Jewish Pop Stars of the 1970s Tribute Concert Featuring The Jordan Klapman Quintet: Mark Cassius (vocals); Sharon Smith (vocals); Ron Johnston (bass); John Collin (drums) and Jordan Klapman (keyboard) “Music and passion were always the fashion” wrote Barry Manilow in 1978 – timeless words for a decade of music filled with irresistible, feel-good chart-toppers that made us want to sing out loud. Whether you are a proud Neil Diamond fan, an admirer of Carly Simon’s fierce independence, or a self-admitted ‘schmaltzy’ song addict, this 1970s pop tribute concert is for you! So put on your dancing shoes, enjoy some Chanukah and holiday treats, and sing along to catchy hits such as Sweet Caroline, You’re So Vain, Copacabana, … and more! Held in the Al Green Theatre celebration of Chanukah and the winter holidays.

Thursday Dec 12 Concert: 1:00-2:30pm Reception: 2:30-3:30pm Al Green Theatre

This concert is sponsored in part by the Miles Nadal JCC Music Scholarship and Innovation Fund. Dessert reception is generously co-sponsored by Judy Rittersporn, with support from Grodzinksi Bakery.

Thank you to the Bernard Betel Centre for providing ticket subsidies,ensuring all who wish to attend may do so.

Don’t miss Jordan Klapman’s multi-access fall lecture series They Wrote the Songs: Jewish Pop Superstars of the 1970s – the perfect complement to this concert!

Jordan Klapman (keyboard) is a pianist, bandleader, music director, recording producer, and popular music educator. Since 1977, he has specialized in the performance of 20th century popular music, including ragtime, traditional jazz, Dixieland, 1920s/30s salon music, Big Band, The Great American Songbook, Broadway, and klezmer. He can be heard in music festivals, jazz clubs, concert halls, and theatres across Canada and beyond. Jordan has appeared at Roy Thomson Hall, Koerner Hall, Birdland in New York City, on CBC Radio and television, and as a radio show co-host on JazzFM with the late Jeff Healey. A very active silent film accompanist, Jordan frequently composes and performs his own retro-style scores for the classic dramas and comedies of the silent era. His CV includes dozens of performances at venues including The TIFF LightBox, Silent Sundays at The Revue Theatre, The Toronto Silent Film Festival, The University of Toronto Media Commons, The Vintage Film Festival, and The Toronto Jewish Film Festival. Jordan has also been a special guest performer at some of our larger MNjcc special events, including at our Chanukah and Valentine’s concerts and Jewish Music Week, and we are very pleased to welcome Jordan back for this in-person concert this fall! For more information, visit  http://www.jordanklapman.com/

Mark Cassius (vocals) is a singer/songwriter, dancer, actor and musician who has shared his gifts on cabaret, concert and theatrical stages around the globe. He is probably best known for his work with the world-renowned a cappella group, The Nylons from 1997 to 2005. During this time he sang baritone and penned some original pieces for the group.A musical theatre veteran, he has appeared on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar (reprising his Stratford Festival role), Ragtime (Toronto) and Shenandoah (Toronto and Broadway). Mark’s other Stratford credits include My One and Only and Oklahoma! He also held roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Elgin Theatre and Canadian tour) and Miss Saigon (Princess of Wales Theatre). He has been a Kiwanis Music Festival Adjudicator, a Musical and Vocal Director at Canada’s Wonderland, a singing coach in School Theatre Arts programs and Recording Studios across Canada and the United States. He has been a recurring Performance instructor at The Randolph College for the Performing Arts, for over eighteen years and also teaches Musical Theatre Performance courses at Sheridan College and Toronto Metropolitan University. Mark performed at last fall’s Jewish Pop Rocks 1960s tribute concert and we are delighted to welcome him back this fall.

John Collin (drummer) has over twenty years of drumming experience and has played with most of Toronto’s prominent Big Bands; an accomplished professional percussionist he specialises in jazz and swing genres. He attended the Jazz Program at Humber College and received further training with notable great Roger Flock. John has received airplay on Toronto’s premiere jazz radio station JazzFM91 and on international radio stations aw s well. He has performed with jazz legends Dave Pell and Pat LaBarbera, and at numerous Jazz Festivals across The GTA, Ontario, and beyond. He has been featured in online and print publications including the Jazz Music Archives. At the Miles Nadal JCC, John performed at our Rat Pack: Kings of Cool and Jewish Pop Rocks tribute concerts, and we are delighted to welcome him back!

Ron Johnston (bass) - Classically trained, Ron’s first love has always been Jazz. He has been professionally performing and recording, (locally and abroad), with a number of different groups since 1971. Ron has also appeared in numerous TV shows and Films as a musician extra, including being a main band member in the Oscar winning film “Chicago”. He was one of the original members of the well-known Hard Bop band “Kollage”, performing and recording with the group for their first nine years. Currently, Ron can be seen working with Juno award winner Bob DeAngelis, The Tanya Wills Quartet, Fifth Element, as well as freelancing with many other groups in the Toronto area. In addition to teaching privately, Ron is the bass instructor at the acclaimed St. Michael’s College School in Toronto. At the Miles Nadal JCC, Ron performed at our Rat Pack: Kings of Cool and Jewish Pop Rocks tribute concerts, and we are delighted to welcome him back!

Sharon Smith’s (vocals) musical career has included performances in musical theatre, nightclubs, family and corporate parties, radio and television commercials, live television appearances, and performing Jewish liturgical repertoire in synagogues. Sharon regularly performs Jewish Jazz and Jewish American Songbook concerts with Jordan Klapman and the Shelley Miller Band.