In 2005, she joint the American School Of Modern Music, in Paris specialized in musician training where she stayed for 5 years. With many partnerships such as, ALAIN BARRIERE, MACEO PARKER, Courtney PINE, Papa WEMBA, MEIWAY, the singer belongs to this new multicultural generation and is influenced by it.
“Dipita Na Wélisanè” it means faith and perseverance in duala, those are words that perfectly describe Guy NWOGANG ‘s philosophy.
He was born in Cameroon, where music is more than an institution. As a young boy, he often skip school and went to the famous club “Le Madison” to listen and watch the drum guy play. Growing up, he developed more skills to the point of being noticed by local great musicians who will give him the opportunity to travel and perform on many great stages in Africa and abroad.
Wishing to improve himself even more, he decided at age of 22 to fly to France and integrate Christian Bourdon’s Akanga Music School, this was best decision ever since he started to work with internationally known artists as Manu DIBANGO, Stevie WONDER, Salif KEÏTA, Maceo PARKER, Pee Wee ELLIS, Papa WEMBA, Tony ALLEN, ASHA, Anne-Maris NZIE, Pierre AKENDENGUE, Magic System, Mc Solar, Djamel Laroussi, Les Nubians, Etienne Mbappè, Jean-Jacques Elanguè, Bens Bélinga, Claudine François, Philipoe Combelle, Mario Canonge, Buren Cirque, Brice Wassy, Moriba Koïta, Keiziah Jones, Charlotte Dipanda, Pablo Master, Les Berthes, Otoulbaka, Douleur, Nkodo Sitony, Ottou Marcelin Eboa Lotin, Kika, Meiway, only to name few.
Guy as several strings to his bow, not only he is a drummer but he is also known as a very gifted percussionist, able to speak the universal languages of percussions. This musician is in fact the author of two methods that teach the Cameroonians rhythms, “12/8 Accents” and “Cam Rhythms Air Lines”.
After touring all around the world, he is now willing to open a new chapter in his life as a composer and producer. The 18 may 2015, the album of the singer Valérie EKOUME, followed by the second one Kwin Na Kinguè on the 24 of November 2017 produced by him, came out, not to mention that all the percussions and drums were recorded in his studio.
"In this master class, I will be showing you the rhythm called 12/8, which is ternary. We are going to work on 3 accents in order for you to see how this ternary rhythm is close to the blues, as I even like to say they are cousins. So, don't hesitate to follow along, with your hands, feets or pants if you want. Please let me know if you have any questions, I will be available on my socials. Have fun!" - Guy Nwogang
"In this master class, I will be showing you the rhythm called 12/8, which is ternary. We are going to work on 3 accents in order for you to see how this ternary rhythm is close to the blues, as I even like to say they are cousins. So, don't hesitate to follow along, with your hands, feets or pants if you want. Please let me know if you have any questions, I will be available on my socials. Have fun!" - Guy Nwogang
Niagara Jazz Festival invites you to a magical session of bellydance with Doris Abadjian of Dancefit Canada. This workshop is a beginners guide to step by step instruction to shake, shimmy and explore the art of oriental dance. This workshop will introduce the basic movements of undulations, isolations, figure eights and will follow a short choreographed combo to dance together.
Dancefit Canada, established in 2011, with director Doris Abadjian, shares her passion and love for dance with all her dancers. For those as young as three to those young at heart at the age of 93, Dancefit is for everyone. The studio teaches ballet, tap, Jazz, Acro, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop as well as Bellydance and Salsa.
It is at Dancefit that we are able to find our inner voice and translate it through movement.
May the spirit of Christmas move you and bless you all as we welcome the new year, healthy, safe and always dancing.
Our Salsa workshop today is hosted by our wonderful dance instructors Laura Martinez and her partner Shadi Damaj. This dynamic duo have been a true asset to our team of instructors. Their Cuban style and rhythm make anyone want to join their fiesta.
Dancefit Canada, established in 2011, with director Doris Abadjian, shares her passion and love for dance with all her dancers. For those as young as three to those young at heart at the age of 93, Dancefit is for everyone. The studio teaches ballet, tap, Jazz, Acro, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop as well as Bellydance and Salsa.
It is at Dancefit that we are able to find our inner voice and translate it through movement.
May the spirit of Christmas move you and bless you all as we welcome the new year, healthy, safe and always dancing.
Ukelele Jam Session
Livestreamed from Niagara
Join the NOTL Ukesters for a sing-along and play-along Ukulele Jam. This jam was pre-recorded on Sunday, December 13, 2020. If you would like to join a LIVE jam with the NOTL Ukesters today (Dec 20) at 2:30, see their other workshop on our event page.
The NOTL Ukesters are a Niagara-based ukulele group that provides a forum for individual and group musical expression and contributing to the region through community service and outreach. The group meets every Sunday and plays through a set of jazz, pop, blues, country and variety of tunes from 1925 to the present. The set for the Niagara Jazz Festival CONNECTED WORLD Music Festival consists of 9 Beatles tunes and 5 Holiday tunes. See below for today’s song list the links to access the Zoom Jam and Song Sheets:
Song List:
Find the song sheets in our Dropbox (CLICK HERE). For Holiday tunes, scroll to and click on the "Holiday Tunes" folder.
Join the NOTL Ukesters for a Live Zoom Jam at 2:30-4:00 today, Sunday, December 20:
The NOTL Ukesters are a Niagara-based ukulele group that provides a forum for individual and group musical expression and contributing to the region through community service and outreach. The group meets every Sunday and plays through a set of jazz, pop, blues, country and variety of tunes from 1925 to the present. The set for the Niagara Jazz Festival CONNECTED WORLD Music Festival consists of 9 Beatles tunes and 5 Holiday tunes. See below for today’s song list the links to access the Zoom Jam and Song Sheets:
Song List:
Find the song sheets in our Dropbox (CLICK HERE). For Holiday tunes, scroll to and click on the "Holiday Tunes" folder.
Christmas is All Around
With a Little Help From My Friends
Eight Days a Week
All My Loving
From Me to You
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
And I Love Her
I Should Have Known Better
I’ll Follow the Sun
I’ve Just Seen a Face
Feliz Navidad
When I’m 64
Mele Kalikimaka
White Christmas
Spiced Rum Mojito with Christopher Smith
Livestreamed from Niagara
A traditional Cuban drink with a spiced twist! Follow along with Christopher Smith as he shows viewers how to mix this herb-infused cocktail.
Ingredients:
10 Mint Leaves
2oz Spiced Rum
1oz Simple Syrup
1 - 1.5 oz Lime Juice
Soda
Instructions:
Take mint, slap in hand then place in shaker and muddle.
Add rum, simple syrup and lime juice to shaker then top with ice.
Shake vigorously and pour into highball glass.
Garnish with lime wedge and sprig of mint.
For more food and drink recipes, visit our RECIPES page!
Smoky Jalapeño Margarita with Christopher Smith
Livestreamed from Niagara
Warm up your tastebuds with this spicy and smoky version of the classic margarita! Follow along with Christopher Smith as he shows viewers how to mix this herb-infused cocktail.
Ingredients:
2oz Tequila Blanco
1.5 oz Lime Juice
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
0.5 oz Cointreau
Instructions:
Rim glass with salt.
Put all ingredients in a shaker and fill with ice.
Shake vigorously and pour into glass.
Garnish with lime wedge.
For more food and drink recipes, visit our RECIPES page!
Canadian Hurricane with Christopher Smith
Livestreamed from Niagara
Recipe and photos courtesy of Grantham House
Enjoy a taste of summer with this fruity cocktail! Follow along with Christopher Smith as he shows viewers how to mix this colourful cocktail using Baron Samedi spirits.
Ingredients:
1.25oz Baron Samedi Rum
4oz Orange Juice
2oz Pineapple Juice
0.5oz Grenedine
Instructions:
Combine ingredients together in a cocktail shaker. Garnish with orange, lemon, and lime
For more food and drink recipes, visit our RECIPES page!
Whisky Rosemary Lemonade with Christopher Smith
Livestreamed from Niagara
Recipe and photos courtesy of Grantham House
When life gives you lemons, make a cocktail! Follow along with Christopher Smith as he shows viewers how to mix this herb-infused cocktail using Forty Creek spirits.
Ingredients:
1.25oz Forty Creek Rye Whisky
6oz house made lemonade (fresh squeezed lemon with cane sugar)
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
Instructions:
Muddle the rosemary with the whisky. Add lemonade, garnish with additional sprig of rosemary
For more food and drink recipes, visit our RECIPES page!
Brandy Milk Punch with Christopher Smith
Livestreamed from Niagara
Recipe and photo courtesy of Grantham House
Enjoy this creamy Crescent City classic! Follow along with Christopher Smith as he shows viewers how to mix this milky cocktail using Forty Creek spirits.
Ingredients:
2oz brandy
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
3 ice cubes
cracked ice
freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions:
In a cocktail shaker, combine the brandy, milk, and sugar with 3 ice cubes and shake until frothy, about one minute.
Strain into a double old-fashioned glass with cracked ice. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.
For more food and drink recipes, visit our RECIPES page!
P Pierre Brown Cooks
Meet Pamela Pierre Brown and family from New Orleans. Get to know them in this full video with recipes to boot! Pierre owns Gourmet Sacred Soul that hosts legendary dinners, caters, meal plans etc. and is part of one of the most musical families in the Crescent with her husband Leon Kid Chocolate and son Deuce Brown.
For more food and drink recipes, visit our RECIPES page!
Cajun Cooking with Comfort Kitchen
Livestreamed from Niagara
Enjoy the flavours of summer with this repeat performance of our Cajun Cooking Demo from our 2020 Summer MARDI GRAS Sessions series! Join Danielle Murray and Mary Comfort of Comfort Kitchen as they show us how to make Cajun shrimp and southern bread pudding at home to get ready for Mardi Gras day. This session will also feature New Orleans cocktails using spirits from our own local Forty Creek Distillery.
Recipes courtesy of Comfort Kitchen
Cajun Shrimp
Ingredients:
1 lb medium to large shrimp, peeled
3 TBSP Cajun seasoning
2 TBSP olive oil
Garlic Butter
½ cup butter, softened
3 cloves of garlic, minced
Mix together in a small food processor or by hand.
Instructions:
Mix together in a small food processor or by hand.
Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
This is an approximation for the home cook—but mostly use your common sense and trust your judgement. For a 13 x 8 or larger roasting pan with sides at least 3’ high.
Ingredients:
10-12 cups dried bread (2 loaves of day-old Italian bread or baguettes cut into 1-2 inch cubes and left out overnight to dry)
1 ½ cups sugar
1 T cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Pinch of salt
6 eggs
2 cups 10% Cream (half and half)
3 cups milk (we use homogenized)
1 tsp vanilla
1 -1 ½ cups raisins
Instructions:
Place dried bread cubes in the baking pan
Mix together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
In a very large bowl, whisk eggs, cream, milk, and vanilla. Add the sugar mixture to the cream and egg mixture and mix well.
Pour combination over the bread. Add raisins
Toss with your hands to make sure that the bread is evenly soaked and let sit for at least 1 hour or overnight in the fridge.
Bake at 350 for 45 min and drop to 300 for 15 minutes longer until set but not dry. Serve with whiskey sauce—and whipped cream—or ice cream.
Forty Creek Whiskey Sauce
Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup butter
½ cup heavy cream (35% whipping cream)
Pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 to 2 ounces Forty Creek Whiskey
Combine sugar, butter and cream in a heavy saucepan. Boil, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and Forty Creek Whiskey.
For more food and drink recipes, visit our RECIPES page!
