Library's month of jazz ends on a high note

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To say music filled the air Tuesday evening would not be an exaggeration as the Brockville Public Library swung with the jazz of Brockville hometown son Matthew O’Halloran and his trio.

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The final evening of the series of jazz performances offered by the Upper Canada Musicians Association (UCMA) throughout April, wrapped up on a high note as the audience had their cake and ate it too.

Over the five weeks the event saw its attendance burgeon to around a 100 from the initial first night’s 50.

Al Torrance, UCMA president and Music Performance Trust Fund MPTF local representative, served up pieces of scrumptious Tait’s cake, not only to thank supporters of the jazz evenings but to honour the 100th anniversary of the UCMA, whose charter was granted in April of 1924 by the American Federation of Musicians.

The Tuesday April jazz evenings were sponsored by the MPTF in association with the UCMA, bringing “$5,000 into the community,” Torrance said.

As part of the opening ceremonies, the final evening saw several dignitaries tipping their hats to congratulate the UCMA.

The final evening of jazz coincided with the final evening of the Brockville Music Festival.

“The two events, the final jazz night and the Stars of the Festival night coming together on the same evening was a happy coincidence,” said Torrance.

The coincidence afforded dignitaries a two-for-one call of duty.

MPP Steve Clark, and Michael Ford, Ontario’s minister of citizenship and multiculturalism, popped in on their way to the Stars of the Festival. Mayor Matt Wren was able to stay longer at the jazz before he and host, Torrance himself were called away to festival duties.

Featured musician Matthew O’Halloran was a 2016 Best-in-Festival winner for Piano at the Stars of the Festival.

“Mathew’s presence certainly gave the evening a full circle feel,” said Torrance.

Young O’Halloran is quite a star. The accomplished musician is only 20 and a recent graduate of the University of Toronto, recent being the day before, his mother, BCI teacher Jennifer Klatt, revealed.

The audience was genuinely taken, not only by the proficiency of the trio and the jazz pieces they played, but also by O’Halloran’s compositions. In particular, Big Rideau Lake, the home of his grandparents, evoked its subject beautifully. Indeed, a couple were moved to dance, a testament to the charm of the evening.

Though there were no dimmed lights or drinks on the table, it didn’t matter, no one was complaining. The library jazz evenings, all five, transcended the venue and a fanciful closing of the eyes may have taken you to the Village Gate or another legendary jazz establishment.

Attendees were not disappointed when Torrance said that he is in conversation with Brockville Public Library CEO, Geraldine Slark.

“Geraldine and I have been talking and we’re hoping to bring more jazz to the library,” he said.

“The concerts were wonderful,” said an appreciative attendee of all five nights, Anne Lusby. “I really hope there are more evenings like this in the future.”

Laura Julien, the library’s manager of customer service, noted: “It’s been very good for the library to be able to show the public what we have to offer as we’re no longer only about books.”

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