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News​

"Without The Past , There Is No Future" 2017

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The Evolution of Jazz Ensemble and Archie Alleyne Scholarship Fund with the support of the Toronto Arts Council presented "Without The Past, There Is No Future" Concert Series with the main event taking place at Lula Lounge Feb, 16th 2017 featuring Kollage and special guests Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley, Special thanks to all who attended.

Photos From The Archie Alleyne Scholarship Fund Fall Jazz Series at the Paintbox Bistro

Nov 11th & Nov 24th, 2016

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The Archie Alleyne Scholarship Fund with the support of  The Toronto Arts Council, Asylum Artists and G-THREE Music hosted the "Without The Past, There Is No Future" Fall Jazz Series at the Paintbox Bistro November 11th and 24th 

featuring The EOJ Ensemble with vocalists  Kamil Andre´ and 2013 AASF Scholarship Recipient Aijia Waithe.

We would like to thank everyone who came out and supported the show .

If you would like to be added to our mailing list for upcoming shows please sign up to our mailing list 

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    Photos from the book launch of "Colour Me Jazz: The Archie Alleyne Story" 

                             November 7th, 2015 at Paintbox Bistro, Toronto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thank you for making Archie Alleyne's "Celebration of Life" a phenomenal success.

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The Alleyne family and the AASF would like to thank the numerous supporters and friends in our final farewell to Canadian jazz legend Archie Alleyne. Because of your attendance and unwavering support, you are helping exceptional young people to progress their musical talent, and retain the heritage and history of jazz music in Toronto. We thank you for being a part of this very special event, and for continuing Archie's legacy to give talent a chance! ‪#‎withoutthepastthereisnofuture‬

 

JUNE 9th, 2015

Canadian Jazz Legend Archie Alleyne Dies At Age 82

With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Canadian jazz pioneer Archie Alleyne, whose battle with prostate cancer ended yesterday, Monday, 8th June at 7:53 am.

The legendary self-taught drummer, who broke colour barriers in Toronto clubs in the 1940s, was 82. During his 60 plus year

music career, he became the "drummer-of-choice" for visiting jazz stars including Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Lester Young

and literally hundreds of Canadian jazz players and singers.

Born Archibald Alexander Alleyne on January 7, 1933 in Toronto, Ontario, Archie gained critical attention as the resident

drummer at the famous Town Tavern for more than a decade from 1955 to 1966.

He appeared in just about every club in the Toronto area: House of Hambourg, Cellar, 1st Floor, Colonial Tavern, Top O’ the

Senator, Montreal Bistro, George’s Spaghetti House and Bourbon Street. He also traveled all over the world with various artists,

appearing in Birdland, New York, The Blue Note in Chicago, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, festivals in Europe, and tours

in Egypt, Nigeria, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Italy and Brazil.

After an automobile accident in 1967, Archie put his music career on hold and ventured into the world of business. He partnered

with entrepreneur Howard Matthews, and former Toronto Argonauts stars Dave Mann and John Henry Jackson, to establish the

popular Underground Railroad Soul Food Restaurant in Toronto.

Throughout the mid-1980s he became an outspoken activist who vehemently protested the Canada Council exclusion of jazz

artists from funding, and successfully led a high profile lobby to ensure Black musicians were represented in the Toronto Jazz

Festival. In addition to his immense contributions, Archie co-founded Kollage, the contemporary hard bop sextet with the late

Doug Richardson in 1999. In 2001, he created the Evolution of Jazz Ensemble (EOJ) to provide mentorship and performance

opportunities for young, primarily African-Canadian students graduating from post-secondary music programs.

By 2003, he established the Archie Alleyne Scholarship Fund (AASF) a not-for-profit organization to recognize and encourage

academic excellence in jazz studies. At the end of 2011, he received the highest civilian recognition in the country, as a Member

of the Order of Canada. He was also awarded the 2015 Harry Jerome Lifetime Achievement Award.

Archie is survived by three daughters (Tyyra, Trinaa and Tessama) two sons (Aaron and Ronnie) four step-children, eight

grandchildren (Jonah, Adrielle, Kayla, Robyn, Hyghly, Jenday, Nia, Kairi) a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and partner of many

years, Elvira Fernandes.

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