Billy’s Band Presents “Being Tom Waits” / Opens by Era Chorna

Direct from Russia: Billy’s Band Comes Back to the

TD Toronto Jazz Festival!

Toronto – The TD Toronto Jazz Festival and Show One Productions is pleased to announce the return of Billy’s Band, as it plays the The Mod Club, Sunday, June 27. A Tom-Waits influenced-romantic-alco-jazz quartet from St. Petersburg, Russia, Billy’s Band hits the road this summer with stops in the USA and Canada. To purchase tickets call Ticketmaster at 416.870.8000 or www.ticketmaster.ca

After a number of triumphant gigs in 2006 and 2008 in Rochester, New York and Toronto, Ontario, they are coming back this June. The North American Tour starts on June 11, 2010 at the Rochester Jazz Festival and continues to New York, Pennsylvania, Montreal and Hamilton, with the tour concluding at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival.

The music of Billy’s Band is a perfect combination of English and Russian jazz and blues, Slavonic Leeds, rock ballads and sporadic beats of the enigmatic Russian soul. The lead singer/bassist (yes, it is a bassist leading the ship) Billy Novik, has a voice that can only be compared to Louis Armstrong and Tom Waits.  Andrey Ryzhik , Anton Matezius, and Mikhail Zhydkikh round-out Billy’s Band.

The Billy’s Band musicians call their style Funeral Dixieland with an Infinite Happy End; a perfect blend of cover versions of Tom Waits’ songs, author’s compositions, American Gothic, personal life experiences, stories told by friends and urban mythology. More information on Billy’s Band at www.billysband.ru

Opening for Billy’s Band will be Era Chorna, the new sensational singer-songwriter who presented her first album, Sweet Minds, at Toronto’s Lula Lounge last October. With a deep, rich yet soothing voice that has clear jazz and opera influences, Era will perform original compositions influenced by Nina Simone. www.musicandera.com

2010 Summer Tour Schedule includes:

June 11 & 12 – Rochester, Rochester Jazz Festival

June 14 – New York, Sallivan Hall

June 19 – Jet Lag Festival, Pennsylvania

June 22 – Hamilton, Hamilton Place studio theatre

June 25 – Montreal, Montreal Jazz Festival, Rio Alcan Stage

June 27 – Toronto, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Mod Club

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival, celebrating its 24^th anniversary this year, runs from June 25 – July 4, 2010. Get ready to kick off summer as the city’s largest music festival presents free concerts and workshops, late night jam sessions and some of the biggest names in jazz. It is a musical celebration like no other!

For more information on the band or media requests please email to info@showoneproductions.ca