Climax Story Since 1971 by Chris Daniels 

NOTES FOR TORONTO MUSICIANS’ ASSOCATION MEETING OCTOBER 21, 2022

It’s an honour to receive TMA’s Fifty Years Membership badge — one which I’d like to share with all the guys who’ve performed with the Co-op Climax Jazz Band since May 1971, when we began at Albert’s Hall in Toronto’s Ye Olde Brunswick House.

Climax joined the association in 1972, persuading owners Albert and Morris Nightingale to sign up (after a two-week strike by the band and our fans). We played six nights a week until moving on in 1974. 

Over the years we’ve performed at Canadian festivals, sporting, company, political and fund-raising events, hosted jazz stars at DJ’s Tavern in the Hydro Building, made many recordings, T.V. appearances and annual Moonlight Jazz cruises on the Trillium Ferry Boat. The Chick’N’Deli (now SmokeShow) has been our home base since 1983.

Toronto City Council helped put us on the world map by granting $5,000 towards sending Climax, Downchild, Cliff Bastien’s and Jim Galloway’s band to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1972. 

Climax chartered DC9s to perform and take fans to the festival from 1974 to 1984, leading to invitations to festivals in the U.S., Europe, the U.K., Japan and 20-plus jazz cruises to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska and up the Amazon to Manaus.

Thanks to TMA and federation staff for navigating our way through U.S. Homeland Security regulations to play multiple times at festivals in 28 U.S. states. 

We’ve made lots of friends representing Canada in our travels: OVER A MILLION MILES, 1.6 million kilometres. That’s why we like to call ourselves ‘Canada’s Jazz Ambassadors.’

Chris Daniels