Historic Moments for Jazz Greats in Toronto
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Massey Hall was built in 1894 by architect Sidney Badgley with financing from Hart Massey of Massey-Harris (a farming equipment compnay). The debut concert was performed in mid-June of that year.
Nearly 40 years later, the Massey Foundation undertook renovations to the hall. And another 20 years later, in May 1953, Massey Hall became the home of the “greatest jazz concert in history” with band leaders and jazz legends coming together for a one-time performance.
Known for its accoustics and sight lines, Massey Hall has had some strutural maintenance but remains much unchanged since its rennovations in the early 1900’s.
Fred Goodman writes that, “ Jazz at Massey Hall
The performances also featured are “Hot House,” by Tadd Dameron, the Ellington standard “Perdido,” and “All the Things You Are.” Initially released on Debut Records, a label co-owned by Mingus and Roach, the sound quality is certainly of the time, but has benefited over the years from digital technology.”
It was May 15, 1953 and everyone’s attention was focused a world heavyweight tilt between Rocky Marciano and Jersey Joe Walcott.
At the same moment, tucked away in a half-filled Massey Hall in the clean, quiet downtown streets of Toronto, the Greatest Jazz Concert Ever was about to go on stage.
Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach, the principle architects of bebop jazz were about to play together for the first and last time.
It was a dazzling, once-in-a-lifetime show that because of a comedy of errors and bizarre missteps almost never happened.
Troubles started when Parker, Gillespie, Mingus, his wife, Roach, Powell and Powell's manager, Oscar Goodstein into whose care Powell had been released from a mental institute so he could play the concert, arrived in New York. Only five airline tickets had been booked, so Parker and Gillespie waited at the airport for a later flight.
Arriving late, to the half-empty hall, tensions were growing between the two leads. Reportedly neither Parker nor Gillespie wanted to go on stage, preferring to remain in their change rooms to watch the big fight. When they finally did go on, Parker played the show on a white, plastic horn.
The principle architects of bebop played together for the first and last time
There are two differing accounts. The concert was either recorded on the public address system or by Mingus with a backstage recorder. Either way the original recording was uneven with the bass at times fading out altogether. The concert has since been skillfully remastered and rereleased.
Finally, the lack of attendance meant the organizers hadn't raised enough money to pay the musicians at the end of the show.
Despite everything, the five musicians, without a rehearsal, gave an extraordinary, electric performance that went on to be known as the Greatest Jazz Concert Ever. The Quintet: Jazz at Massey Hall was the last recorded meeting of Parker and Gillespie.
2008 Marks a Significant Return to Toronto
Principals of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) initiated discussions in March 2007 to organize their annual conference in Toronto. In January 2008, the Association looks to repeat its successful event, returning after five years to one of the most diverse cities in the world.
