The very soul of jazz music lies in its improvisation; in tapping into the unknown with passion and courage. That is the reason Josh Grossman, Artistic Director of the Toronto Jazz Festival, has built a foothold in the musical world. Like jazz music, his career didn’t follow a straight melody. It explored and adapted!
Grossman never intended to lead one of Canada’s most iconic music festivals. “When I was in high school, I had an idea, maybe slightly not completely based in reality, about what being a jazz performer was all about,” he says. “I thought, well, that would be amazing. I’d just go out and play jazz in clubs and make a living that way.” But reality played its own tune and Grossman found contentment in other parts of the industry as well. “I was able to pursue the music in a way that I was fulfilled by the other things I was doing at the same time. So even though I chose not to solely focus on jazz performances my career, it still makes up part of my career and that’s very fulfilling to me,” he adds.
Grossman’s trumpet led him to the stage, before various crowds, but his curiosity pulled him behind the scenes. He worked with music schools, choirs, ensembles, and arts organizations, eventually building a keen understanding of how music is not centered to only performance but lives in opportunity and accessibility.
The moment that changed everything for him came rather unannounced: when the seat for the artistic director of the Jazz Festival became vacant. “I didn’t think much of it, but then two people that I respected immensely suggested that I really take a good look at this,” he recalls.
That beat, became a new tempo. Nearly a decade and a half later, he is still curating the Toronto Jazz Festival. The festival, now entering its 38th year, thrives not just because of its music, but because of Grossman’s philosophy that jazz is for everyone!
He has reshaped the festival’s footprint, concentrating it in Yorkville so attendees can flow from act to act like a moving soundtrack. He has introduced new talent and ensured that representation is not just a passing theme, but the foundation of the event.
For Grossman, the work is deeply personal. Having trained in and practised the music, he understands the demanding nature of the industry. He is committed to the quality of music being put on the stage and what each artist represents.
Challenges remain. Budgets shrink. The city grows noisier with competing events. But Grossman remains anchored by the music’s core lesson: stay flexible, stay open, and keep playing.“By the time the end of June rolls around, we just want people to come and experience it. Let’s all have an amazing experience that we can then grow on next year and the year after. This year is so much about putting on a great show and starting to build the momentum again for the future of this festival,” says Grossman as this year’s festival inches closer.
Josh Grossman isn’t just directing a festival. He’s composing a legacy, one soulful note at a time.
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