BY SIMONE J. SMITH

This is incredible. I could feel the music in my bones. This place had such a cool vibe. I could already feel the energy. I arrived at the perfect time. I had got just enough time to grab a drink before the show started. The lights were dim, and the crowd cheered as the band took the stage. The band started playing a slow, soulful tune. The music built gradually, layering complex rhythms with rich melodies. The music suddenly shifted into an upbeat, energetic groove. The way they blended the traditional jazz elements with electronic sounds… It was like nothing I had ever heard! This is why I love live music! You can’t replicate this feeling!

It was Thursday, August 15^th, 2024, and the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had been invited to My House (located at 2882 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M6P 1Y8) where they were proudly presenting National Jazz Award winners for “electric jazz group of the year”, the Brownman Electryc Trio, up from Brooklyn, NY and on tour in Ontario in August, and whom NPR (National Public Radio) in New York City has called “the new standard in electric-jazz”. I was here to enjoy a night of modern funkified jazz in the vintage majesty that is My House!

Imagine a charming venue that feels like a welcoming home, filled with a cozy ambiance that immediately puts guests at ease. The space is designed with an intimate, homely touch, featuring plush couches strategically placed around the room for comfortable seating and conversation. Soft, flickering candles are scattered throughout, casting a warm, gentle glow that dances on the walls, enhancing the venue’s serene and calming atmosphere.

There were long dinner tables, elegantly set with: fine china, glassware, and tasteful centerpieces, stretched across the room, inviting guests to gather for shared meals and engaging conversations. The lighting is subdued, with dim, overhead fixtures and soft, accent lighting that adds depth and warmth to the space. The overall atmosphere was both relaxed and sophisticated, making it a perfect setting for a night of electric jazz. So, who was I here to see?

Making a full-time living as a performing professional musician isn’t easy. Making a living as a musician in a niche genre like jazz can be even harder and making a living in jazz as a West Indian in a “small” market like Canada that is spread out over a massive land mass is just about the hardest of all. This is what makes Brownman Ali — a multi-award-winning Trinidadian-born: trumpeter, bandleader and composer — such a special case worthy of examination.

He has been awarded the: 2007: National Jazz Award “Electric Jazz Group of the Year”, 2011: Trinidad High Commission citation: “Distinguished National”, 2013, 2015, 2016: 3x Toronto Independent Music Award winner, 2014: International Independent Music Award winner, 2019: International Songwriting Competition finalist, 2023: International Songwriting Competition winner, and was a 2024: JUNO Award nominee

He has triumphantly forged a successful career in a field filled with obstacles and done it in an uncompromising fashion. He has done so by staying true to his vision of propagating his own brand of: funkified, exploratory modern jazz that amazingly builds novel entertainment from the seemingly antithetical building blocks of complex compositional, rhythmic, and improvisational structures.

His music is informed heavily by an urban music aesthetic— encompassing everything from hip hop and r&b to house, jungle and dubstep—which he readily acknowledges has often placed him outside jazz’s more polite and inoffensive mainstream. That of course is quite normal for Caribbean people. We are always adding our dash of spice to everything that we do.

For fans of jazz, the stylistic primogenitors of the Electryc Trio are easy to discern. First and foremost is the music of Miles Davis, especially from the period that began with the 1969 albums “In a Silent Way” and “Bitches Brew.” On Bitches Brew, Miles Davis took jazz music and altered its acoustic traditions towards the electrified and amplified sounds of contemporary funk and rock music. This included “electrifying” his horn through the use of various effects.

I was proud to be witnessing Brownman (born “Nick Ali”) and his Electryc Trio on a night in live performance. His performance is evidence of why this group has become such a crowd-pleasing draw over the last few years. Brownman’s preference for playing in smaller ensembles has dominated, and his talents as an improviser have grown stronger. The ensemble includes: Brownman Ali (electric trumpet and compositions), Josh Cohen (6-string electric bass), and Adam Mansfield (drums).

The combination of the three players is a sound that often seems greater than the sum of its parts. “I can’t believe there’s only three of them up there” is a comment frequently heard at BET shows. They achieve that illusion through sheer musicianship on the one hand, and clever use of electronic effects on the other. There is definitely a chemistry the trio has that can only be called astounding.

This is what live music was all about on August 15^th—pure connection. You can hear them on Spotify: www.Spotify.Browntasauras.com

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

When we reported a few months ago, about a situation at Jane and Finch where city planners were about to change the landscape from mall to living spaces omitting parking spaces in favor of bicycle racks, we were not joking.

In the Jane and Finch Mall article, the planners made sure to highlight the need for a lot of outdoor “parks-space”. They also mention that the focus was community-based with lots of room to walk around and bike to and from.

The family and community are always used as a scapegoat to bring about what is undoubtedly a sinister climate change agenda. Such is the case of a parking lot at Car Park 246 – 31 Blackthorn Avenue and a community church named Cornerstone Baptist Tabernacle in the same area.

The pitch here is that TPA aka Toronto Parking Authority will be decommissioning Car Park 246 and returning the lands in base condition to Parks, Forestry, and Recreation (PFR) for the creation of a new linear park under PFR’s management. TPA would exit the site and no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations.

There has been a request from local businesses, neighboring properties, and Cornerstone Baptist Tabernacle to maintain the existing Car Park for businesses and places of worship. Toronto Parking Authority plans to remove all existing fixtures from the property – including, but not limited to, light fixtures, payment machines, medallions, etc. TPA to cease all operations on site: enforcement, customer service, maintenance, payment collection, etc.

Even though Cornerstone Baptist Tabernacle has asked to assume maintenance responsibility it will cost them an estimated license cost: $1,575 (per month) – approximately and based on the current market rate. The church must confirm and negotiate with Hydro One (charitable discount applied). The church would be responsible for any license negotiations on an ongoing basis, as well as being responsible for all operations: enforcement, rate setting, payment collection, maintenance, etc.  Finally, they would be responsible for: maintaining insurance. All these requirements are still pending approval.

The Ward 9 community has collected signatures and petitioned the parking lot authorities, but judging from the reply they got, that could be falling on deaf ears. Davenport’s Councilor Alejandra Bravo said Hydro had provisions in place that would have allowed leasing by churches and other non-profits, but this was blocked because of plans that were there long before she took office.

Even after Reverend Patrick Reid and church members of Cornerstone Baptist Tabernacle highlighted the plight of elderly members who need easy access to the church, and members who are using walkers and canes, this seems not enough to change the dead set mindset that Toronto City Planners are on.

To wrap this up, let’s just look at what is taking place from a vehicular point of view worldwide. It is common knowledge that those in public office are pushing climate change and greenhouse gas agendas. For this to take hold all gasoline vehicles must slowly, but surely be retired. Readers, are you getting the picture yet?

The committee for Sidney Australia is announcing that it plans to end the sale of all gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2027, “If our city is to meet emission reduction goals.” Sounds familiar? The report is called Decarbonizing Sidney.

London England now has what is called the ULEZ or Ultra Low Emission Zone, which was first implemented in 2019 in central London. This scheme charged drivers 12 pounds 50, if their car was considered old like pre-2005, and as time goes by the scheme is being expanded to the whole of Greater London.

This gets worse. If you have a truck, or goods-carrying vehicle, you will have to pay 300 pounds per day to enter the greater London area. All this is designed to discourage driving, period.

Scotland is also into climate change and the clean air scam. While most citizens were busy being distracted over the last four years, compromised governments worldwide were busy introducing their new “Transport Act 2000” to get cars and most gasoline vehicles off the road. It is very simple, there is no need for parking spaces if there are no vehicles.

“Road User Charging Scheme Regulations 2013” is also one of the tools used to accomplish this fraud on vehicle owners, so do you think Canada will not participate? Do you think that a compromised council will disclose this information to you?

Do you know who is behind Agenda 21 and 30? If you are still wondering why these parking lots are being closed Reverend Reid, and community members, then consider this article your assignment. With Agenda 2021 and 2030 in hand, I suggest you follow the rubric carefully.

BY PAUL JUNOR

The release of findings from the important study entitled Improving Access to Mental Health Services Among Black Youth in Hamilton, Ontario will no doubt address a significant gap in the literature with respect to the mental health and well-being of BlackYouth.

The study was led by Dr. Ingrid Waldron (Professor of History, Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University) who along with a team of researchers, youth leaders and advisory committee members were able to obtain significant findings that were relevant to mental health care organizations not just Hamilton, but other cities where Black youth live. The authors of the study were: Ingrid Waldron, Patricial Ogba, David Green, Olusola Olasupo, Sarah Adjekum and Raika Bourmand.

The goal of the study was to improve the mental health and well-being of Black youth in Hamilton, as well as their access to mental health services and other supports by using the study day to inform mental health policy, services and programs in Hamilton.

The main research question was, What issues need to be considered in improving Black youth’s access to mental health services in Hamilton, Ontario? The objectives of the study were:

• To identify if and how discrimination impacts them mental health of Black youth in Hamilton
• To examine Black youth’s perceptions and beliefs about mental health services and help-seeking
• To learn about Black youth’s experiences accessing mental health services and other mental health initiatives
• To explore the factors that need to be considered in improving Black youths’ access to mental health services and other mental health initiatives

There were four additional research questions which include:

• How do perceptions that Black youth hold about mental illness influence their help-seeking?
• How have: race, culture, citizenship, status, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and disability impacted Black youth’s mental well-being?
• What personal, social, and economic factors shape Black youth’s experiences accessing mental health services in Hamilton?
• What are Black youth’s experiences accessing these services?

The sample analyzed was composed of 48 Black youth who live in the Hamilton area. They were diverse with respect to culture, citizenship, status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability and socioeconomic status. They were recruited through Youth Engagement Leads outreach efforts in collaboration with community–based organizations that serve Blacks as well as through referrals from leaders and others in the Hamilton area.

Some of the key findings of the study relate to the following:

• Navigating mental health and other services in Hamilton
• Participant highlighted the need to normalize seeking therapy, eliminate barriers, and provide culturally sensitive and inclusive services
• Reflection on services outside of Hamilton
• Positive experiences with culturally similar healthcare providers were noted, but finding such providers was challenging
• Making sense of mental health service
• Discrimination contributes to stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
• Experiences dealing with mental health in Hamilton
• Shame, lack of access to services, and feeling unwelcome were significant barriers
• constructing experiences with mental health
• Being Black can lead to low self-esteem and heartbreak due to societal attitudes

The following were two conclusions from the study:

• Multifaceted approach needed: Addressing systemic barrier and improving cultural competency is essential
• Inclusive mental health care: Hamilton must create a more inclusive and efficient health care system to support Black youth effectively, ensuring they receive timely and culturally sensitive care.

Some of the recommendations for improving access to mental health services among Black youth in Hamilton include:

• Increased awareness and education to foster openness, empowerment, and stigmatization
• Enhance service accessibility and affordability
• Community-based and culturally competent services
• Diverse and trained service providers
• Effective communications and outreach
• Stigma reduction and cultural engagement

The following are two specific Calls to Action:

• Immediate reforms: Implement targeted interventions and comprehensive reforms based on research data to address the mental health needs of Black youth
• Community engagement: Engage with Black youth and their families to understand their needs and create solutions

Anyone interested in learning about this study can access it from the McMaster University website:www.mcmaster.ca.