Archived Gigs

Kirk MacDonald – saxophone
Lorne Lofsky – guitar

This event is a FUNDRAISER for the 13th Annual Niagara Jazz Festival! Your support helps us continue bringing the transformative power of jazz and live music to our community through free community events, youth music education and mentorship programs, and opportunities for emerging artists. Every ticket, donation, and contribution helps keep music accessible, supports local artists, and inspires the next generation of musicians and music lovers. Together, we can keep jazz thriving in Niagara!

:: PAT LABARBERA – Tenor Saxophone  (JUNO award winner)

:: KIRK MACDONALD – Tenor Saxophone (Two-time JUNO Award winner)

:: BRIAN DICKINSON – Piano (Two-time JUNO Award winner)

:: TERRY CLARKE – Drums (Order of Canada recipient, JUNO Award winner, and five-time National Jazz Award winner)

:: NEIL SWAINSON – Upright Bass (Four-time JUNO Award-winner)

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Lorne Lofsky: guitar
Mike Downes: bass
Morgan Childs: drums

Experience a masterclass in cross-border jazz as acclaimed Canadian saxophone titan Kirk MacDonald—a multiple Juno Award winner and SOCAN Composer of the Year—teams up with Indianapolis’s own powerhouse saxophonist Rob Dixon, an Indy Jazz Fest Hall of Fame inductee and globally featured artist, for an unforgettable international quintet performance. Fusing rich post-bop harmonies, intricate original compositions, and burning dual-horn improvisations, this cross-border collaboration bridges the vibrant Canadian and American jazz traditions on one stage. Backed by a world-class rhythm section, two of modern jazz’s most formidable reedmen trade blistering solos and soul-stirring melodies in a powerful showcase of international artistry, virtuosity, and swing.

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Reg Schwager: guitar
Neil Swainson: bass
Joel Haynes: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Ted Quinlan: guitar
Peter Telford: bass
Terry Clarke: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Reg Schwager: guitar
Jon Maharaj: bass
Joel Haynes: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Rich Brown: electric bass
Ted Warren: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Mateo Mancuso: piano
Lorne Lofsky: guitar
Roberto Occhipinti: bass
Norbert Botos: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Jeff McLeod: organ
Ben Bishop: guitar
Morgan Childs: drums

Drummer, composer, arranger, bandleader, and WP Summer Workshop Artist in Residence Dennis Mackrel’s long list of performances and recordings includes work with Count Basie and His Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, the American Jazz Orchestra, the Carla Bley Very Large Band, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. His arrangements and compositions have been recorded by, among others, the Basie and Gillespie bands, the University of North Texas One O’clock Lab Band, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and on two Grammy-winning albums by the McCoy Tyner Big Band. Mackrel served as leader and conductor of the Count Basie Orchestra from 2010 to 2013. As an educator, he leads master classes, seminars, and workshops throughout the world and is currently Director of Jazz Studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Mackrel’s world-class jazz orchestra will cap off the week in resounding fashion!

Kirk MacDonald: tenor sax
Virginia MacDonald: clarinet
Mark Lewandowski: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Austrian percussionist Bernd Reiter, a driving force in the European scene and a cornerstone of the Canadian Jazz Collective, brings his world-class artistry to Jazz Forum Arts. Reiter leads his premier international ensemble with a foot-tapping swing and vibrant repertoire of originals and modern classics.

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Brian Dickinson: piano

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Pat LaBarbera: saxophone
Neil Swainson: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Neil Swainson: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Neil Swainson: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Neil Swainson: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Neil Swainson: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Neil Swainson: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Lorne Lofsky: guitar
Duncan Hopkins: bass
Terry Clarke: drums

John Coltrane Centennial Celebration

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Pat LaBarbera: saxophone
Brian Dickinson: piano
Neil Swainson: bass
Terry Clarke: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Virginia MacDonald: clarinet
Mark Lewandowski: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Jazz Brunch

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Lorne Lofsky: guitar

Derrick Gardner: trumpet
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Lorne Lofsky: guitar
Virginia MacDonald: clarinet
Brian Dickinson: piano
Mark Lewandowski: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Derrick Gardner: trumpet
Pat Collins: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
John Hasselback: trombone
Lisa Hasselback: piano
Joe Goehle: bass
Bernd Reiter: drums

Pat Bianchi: organ
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Bernd Reiter: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Pat Bianchi: organ
Bernd Reiter: drums

Pat Bianchi: Organ
Lorne Lofsky: Guitar
Kirk MacDonald: Saxophone
Bernd Reiter: Drums

This group combines some of the leading jazz improvisers of the day on their respective instruments.

After playing three shows in NYC the organ trio consisting of Pat Bianchi, Kirk MacDonald and Bernd Reiter will be joined by Lorne Lofsky in Peterborough before a final show in Toronto.

This group brings together four world class, award winning artists who are leading figures in the world of jazz. This promises to be a memorable and rare opportunity to hear four masters interact. Not to be missed!

For this show, tickets may be purchased by Interac e-Transfer.

To confirm your ticket, please send an email to confirm that seats are still available, then follow up with your donation by Interac e-Transfer. The cost per seat is $50.

Interac e-Transfer Email: MellowToneJazzProductions@gmail.com

Thank you for your support.

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Jeff McLeod: organ
Morgan Childs: drums

Pat Bianchi: organ
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Bernd Reiter: drums

Pat Bianchi: organ
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Bernd Reiter: drums

Don Naduriak: piano
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
band: tba

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Lorne Lofsky: guitar
Pat Collins: bass
Joel Haynes: drums

Andrew McAnsh: trumpet
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
band TBA

Valerie Lacombe: drums
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Mike Murley: saxophone
Jon Chapman: bass

Two nights

Valerie Lacombe: drums
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Mike Murley: saxophone
Jon Chapman: bass

Two nights

Valerie Lacombe: drums
Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Tara Davidson: saxophone
Jon Chapman: bass

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Steve Cole: guitar
Mark Dunn: bass
Mike Kawabe: drums

Kirk MacDonald – tenor saxophone
Robi Botos – piano
Mike Downes – bass
Norbert Botos – drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Pat LaBarbera: saxophone
Pat Collins: bass
Ted Warren: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Pat Labarbera: saxophone
Neil Swainson: bass
Terry Clarke: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Reg Schwager: guitar
Pat Collins: bass
Joel Haynes: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Brian Dickinson: piano

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
David Occhipinti: guitar
Mike Downes: bass
Morgan Childs: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Carl Winther: piano
Neil Swainson: bass
Anders Mogensen: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Carl Winther: piano

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Carl Winther: piano
Neil Swainson: bass
Anders Mogensen: drums

Canadian saxophonist Kirk MacDonald and Danish drummer Anders Mogenson will collaborate to create the MacDonald/Mogerson quartet with Copenhagen pianist Carl Winther and Toronto bassist Neil Swainson.

This group brings together four world class, award winning artists who are leading figures in their respective countries. This promises to be a memorable and rare opportunity to hear four masters interact in a program of original compositions and jazz standards. Not to be missed!

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Carl Winther: piano
Neil Swainson: bass
Anders Mogensen: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Adrean Farrugia: piano

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Mike Downes: bass
Ted Warren: drums

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Mark Eisenman: piano

Kirk MacDonald: saxophone
Pat LaBarbera: saxophone
Neil Swainson: bass
Terry Clarke: drums