ABOUT
B-Jazzed was founded as a not-for-profit organization in March, 2017, upon a core vision of curating performances, promoting education, community engagement, and a respect for the various abilities and styles of jazz music and its musicians. In addition to conducting clinics, masterclasses, and sponsoring performances throughout the year, B-Jazzed is proud to have founded and host the annual World of Jazz Festival in Downtown Brampton. Annually,
B-Jazzed proudly hosts more than 100 events in Brampton, including weekly performances at the Brampton Golf Club, and monthly jam sessions at Keenan's Irish Pub in Milton & Brampton.
Joe Asensio- Executive Director
Joe Asensio is a leading realtor in Brampton, specializing in the downtown core and its surrounding areas. For over 40 years however, his real passion in life has been playing the saxophone. A lifelong Brampton resident, Joe was growing frustrated with the lack of performance opportunities in the downtown area for both hobbyists and professionals. By co-founding both B-Jazzed and the World of Jazz Festival in 2017, Joe made a commitment to instituting a regular schedule of music and jazz education in Brampton, as well as supporting this vision with funding and assistance from JN Realty. A true philanthropist, Joe’s motto is: “success is not what you achieve for yourself; it’s what you achieve for others that counts.”
Carmen Spada- Artistic Director
Carmen Spada is a pianist, accordionist, composer, arranger, vocalist, and educator, and is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, obtaining a dual major in Piano Performance (Jazz) and Jazz Composition. Although rooted in jazz music and possessing a wide-ranging skill set, Carmen is renowned for his stylistic fluency, upon which rests his career as a professional musician. His vision for programming artists and producing live performances are reflected in each B-Jazzed offering, in addition to those which have become staples in the community, including Jazz @ J. Red, Dinner Jazz at the Brampton Golf Club, Composers Workshop, and the very popular Sessions @ Studio 2. In May 2018, the City of Brampton recognized Carmen's efforts at B-Jazzed with an Arts Acclaim Citizens Award.
SIGNATURE EVENT
The World of Jazz Festival is the annual signature event for B-Jazzed, hosting more 100 musicians performing over two days, in Downtown Brampton. The definition of jazz is substantially different from its inception, and its disciplines in our present times are broad and evolving due to the global dissemination of the art form, as well as the cultural and socio-economic influences it has inherited in different parts of the world. It is ensembles who reflect these influences that are featured annually at the festival. This approach to programming also contributes to the festival title, World of Jazz: exposing the breadth of the art form with music and musicians from around the world.
The World of Jazz Festival extends an opportunity for local students, hobbyists, and professional musicians to perform across its various stages, as well as featuring Canadian and international jazz luminaries, such as Michael Kaeshammer, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Annually, the festival is supported by more than 20 sponsors, as well as a grant from the City of Brampton.
Click HERE to visit the World of Jazz Festival website for photos, videos, and more information.
Activate Downtown Brampton
CURRENT EVENTS
B-Jazzed, in partnership with the Downtown Brampton Business Improvement Area,
is curating the Activate Downtown Brampton Summer Music Series for the second year in a row!
Catch musicians of various styles and genres performing live on various patios and laneways in
Brampton's downtown core every Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
running from June 8 until September 30, FREE OF CHARGE!
Joe's Jazz Jam
To celebrate the success of the inaugural World of Jazz Festival on September 9, 2017, and stretching into the wee hours of the morning, Joe assembled over 20 musicians that night to hang out and jam at Wendel Clark's Classic Grill, right beside Garden Square. The musicians had fun, the establishment appreciated the extended hours, but most of all, the patrons stayed and begged for more music.
Thus, Joe's Jazz Jam was born, and currently enjoys a monthly residency at Keenan's Irish Pub,
on the first Saturday of every month at their Brampton location, and on the last Friday of every month at their Milton location. From 9pm-midnight, Continenza Jazz and the Frank Adriano Quartet swing through jazz standards and classic pop covers, welcoming nearly 10 guest musicians each jam.
Interested in sitting in?
Email frank@b-jazzed.ca to ensure your spot in Brampton.
Email z.continenza@gmail.com to claim your spot in Milton.
Click HERE for directions and photos.
Sessions @ Studio 2
The fourth season of the highly popular acoustic concert series, Sessions @ Studio 2, ran from November 2021 - March 2022.
Curated by B-Jazzed, and presented in partnership with the Rose Theatre, these concerts feature Canadian Jazz legends, JUNO & GRAMMY award winners, and some of the finest jazz musicians from the GTA, performing acoustic jazz concerts within the wonderful acoustics of Studio 2, an intimate, 100-seat performance space within the Rose Theatre.
The upcoming fifth season of performances to be announced shortly.
Click HERE for photos and videos of past concerts.
