This week photographer Sarah Blais stepped into Nathan Phillips Square to explore what some of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival performers wore to rock out on stage. She also got a chance to photograph jazz guitar legend George Benson (in case you’re not familiar, he’s won 10 Grammy Awards! 10!) while he performed, but wasn’t able to speak with him about his uniform on stage (he was a bit busy, being George Benson after all). If you get a chance, go check out the festival that runs until Sunday, July 1st. 

Treasa Levasseur has a funky attitude, and a uniform to match. She put out her first record in 2006, and continues to play, tour, and teach folk, rhythm & blues, and funk. No matter what, Treasa always packs a ton of dresses for her performances. She’ll never wear jeans on stage, only vintage dresses and her favourite red boots (that match her keyboard!).  Her favourite place to shop vintage is Roncesvalles favourite Stella Luna, where the prices are “exceptional” and the selection top notch. The thick linen, strapless patterned dress she wears in the photographs was a gift from her husband and is a vintage piece dating back to the mid-60s. What did she eat for diner that day? Baby back ribs with a pear and walnut salad from The Ace in Roncesvalles (yum!).

“Make Kale, Not War” and “Bangkok Doc” were the last two meals Saidah Baba Talibah indulged in at Feel Good Guru, a vegan restaurant near Queen and Ossington. Her style comes from her dreams, her wishes and hopes, her feelings, experiences, and interactions within life. She shops everywhere– as long as something is bold and sticks out to her, she’ll try it on and sometimes take it home. When performing, Saidah keeps her uniform sexy, strong, and fierce. Local designers like Heidi Ackerman have even made custom pieces for her to don on stage. Some other designers she wears on the regular? Nada, Mark Fast, Pink Cobra, and Curve Jewellery.

The next performance Sarah attended was the Eliana Cuevas Ensemble. Venezuela-born Eliana has performed jazz for 12 years now. The most important part of what she wears on stage? Lots of colour. She likes to wear something with flow, that is happy, and colourful. Most of her shopping is done on tour when she’s visiting other countries. This is where Eliana finds unique pieces that aren’t mass produced. One unique part of her performance is when she goes on stage barefoot (amazing).