The West End Riverboat Band
September 5 @ 5:00 PM
John David Williams -clarinet
Ben Lee - Banjo
Chris Adriaanse - Bass.
No Reservations
Pay What You Can
The West End Riverboat Band have been performing together since 2017. The trio of musicians long steeped in various facets of Toronto's traditional jazz scenes first got together to make music inspired by the small ensemble recordings of the New Orleans “revival” era musicians. Since their beginnings they've branched out to include a diverse and unique repertoire spanning the last 200 years, drawing tunes from Brazilian choro to klezmer, country ballads to Chopin; and ultimately, transmuting these tunes through their stompin’ high energy take on traditional jazz style.
The West End Riverboat Band have released two albums: “May 25, 2018” (2018) recorded live at Grossman’s Tavern on Friday afternoon, and “Sidewalk Blues” (2022) recorded live at Legion Hall Branch 344.
They have played jazz festivals, folk festivals, swing dances, bars, weddings, street parties and community celebrations. They perform as a trio, or occasionally, as an expanded band with 4-6 members.
Benson Lee, banjo, has played in Toronto’s jazz and blues communities since 2013, including a weekly residency with Toronto’s New Orleans jazz legacy band the Happy Pals and guest spots with celebrated New Orleans jazz musicians Dr. Michael White and Gregg Stafford.
John David Williams plays a variety of traditions on the clarinet and can be heard on Juno-nominated and Canadian Folk Music Award winning albums. He’s been a member of the Boxcar Boys, Jaron Freeman-Fox and the Opposite of Everything, Lemon Bucket Orchestra and Vinta.
Chris Adriaanse has been a busy bassist in Toronto jazz for over 10 years. He can be seen in clubs most nights playing in many different styles of jazz, world folk and pop music. He has toured across Europe and North America and appears on many recordings with artists such as Tia Brazda, Doug Tielli, Simone Morris, Delta Will, Tom Richards’ ‘The Big Butter and Men’, and his own group, Astrosurf.