Amanda Tosoff

Amanda Tosoff is a B.C.-raised Toronto-based pianist, composer, and bandleader, with five albums to her credit. Along her fascinating career path, Amanda has performed with such internationally recognized artists as Ingrid Jensen, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Phil Dwyer, Christine Jensen, Brad Turner, Kelly Jefferson, and Jodi Proznick. She has also opened for jazz legends Bobby Hutcherson, Renee Rosnes, Oliver Jones, and Brazilian singer Luciana Souza, and her groups have recorded for CBC Radio programs Hot Air, Tonic, Jazz Beat, and Espace Musique’s series, Portraits Jazz.

Tosoff has earned critical kudos, the respect of her peers, and such prestigious awards as the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award at the 2007 Vancouver International Jazz Festival and the General Motors Grand Prix de Jazz at the 2009 Montréal Jazz Festival. In 2010, her quartet was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Banff Centre Winter Workshop, and in 2011 Tosoff received a Canada Council grant to live and study in New York City. Most recently, she was awarded a graduating scholarship – given out to promising graduatesÂ – after completing her Master’s degree from the University of Toronto.

Over the course of four earlier albums, Tosoff has established herself as one of the most exciting new talents on the Canadian jazz scene. On her latest release Words she takes an adventurous leap beyond the confines of conventional jazz. She has taken poems and lyrics that possess a personal resonance for her and framed them in original new compositions that utilize vocals for the first time (sung by highly-regarded singer Felicity Williams of such bands as Hobson’s Choice, Broken Social Scene, and Bahamas). The result is an eclectic collection that incorporates elements of pop, art song, classical, folk and jazz.

Tags

Album Review

Earth Voices by Dan Bilawsky
Very Well & Good by Edward Blanco

Radio

Album Review

Wait and See by Raul d'Gama Rose

July 13, 2009

Amanda Tosoff Quartet Wins the 2009 General Motors Grand Jazz Award

PRESS QUOTES

“Words is grand achievement just on its musical merits, but the key to this one is the poems turned to vocals, adding a new dimension to Tosoff's sound. The result is a musical reverie.”

– Words review by Mark Rheaume (CBC Radio)

“Words, Tosoff’s new album....Its very title warns jazz purists to expect they’re about to discover a whole lot more than jazz. That’s precisely what’s to be expected from emerging composers like Tosoff whose career, mostly lots of “straight ahead modern jazz” early on, has evolved. Words speaks vigorously about that evolution and about jazz’s evolution as well...The spirit of the young Joni Mitchell hovers protectively over the project, channelled by Williams’ crystalline singing of Tosoff’s high arching tunes”

– Words review by Peter Goddard (Toronto Star)

“With Words, she's raised and broadened her game, delivers lots of sonic beauty with an album that blurs pop, classical, folk and jazz..the disc's level of craft is very high, the music's very moving, and its talents deserve wider recognition.”

– Words review by Peter Hum (Ottawa Citizen)

“From Tosoff’s new disc Words the spirit of discovery takes them into musical adaptations of modern Canadian poets, including Edmonton’s Tim Bowling, plus one classic from Wordsworth

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Toronto

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

In addition to being a pianist and composer, Amanda Tosoff is a passionate educator. She is on faculty at the prestigious music program at Humber College, and has been a featured artist and clinician at various universities and conferences, including the 2020 Canadian Jazz Summit at the University of Manitoba. Amanda is also co-artistic director of online education organization, Music Arts Collective, alongside bassist Jodi Proznick and arts-administrator Francesca Fung. Amanda currently offers private lessons and group workshops online on a variety of topics, including theory, improvisation, and composition. All ages and levels welcome! Online lessons available through zoom. For more about private lessons and education visit: www.amandatosoff.com For online courses and webinars: www.musicartscollective.com