Big Band Exchange 2021

Big Band Exchange is Back!

Last year, in lieu of our music and dance festival Sunday Serenades, we brought you Big Band Exchange – an online video series where musicians and community members came together to exchange knowledge and ideas about the importance of music.

After a successful run, we are back this year with a new iteration that brings an even more impact straight to your screen. NYA invited tap dancer Travis Knights and Holla Jazz founder Natasha Powell, in dialogue with jazz singer Jenna Marie Pinard, to share their love for social dancing and their vision for a future where jazz and dance are reunited.

Tune in this Fall, starting November 18th, as we delve deep in four short video conversations with the artists on the following topics:

Episode 1 – The Contemporary Challenge: Striving Toward A New Identity

NYA is thrilled to launch the first episode of Big Band Exchange 2021! Episode 1, “The Contemporary Challenge: Striving Toward A New Identity” explores how jazz provides a blueprint for societal cohesion, celebrates individuality/authenticity, and promotes history and lineage.

Join Jenna Marie, Natasha Powell, and Travis Knights as they sit in conversation for improvised dialogues at Toronto’s own Lula Lounge, in between musical highlights showing how they honour the art of jazz! 

Episode 2 – Friends Don’t Let Friends Clap on 1 & 3: The Rules of The Game

After a fascinating Episode 1 that delved deep into striving toward a new identity in jazz, join Jenna Marie, Natasha Powell, and Travis Knights for BBX Episode 2, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Clap on 1 & 3: The Rules of The Game.” 

What are the rules to swing? Are there any? Who has been erased from the history of jazz? What can we improvise and bring to the classics? Join Jenna Marie, Natasha Powell, and Travis Knights in the Lula Lounge to explore these questions and more! You’ll gain insight on their knowledge through conversations in between musical breaks.

Episode 3 – Shout Out To The Mentors: The Gift of Passing It On

As we dive deeper into the future of Jazz today we’re taking it back in Episode 3 “Shout Out To The Mentors: The Gift of Passing It On.” Join us in the Lula Lounge as Jenna Marie, Natasha Powell, and Travis Knights show love to the elders!

In these conversations, with musical breaks in between, we learn that mentors don’t always mean major jazz influences but include all meaningful figures and experiences in between. Our artists will share how their influences helped to develop their practice today and how they bring their own artistic presence to these greats. 

Episode 4 – The Playlist: The Soundtrack of Our Lives

We’ve been able to see and hear where jazz is going, what the rules are and how we can bring our own spin, and lastly who has influenced the artform. In our final episode for BBX, “The Playlist: The Soundtrack of Our Lives” we explore the question “what are the songs that change(d) our lives?”

In episode 4 we’re back in the Lula Lounge with Jenna Marie, Natasha Powell, and Travis Knights as they engage in improvised conversations and performances to close out the series.

Travis Knights
Natasha Powell 
Jenna Marie     

Ewen Farncombe
Reknee Harrett
Lowell Whitty

Sophia Malbarosa
Mason Victoria

Simeon Taole  
Danielle Ungara

Fanny Martin

Melissa Foster

Dancer
Dancer
Vocalist

Piano
Double Bass
Drums

Lighting Assistant
Sound Recordist

Filmmaker (Cinematoscape)  Filmmaker(Cinematoscape)

Creative Producer (Art of Festivals)
Program & Outreach Director (North York Arts)

Jenna Marie Pinard

Advocats Big Band

Toronto All-Star Big Band