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Thursday, March 28, 2024
Dizzy & Fay spread their love for jazz at Niagara festival fundraiser
Fay (Amanda Walther) and Dizzy (Mark Lalama) headlined a fundraising show for the TD Niagara Jazz Festival. The concert raised about $10,000 for the festival. SUPPLIED

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a welcome getaway from the city for many – and earlier this month, that certainly includes jazz duo Dizzy & Fay.

“As soon as I got out of my car and walked into the winery, I was in the right mindset,” said Fay, also known as Amanda Walther.

Fay and her musical partner Dizzy, Mark Lalama, were in NOTL performing as headliners for the Hare Wine Co.’s TD Niagara Jazz Festival fundraiser on May 6.

The show raised about $10,000 after expenses, which will support the festival’s upcoming summer performances. 

Hailing from Toronto and playing the majority of their gigs there, Walther said the venue provided a feeling impossible to capture in the city.

“There was something about being handed a glass of wine and walking around the grounds and taking in the views. It was so beautiful. Time slowed down and I was able to appreciate everything,” she said.

The TD Niagara Jazz Festival was held at the Hare Wine Co. for the first time this year and featured a meal, a complimentary glass of wine, door prizes and a live auction along with the musical stylings of Dizzy & Fay.

Howie Kudlats, a member of the festival’s board of directors, told The Lake Report it sold out of all 108 of its tickets.

The high attendance is great news for the Niagara region, he said.

“I think it’s inspiring: it brings new music fans out. I’m not a jazz fan and I loved it. I could listen to them all night,” Kudlats said.

This sentiment of love was shared among all those in attendance, as the audience begged to perform Dizzy & Fay two encores, then gave them a standing ovation.

“I was saying in the car ride home, ‘Man, we go two encores!’ It was super, we had a blast playing for (this audience) for sure. They were a part of the show,” said Lalama, who is originally from Fenwick.

“We felt welcomed from the moment we stepped on the grounds. They’re clearly lovers of music and supporters of the arts: it was just a pleasure,” added Walther.

Those who missed out on this evening of jazz and drinks can still enjoy the upcoming final shows at Hare Wine Co. for the Twilight Jazz & Blues series.

Tickets for the Jazz & Blues series as well as updates on the summer festival can be found on the ND Niagara Jazz Festival website at Niagarajazzfestival.com.

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