Anthony D’Alessandro plays piano at Carmelina’s Restaurant in Markham for Jazzlicious. (Photos courtesy of Destination Marketing)
Sometimes an exceptional review doesn’t come from a music critic in a prestigious magazine or newspaper.
One such review came my way from a stranger in the bathroom of Carmelina’s Restaurant in Markham, Ontario, just minutes before the start of a Jazzlicious Winterfest show.
“Is this your first time seeing Anthony D’Alessandro’s band?” he asked, barely able to contain his excitement as I was about to exit the room.
“It is my first time seeing them live,” I replied.
“Well, you are in for a treat,” he said. “I saw these guys in Montreal and they were awesome. As soon as I learned that they were going to be at Jazzlicious I had to be here. Man, you’re going to love this show.”
It was nice to get the early review but, to be honest, there was no need for worry because I had never been to a Jazzlicious event that didn’t shred my senses. The festival is an innovative musical and culinary event that transforms selected restaurants into jazz venues. Music lovers can watch live performances by some of Canada’s most talented jazz artists, who play in restaurants featuring the city’s top chefs. It’s an excellent and unique concept that allows ticket-holders to blend their love of music and food. And the evening’s main event was the Anthony D’Alessandro Quartet featuring Benny Benack III.
Carmelina’s is promoted as a family-operated authentic Italian restaurant but on that night it might as well have been the world-famous New Orleans’ Preservation Hall.
The Anthony D’Alessandro Quartet featuring Benny Benack III on stage at Jazzlicious. Benack did a marvellous job playing the trumpet and singing Sinatra songs for an excited crowd. (Photo courtesy of Destination Marketing)
Dining Rooms Transform Into Concert Halls
D’Alessandro is a Canadian pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader, who has performed in jazz festivals around the world including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Teatro Nescafé de las Artes in Santiago, Chile, Smalls Jazz Club in New York City, and Koerner Hall in Toronto. His debut full-length album “Searchin’” (2024), featuring NYC-based trumpeter and vocal star Benack III, debuted to critical acclaim, being called an “uplifting and feel-good jazz record” by Paris Move, and a “gem of an album” by Jersey Jazz Magazine.
Benack is also a highly acclaimed star in his own right. He has headlined clubs and festivals around the world on the heels of his latest live album, “This Is The Life”, which has garnered thousands of streams and topped the JazzWeek Radio Charts. Rounding out the quartet are JUNO Award–winning drummer Ernesto Cervini and acclaimed bassist Jonathan Chapman, creating a powerhouse ensemble that blends impeccable musicianship with spontaneous, joyful chemistry.
Carmelina’s Restaurant serves authentic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine to diners in Markham, a suburban city located just north of Toronto. (Photo courtesy of Destination Marketing)
“It was an absolute joy to perform for the Markham Jazzlicious series! This was my first time performing at Jazzlicious as a bandleader and to be able to share music from my album City Lights with lovely sold-out crowds for four consecutive nights in Markham is truly a great honour and privilege,” D’Alessandro said. “It’s rare to be able to perform with the same band for multiple nights in the same city, so to be able to feel rooted in Markham for the week allowed us to relax as a band and really focus on the creation of the music. I was also so glad I could bring a jazz star, NYC based trumpeter/vocalist Benny Benack III to Markham for these shows — bringing an artist of his caliber to Markham wouldn’t be possible without such a well-run and well-supported series.”
D’Alessandro says that as a professional pianist there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that audiences do not see, but being on stage in front of warm and receptive audiences like we found in Markham night after night is truly the most exciting part of what they do.
Following a dinner of Bruschetta, Linguini Seafood with fresh fish, mussels, shrimps, scallops, calamari in a saffron tomato sauce, and a house tiramisu, we watched as the band took the stage. It was a wonder seeing D’Alessandro work his magic, his fingers were a blur as the piano shuddered with energy in his hands. At times I genuinely wondered whether a tap dancer—one who had somehow mastered all 88 keys—had crawled inside the instrument. The audience sat transfixed, in silent wonder, making every effort to will their ears to keep up with the speed of D’Alessandro’s whirling fingers.
Soon Benack III followed with a tribute to Sinatra. Voted the No. 2 Male Jazz Vocalist “Rising Star” in the August 2023 issue of “Downbeat Magazine”, Benack sang a beautiful tribute before thrilling the crowd with his trumpet.
Toronto-born singer-songwriter and actor Amanda Martinez performs at Tapagria during Markham’s jazz festival. (Photo courtesy of Destination Marketing)
In the GTA, Jazz Takes Centre Stage
But if the music was good, the stories were almost as entertaining. I loved how D’Alessandro spoke about the history of jazz, and some of the pianists who had played in the United States during Prohibition. He specifically mentioned “The Harlem Strut”, which was written and composed by the pioneering stride pianist and composer James P. Johnson in the early 1920s and is considered one of the earliest and most influential jazz piano solos. D’Alessandro also spoke about a few places he had personally visited, allowing him to walk in the shoes of some of the masters. It was interesting hearing how some of these masters were influencing outstanding musicians of today.
“The crowds we performed for each and every night were so enthusiastic and receptive to the music,” D’Alessandro said. “As a musician it is such a joy to see that the art we put out into the world is having a positive impact on our audience.”
The Anthony D’Alessandro Quartet wasn’t the only show that was sold out. Toronto-born singer-songwriter and actor Amanda Martinez, who has made a name for herself blending Latin rhythms, jazz, folk, and pop influences, performied at Tapagria, in a show curated by Yasmine Rez Kalla. Martinez explained that so much of her inspiration comes from Spain. “I went there for the first time before I switched from business to music and fell in love with the country, including the delicious food and tapas,” she said. “I was absolutely thrilled to perform in the city of Markham. I have performed multiple times in the city but not at such an intimate venue.”
Peter Cincotti released the music video for his single, “Made for Me”. (Photo courtesy of Destination Marketing)
Peter Cincotti and Divine Brown Add Star Power
MORE ABOUT JAZZLICIOUS
Website: jazzlicious.ca
Visit Markham: visitmarkham.ca
