Sanya and Philippe’s love-child, Christie Pits Jams, happens every Wednesday at 7 on the south-side of Christie Pits Park. Already a landmark of the park and a cherished aspect of its community, the Jams provide a spontaneous stage for musicians and music lovers to enjoy the summer in the presence of improvised tunes. With its growing presence and community, the Jams even made its way onto BlogTO and Global News (you can find the article on Jams here.) Originating in the second summer of the pandemic, the Jams provided a collective space for musicians to gather and enjoy their craft. If the weather is warm and there is no rain, be sure to check out the Jams during the summer months for a fresh wave of sonic treats.
Excerpts from the BlogTO article:
“What started out as a Kijiji ad soon turned into a summer tradition for Christie Pits Jams, a Toronto music duo hosting live jam sessions at the park every week. Anyone who stops by, whether a singer or an instrument player, is welcome to join the group spontaneously. All of their jams are improvised, with up to six different people joining in at one time.”
“Playing instruments at the park, they quickly caught the attention of neighbours in the area, who began showing up regularly on Wednesday evenings to watch the duo perform. Every week since then, Kwon takes about 20 minutes to push over a cart filled with his drumming gear in order to get to the park and play. ”
“By the end of the summer, up to 100 people were coming out, a mix of families, kids and people on dates would join around Christie Pits Jams to listen in on their music sessions. Christie Pits Jams has made a huge impact on the community, with some people coming up and saying how their music helped to turn around a bad day for them.”
“One of the regulars who came to watch the musicians perform was a mother with a five-year-old son, who became fascinated with the way Kwon played his drums. He loved watching Kwon play so much that his mother ended up buying a mini drum set for him, so he could be just like Kwon.”