Masterclass Series
Sponsored by the David Rubel Realtor Team
Please note that there will be no masterclass on February 16th or 23rd, 2024.
January 19, 2024
Nick Adema leads an Amsterdam group that challenges the notions of our urban cityscape, yearning for a pragmatic future. Original in nature, the compositions offer moments of consistent dissonance, uniform chaos and melodic clarity. Inspired by the climate of contemporary creative music, Nick has blended a series of compositions that is predicated on a frenzy of rhythmic and melodic questions.
This ensemble created there debut album recording in October 2023 in Wisselord studios which featured critically acclaimed saxophonist Noah Preminger (which is set to be released in Fall 2024); alongside their Canada wide tour which debuts shows in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Gatineau, Guelph, Toronto, Montreal, with masterclasses at the University of Toronto, Capilano University and Long and McQuade.
January 26, 2024
Joseph Shabason is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and recording artist. After graduating as a saxophone major from the University of Toronto Jazz Performance program in 2006 he went on to play and tour in the bands Destroyer, The War On Drugs, Andre Ethier and DIANA. Two albums that he has recorded on (Kaputt and Poison Season) have been Short-listed for the Polaris Music Prize and the self-titled album from his own band DIANA was long-listed for the Polaris Prize. Kaputt was voted the No. 2 album of the year by Pitchfork Media and Poison Season was nominated for a JUNO Award in 2015.
Alongside touring and playing in original projects Joseph composes for film, television and commercials. He has scored docs for Hot Docs as well as scored Yung Chang’s documentary Omega Man that aired on TSN. Joseph has written the music for the Mirimax feature Silent Retreat as well as the short Melinda’s Wish starring BJ Novak, Amy Okuda and Bobby Moynihan. He also composed all the original music on the popular CBC podcasts Front Burner and Pop Chat.
As a session player and arranger Joseph has recorded saxophone, flute and keyboard for The War On Drugs, Rodney Graham, Austra, Sandro Perri, Andre Ethier, Jill Barber, Hannah Georgas, The Born Ruffians, Allie X, Matt Barber, The Fembots and many more.
Under his own name he has released the albums Aytche, Anne and Anne EP on Western Vinyl. He has released the records Muldrew with Ben Gunning (Seance Center) and Philadelphia with Shabason, Krgovich and Harris (Idee Fixe). Philadelphia was met with critical acclaim, and listed as one of the Top 50 albums of the year by FADER in 2020. His 4th solo album, The Fellowship is due out on Western Vinyl and Telephone Explosion in April of 2021.
February 2, 2024
LUKE SELLICK is a bassist, composer, teacher and recording artist. Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, Luke is now a mainstay on the NYC music scene, and bassist-of-choice of many preeminent jazz artists including Monty Alexander, Russell Malone, Benny Golson, and others.
Luke’s musical education began in Canada, where he was home-schooled, and then attended the University of Manitoba’s jazz program. In 2012 he moved to New York to pursue his Master’s degree at The Juilliard School, where he was mentored by legendary bassist Ron Carter. Luke received his ‘on-the-job’ training as a member of the Johnny O’Neal trio, with whom he performed weekly at NYC jazz clubs Smoke, Smalls and Mezzrow for several years.
In 2017 Luke released his debut album ALCHEMIST, followed by his CHRISTMAS EP. His latest project SMALL VACATION is a duo with guitarist Andrew Renfroe, featuring music by Neil Young, Tom Petty, Dolly Parton and others. He is currently based in Harlem, and has performed worldwide with artists including George Coleman, Houston Person, Kenny Barron, Jimmy Greene, Renee Rosnes, Ron Blake, Lewis Nash, Alina Engibaryan, Carl Allen, Peter Bernstein, Donald Vega, Mike LeDonne and a great many others.
In addition to his busy performance schedule, Luke is active as a teacher and clinician, and has worked with various colleges, private and public schools. He can also often be heard at his church in NYC, CityLight. His non-musical passions include hockey, aerial photography, canoeing and fishing. Luke’s musical philosophy is epitomized in the words of J.S. Bach, that “the end of all music is none other than glory of God and the refreshment of the spirit”.
February 9, 2024
Noam Lemish has never felt inclined to pick a lane. Maybe his hyphenated identity as an Israeli-American-Canadian has helped inspire his multiplicity and general disinclination to follow stylistic guidelines. Whatever the reason, over the course of two decades of intensive musical study and creation he’s always sought to expand the scope of his exploration, often blurring or ignoring deeply etched boundaries between genres, peoples, and traditions. He’s a jazz artist and a classical composer of chamber works, an improviser and an accompanist, an intrepid cross-cultural investigator and an interpreter of contemporary composition. He contains multitudes.
Based for the past decade in Toronto, where he’s on faculty at York University’s Department of Music as Assistant Professor and Jazz Area Coordinator, Lemish is best known for leading or co-leading several celebrated ensembles. The critically hailed 2018 album Pardes features the quartet he co-leads with guitarist and oud expert Amos Hoffman, a player on the forefront of the brilliant wave of Israeli musicians who swept over the New York scene in the 1990s. The project documents their singular repertoire, a gorgeous collection of arrangements based on songs that reflect the diverse nature of Israeli society. Some are drawn from liturgical or folk tunes from Middle Eastern and Central Asian Jewish traditions, “for example, centuries-old songs that are common in Yemenite or Moroccan Jewish communities,” Lemish says.
March 1, 2024
Founder of The David Rubel Realtor Team-Always In Your Corner. With a 20-year performance background in jazz saxophone that includes international touring for audiences of thousands, no one understands commitment, preparation, and attention to detail better than David. As an experienced educator in both one-on-one and group settings, David is an expert communicator and prides himself on his ability to relate to everyone. Modern, tech-savvy, and “Type-A”, David finds it very uncomfortable to leave messages unanswered - he usually responds quickly enough to cause people to wonder if he has any friends...
David’s approach to real estate is to be proactive, strategic, and communicative. His results speak for themselves, being in the Top 1% of the Toronto Real Estate Market.
Coaching and education are core values of David’s, leading him to launch the David Rubel Realtor Team. This allows him to share his knowledge with talented realtors, creating a team that upholds the same standards and a high level of service.
To David, nothing is more important than relationships. Clients experience a forward-thinking team that adapts quickly to market trends and is committed to achieving the desired results. They customize their approach to suit each client’s buying and selling needs.
In his spare time, he enjoys stand-up comedy, cooking, and combining those interests to make people laugh with their mouths full.
March 8th, 2024
The Harmolodics band was formed in 2018 by Benjamin Green as a tribute to the great improviser Ornette Coleman and has since grown into a redefinition and continuation of the idea and concept of harmolodics music.Utilizing electronics and and electro acoustic manipulation, the Harmolodics trio strives to push the boundaries of “the trio”.From meandering improvisational textures to soaring melodies, hard hitting grooves to tender explorations of emotion, the Harmolodics seek to convey real feeling, passion, and unabashed sonic freedom.
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Benjamin Green - Trumpet and electronics
Louis Jones III - drums
Benjamin Wood - Bass
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Learn more: https://harmolodics.org/
March 15th, 2024
Aline Homzy is an award-winning violinist and composer. Originally from Montreal, born to a Québécois mom and an American dad with Eastern-European roots, Aline’s original music reflects her culturally-diverse background.
Beyond composing music, Aline is a regular violinist in the studios of Toronto, recording other artists’ original music. Aline is seeked-out for her lightning-fast sight-reading skills, her deep knowledge of jazz and improvisation and her musicality and upbeat personality. Some artists that she has recorded for include David Occhipinti, Andrew Downing, Iskwé, The Weather Station, Amanda Tosoff and many more. She is also the leader of the string section for SymphRONica (2019 Juno-nominated), Maurizio Guarini’s “A Goblin’s Chamber Music”, De Bouche à oreille – série de spectacles francophone, and many other Toronto- based projects that record and perform in the city. Aline has also performed and/ or recorded with international artists such as Munir Hossn (Brazil), Emma Smith (Edinburgh), Jake Sherman (USA), Leah Michelle (USA), Ed Sheeran (Great Britain), Danilo Perez (Panama), Cho Yongwon (South Korea), Mikko Hildèn (Sweden), amongst others. Aline has performed in halls and venues such as Koerner Hall, Massey Hall, The Glenn Gould Studio, the Burdock, the Great Hall, various stages for the TD International Toronto Jazz Festival, Festival international de jazz de Montréal, Stockholm International jazz festival and many chamber-music and jazz-related concert series.
Lean more by visiting Aline's website:
March 22, 2024
Toronto based improviser Karen Ng can be found in many different projects across a wide range of music. She has performed with The Weather Station, Andy Shauf, Lido Pimienta, Luka Kuplowsky, Badge Époque Ensemble, Tim Baker, L CON, Happiness Project, and Do Make Say Think. Currently Karen is involved in several improvising ensembles in the city including Rob Clutton Trio, p2p, Kind Mind, Craig Dunsmuir and the Dun Dun Band, See Through 4 as well as various ad hoc duos, trio and quartets.
In 2015 she was awarded the Chalmers Professional Development Grant by the Ontario Arts Council to study with the saxophone section of the ICP Orchestra in Europe as well as the OAC National/International Residency grant in 2018 which took place in New York. In 2017 she was a finalist for the Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Artist award. Formerly a board member of the Somewhere There collective and Assistant Artistic/General Director of Guelph Jazz Festival from 2019-2022, she is the co-founder of TONE festival, and is Chair for the Music Gallery Board of Directors.
“Karen Ng has rapidly become a significant presence at the creative edges of Toronto jazz” Stuart Broomer - Whole Note Magazine
Interested in conducting a masterclass at U of T Jazz?
Please send an email to sam.little@mail.utoronto.ca