Those who haven't picked up their July copy of Mosaic are missing lots of info on jazz and other cultural dates around the area. Here's my contribution for those out of the region:

Another big band dance was enjoyed by about five hundred people in Owen Sound recently when the Artie Shaw Band played at the Bayshore Centre. This, the second year Macarmill Productions has brought in big dance bands, was not as well attended as last year's event when the Glenn Miller Orchestra kept almost a thousand attendees swinging and swaying in the cavernous arena.

Some opined that the event was too crowded last year, with lineups for food and drink, together with no reserved seating given as reasons many did not attend this year's big dance. Promoters, however, had fixed many birth pang problems and few beefs were heard at this year's nostalgic glimpse of another time for some of us.

Opening band warmup pleased the crowd; applauding after each dance. Local group Parsons & Brown and friends got the evening off to a good start with creative renditions of standards played by Fred Parsons, keyboard, Dave Brown, drums, Pete Rissi, trombone and Dave McGrath, trumpet.

All seats were reserved, a welcome change avoiding last year's long lineup at the entrance. Food service was excellent and offered many delightful morsels from four different local food purveyors. With curries and caesar salad, cream puffs and carrot cake, dancers recharged their energies swiftly and satisfyingly.

July begins a veritable cornucopia of outdoor jazz events beginning with our favourite Jazz By The Bay Sunday concerts beside Georgian Bay in Thornbury. We often meet friends to enjoy a picnic in the Bayview Park, then settle down, with several hundred others who bring lawn chairs, and listen to this popular series from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Here's the lineup:

July 6 The Encore Band
July 13 Louis Lefaive and the Kings of Swing
July 20 Howlin' Dog Vintage Jazz Band
July 27 Return Trip "Tribute to the Sixties"
August 3 Georgian Sound Big Band

Thanks to Blue Mountain Chamber of Commerce for staging these free concerts as well as maintaining a web site listing area jazz events at http://www.jazzbythebay.ca

Owen Sound has great happenings in various locations including Quattro+one at the city's Great Garage Sale in front of city hall, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on July 5. Another free concert is on July 27 at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm beside the Marine Museum on 1st Avenue West. Billed as Parsons & Brown meets Hoplgate & Menkal the concert is part of a Harbour Lights Series.

The scenic city also is the locale for the 146th annual Emancipation Celebration Festival weekend, a three day event to remember those who travelled the Underground Railway from slavery to freedom. Music ranges from soul, r & b, jazz and gospel. Friday, August 1st at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Grey Roots Museum; Saturday, August 2nd 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Harrrison Park and Sunday, August 3rd at 11:00 am to 1:30 pm at British Methodist Episcopalian Church.

Much more on this event taking place in Owen Sound, the Underground Railway's most northerly safe haven for escaped slaves, can be seen on http://www.osblackhistory.com and http://www.greyroots.com

Collingwood's free concerts begin in July with Jazz at the Station on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. First one on July 2 is at The Station Museum, all the others are scheduled for the Collingwood Museum. Bring a lawn chair.

July 2 Sploink
July 9 Fig Leaf Jazz Band
July 16 Johannes Linstead Group
July 12 Russ Strathdee Band
July 30 Take 3+1

Performing Arts of Saugeen Shores offering this month for Friday Dinner Jazz is on July 25, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Saugeen Golf and Country Club's Terrace Restaurant, Port Elgin is the place with Charlie Bell, Mike Grace and Friends entertaining diners with a Feast of Standards. $10 Pass Tickets are available at Cathy's Fflowers & Treasures, Port Elgin 519-832-6362 and Bayberry's Flowers, Southampton 519-797-9945. Restaurant reservations for dinner 519-389-4514.

Also in Port Elgin on July 27, Stardust Big Band offers a free concert 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Emmet McGreath Bandshell.

Dunsmoor Park in Kincardine is the scene for a Lighthouse Swing Band free concert on July 30 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Lighthouse Swing Band is also part of Jazz in the Park summer series at Wasaga Beach. The free concerts are on Tuesdays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm with the musicians in the gazebo beside the Rec Plex on Moseley Street.

July 8 Ragweed Jazz Band
July 15 Georgian Sound Big Band
July 22 Sandy Faux Quintet
July 29 Lighthouse Swing Band

As the number of jazz venues expand to include several restaurants, it's best to check often for the full lineup as well as other information at http://www.jazzbythebay.ca . Or, for a free newsletter, send an email to tomlewis@jazzbythebay.ca