Frank Botos
August 5 & 12 @ 5:30 pm

Frank Botos - Drums
Ewen Farncombe - Piano
Artie Roth - Bass

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Born into a musical family, Frank became a first call drummer in Hungary at an early age. He worked and recorded with Hungary’s most well-known musicians, including Szakcsi, Tony Lakatos, Robert Lakatos, and Gabor Gado. Frank studied at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music with Gyula Kovacs and Ivan Nesztor. After leaving the school in 1991, Frank won first place in the “Krakow International Jazz Competition” in Poland. He has played on the main stages of European jazz festivals.

In 1998, Frank Botos immigrated to Canada, shortly after arriving in Canada with his brother Robi Botos. Frank and Robi became well established in the Toronto jazz scene as “The Botos Brothers.” They soon released their independent CD featuring Pat LaBarbara, Don Thompson, and Attila Darvas, which has received extensive airplay.

Frank continued his professional development in Canada by studying with renowned jazz educator Jim Blackley. Since then, Frank has worked with such international and local stars as Bela Fleck and Jean Luc-Ponty (Toronto International Jazz Festival main stage 2005), Avishai Cohen (Hungarian Jazz Festival 2005), Sonny Fortune (Hungarian Jazz Festival 2006), Mario Rodrigues, Joe Sealy and Paul Novotny (Du Maurier International Jazz Festival Toronto 1999), Dave Young, Pat LaBarbara, Don Thompson, Kirk MacDonald, Mike Murley, Michael Stewart, Phil Dwyer, Hugh Fraser, Jake Langley, Steve Wallace, Bernie Senensky, Stan Fomin, Shawan Nykwist, Neil Swanson, Gene Dinovi, David Braid, Lorne Lofsky, Shelley Berger, Nancy Walker, Mike Downs, and Kirk Lightsey to name a few.

Tymish Koznarsky
August 13 @ 5:30 pm  

Tymish Koznarsky - Alto Sax  

Steve Carson -Tenor Sax  

Mateo Mancuso - Drums  

Kieran Menard - Bass 

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Award-winning saxophonist Tymish Koznarsky is a dynamic voice  in Toronto’s jazz scene. Known for his expressive tone and deep  musicality, Tymish leads his own quintet and is a sought-after  sideman, performing regularly at top venues across the city. He  has worked and studied with jazz luminaries such as Harold  Mabern, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kirk MacDonald, and Pat  LaBarbera, and was a featured soloist on Caity Gyorgy’s Juno  Award-winning album Featuring. 

A frequent performer at The Rex, Tymish has appeared with  ensembles including the Jacob Chung Quintet, Ale Nunez group,  Duncan Wilson Quartet and more. His recent work includes a  recording with acclaimed vocalist Ale Nunez on her EP Lemon  Tree. His artistry has earned him multiple accolades, including the  Lou Williamson Woodwind Scholarship, the Greg Wells  Scholarship, and the Kira Payne Memorial Bursary.  

Website: https://www.tymishkoznarskymusic.com/about

Joe Farnsworth “BIG ROOM” Quartet
August 13, 14, 15, 16 @ 8:30pm

Joe Farnsworth - Drums
Anthony Allesandro - Piano
James Griffith - Alto
Jonathon Chapman - Bass

Joe Farnsworth has spent his life on the bandstand with the Kings of music, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, and George Coleman.

This group lead by the veteran great Joe Farnsworth will play straight from a Pure Heart, with Pure Power!

Flintlock
August 14 @ 5:30pm

Jordan Talsky - Vocals
Eric St. Laurent - Guitar

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Flintlock is a Toronto-based jazz quintet that draws influence from bebop, alternative pop, rock, and beyond. Featuring vocalist Jordana Talsky, drummer/vibraphonist Mark Hundevad, pianist Scott Metcalfe, bassist James Thomson, and saxophonist Shawn Nykwist, along with guest artists, the group thrives on freedom, fun, and creativity. Their performances are driven by deep listening and improvisation, embracing an in-the-moment spirit that invites surprises and spontaneous grooves. With a love for pushing jazz’s boundaries, Flintlock makes every show an exciting, unpredictable ride.

Joe Farnsworth “big room” Quartet
August 13, 14, 15, 16 @ 8:30pm

Joe Farnsworth - Drums
Anthony Allesandro -Piano
James Griffith - Alto
Jonathon Chapman - Bass

Joe Farnsworth has spent his life on the bandstand with the Kings of music, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, and George Coleman.

This group lead by the veteran great Joe Farnsworth will play straight from a Pure Heart, with Pure Power!

The Triodes
August 15 & 29 @ 5:30 pm

Paul Neufeld - Keyboards

Michael Occhipinti - Guitar

Roberto Occhipinti - Bass

Drums: Lowell Whitty (August 15), Jinu Isac (August 29)

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Toronto's Triodes is a genre-jumping instrumental group that traces its roots to the upbeat instrumental R+B, soul, and funk of groups such as Booker T and the MGs, The Meters, and Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, all with generous nods to early reggae and ska, modern jazz, experimental rock, and electronica.

Their album Chunked features unique covers of everything from Desmond Decker's hit "The Israelites" to groovy Duke Ellington on "Blue Pepper" to the psychedelic funk of The Rhythm Machine's "The Kick," alongside funky and quirky original music.

Joe Farnsworth “big room” Quartet
August 13, 14, 15, 16 @ 8:30pm

Joe Farnsworth - Drums
Anthony Allesandro -Piano
James Griffith - Alto
Jonathon Chapman - Bass

Joe Farnsworth has spent his life on the bandstand with the Kings of music, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, and George Coleman.

This group lead by the veteran great Joe Farnsworth will play straight from a Pure Heart, with Pure Power!

Kate Wyatt Trio
August 16 @ 2:00pm

Led by :Kate Wyatt - Piano

No Reservations
Cover Charges
$15 Front Section
$10 Back Section

Celebrated Canadian pianist and composer Kate Wyatt is one of the top tier jazz musicians in the city of Montreal. She has been praised as having “musical ideas and a style of playing and writing that is on par with the current jazz piano elite: Mehldau, Yaron Herman, Shai Maestro, Fred Hersch.”, and has been hailed as “one of the top artists of Montreal, Quebec, or even Canadian jazz.” (Cardin/Brunet, panm360.com). Her most recent album “Artifact” was released to overwhelmingly excellent critical reviews, and was featured on “Best Jazz of 2022” lists from Canada, the US and Europe. From Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen: “Pianist and composer Kate Wyatt is making some of Canada’s most exciting and engrossing small-ensemble jazz these days”. 

Kate Wyatt has performed with many recognized and respected musicians, including Kenny Wheeler, Jay Clayton, Ira Coleman, Yannick Rieu, Christine Jensen, Itamar Borochov, Ranee Lee, Don Thompson, Barry Elmes, Al McLean, and the Orchestre national de jazz de Montreal (ONJ). She has a passion for improvisation and innovation, and strives for a high level of sensitivity and interaction in her performances. Her music has been recognized with awards from the Canada Council for the Arts, FACTOR, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the Conseil des arts de Montréal, and she was recently nominated for the prestigious Canadian 2025 Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award. 

As well as being a passionate performer and composer, Wyatt is a deeply invested music educator. She heads the jazz program at Marianopolis College and conducts masterclasses around the country. Kate has been working as part of the Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens Amateurs du Canada (CAMMAC) teaching team for over 10 years and has recently been asked to join the faculty at JazzWorks Canada

Billy Newton Davis
August 16 @ 5:30 pm

Billy Newton-Davis - Vocals
Stu Harrison - Piano
Russ Boswell - Bass
Ethan Ardelli - Drums

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Singer/Songwriter/Recording Artist, Billy Newton-Davis, is a 4 time Juno Award winner for “Most Promising Male Vocalist”, and “Best R&B Recording”.

His 4th Juno was “Best Dance Recording, a collaboration with international producer DJ Deadmau5.

 ......He has performed on Broadway, as a song and dance man...  He has done the New York Night Club scene.....performed in London, Paris,  Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and Toronto ....Has recorded a duet with Celine Dion, on his 2nd CD released on Sony, “Spellbound”, the song “Can’t Live with You, Can’t Live Without You”  He performed and toured with The Nylons for several years.

Billy has extensively donated his talent towards humanitarian causes.  Helping to raise money for various charities, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Mental Health, and The LGBTQ2S+ Community.

Billy puts his heart first: “I want the world to know that I am sincere. I love what I do and I want to bring that sincerity to my fans when I perform.”

He recently performed his One man show “Sammy & Me directed by Thom Allison

Billy has recently recorded a new Jazz Album “Make Some Noise” dropping it in 2025!

Joe Farnsworth “big room” Quartet
August 13, 14, 15, 16 @ 8:30pm

Joe Farnsworth - Drums
Anthony Allesandro -Piano
James Griffith - Alto
Jonathon Chapman - Bass

Joe Farnsworth has spent his life on the bandstand with the Kings of music, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, and George Coleman. He is now sharing what spirit and wisdom the greats gave him with the great young Sarah Hanahan. Sarah is one the greatest young stars on the alto saxophone playing with the spirit of Jackie McLean and Pharaoh Sanders. Nobody sounds like she does. 

This group lead by the veteran great Joe Farnsworth will play straight from a Pure Heart, with Pure Power!

Emily Steinwall
august 17 @ 2:00 pm

Emily Steinwall - Vocals

Primarily first-come, first-served, Limited VIP tickets are available for guaranteed premium seating and meet & greet.
Cover Charges
$15 Front Section
$10 Back Section

Emily Steinwall is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Steinwall’s roots in Toronto’s music scene run deep; her grandparents and parents were all active members of the local live music scene. This organically grew into a full-time career as a gigging musician for local and touring acts. Emily has performed numerous times at the Rex as a saxophone player, an instrument she spent the first decade of her career focused on. Around 2017 Emily started to shift her energy towards songwriting, writing songs for her initial self-released album, titled “Welcome to the Garden”. It went on to receive the 2022 SOCAN songwriters prize.  Steinwall is currently working on her sophomore album, and writing music in an ever-evolving, explorative fashion. 

Oddgeir berg Trio
August 17 & 18 @ 8:30 pm

Oddgeir Berg - Piano / Keys
Audun Ramo - Double Bass
Lars Berntsen - Drums

The island of Rolla is tiny and sparsely populated - a mere 900 people live here. On A Place Called Home, Oddgeir Berg takes us to this, his father's birth place, for a concept album about the magic of nature, the spaces hidden in memory, and the bonds that family provides. Recorded with a new trio line-up and featuring arguably the strongest compositions of his career, this is at once his most personal and most universal work.

From afar, Rolla may look more like the tip of a vast underwater rockscape than an inhabitable island. Idyllically embedded into a fjord, it rises from the waterline to Mount Sula's 1,000 meter peak. Oddgeir's father was born on a couch in the very house depicted at the back of the cover and still today, the family spends many free days among Rolla's shores, meadows and mountains.These ten wordless songs pay homage to that time, taking listeners through a sonic tour of the island and its wild landscape. 

At the same time, the music was written during a period of personal turmoil, including a cancer diagnosis for Berg's mother, and the worries which accompanied her treatment. As one would expect, the music feels intimate and pastoral, mostly slower-paced and introspective. And yet, it unfolds a magnetic pull, drawing listeners in through the lyricism of its melodies and the simmering tension of the interplay between the musicians. You can clearly hear how close these topics are to Oddgeir Berg's heart. 

Considering this background, A Place Called Home is a remarkably uplifting experience. On “Circles,” Berg explores neoclassical fusion, inviting new member Audun Ramo to embark on a gorgeous bass solo. “Song for my Mother” oscillates between the hope- and the fearful as Lars Berntsen's drums bleed into textural pulses. But it is “Happiness is where YOU are” which is the most surprising cut here: A warm, almost danceable piece based on a four to the floor bass, and latin percussion flourishes which lend it a dreamy house feeling.

The spirit of gentle exploration may feel like a contradiction for an album about home. But really, it is only natural. Once you've climbed all the way to the top of Mount Sula, you're treated to a spectacular view: On the one side, it stretches across Norway. On the other, it opens into the sea and the Atlantic. 

It is an invitation to a journey – to make any place your home.

Eric St. Laurent
August 18 @ 5:30 PM

Eric St. Laurent - Guitar

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Born in Montreal, Eric studied guitar and improvisation in New York City before moving to Berlin, where he spent a decade as a sideman to big and small names of the European music world.

After re-locating to Toronto, he worked as a studio and live musician and dove into blues, country, and music tech. This interest in art and technology has led to recent recordings exploring common ground between composition, electronica, and various global music traditions.

Oddgeir berg Trio
August 17 & 18 @ 8:30 pm

Oddgeir Berg - Piano / Keys
Audun Ramo - Double Bass
Lars Berntsen - Drums

The island of Rolla is tiny and sparsely populated - a mere 900 people live here. On A Place Called Home, Oddgeir Berg takes us to this, his father's birth place, for a concept album about the magic of nature, the spaces hidden in memory, and the bonds that family provides. Recorded with a new trio line-up and featuring arguably the strongest compositions of his career, this is at once his most personal and most universal work.

From afar, Rolla may look more like the tip of a vast underwater rockscape than an inhabitable island. Idyllically embedded into a fjord, it rises from the waterline to Mount Sula's 1,000 meter peak. Oddgeir's father was born on a couch in the very house depicted at the back of the cover and still today, the family spends many free days among Rolla's shores, meadows and mountains.These ten wordless songs pay homage to that time, taking listeners through a sonic tour of the island and its wild landscape. 

At the same time, the music was written during a period of personal turmoil, including a cancer diagnosis for Berg's mother, and the worries which accompanied her treatment. As one would expect, the music feels intimate and pastoral, mostly slower-paced and introspective. And yet, it unfolds a magnetic pull, drawing listeners in through the lyricism of its melodies and the simmering tension of the interplay between the musicians. You can clearly hear how close these topics are to Oddgeir Berg's heart. 

Considering this background, A Place Called Home is a remarkably uplifting experience. On “Circles,” Berg explores neoclassical fusion, inviting new member Audun Ramo to embark on a gorgeous bass solo. “Song for my Mother” oscillates between the hope- and the fearful as Lars Berntsen's drums bleed into textural pulses. But it is “Happiness is where YOU are” which is the most surprising cut here: A warm, almost danceable piece based on a four to the floor bass, and latin percussion flourishes which lend it a dreamy house feeling.

The spirit of gentle exploration may feel like a contradiction for an album about home. But really, it is only natural. Once you've climbed all the way to the top of Mount Sula, you're treated to a spectacular view: On the one side, it stretches across Norway. On the other, it opens into the sea and the Atlantic. 

It is an invitation to a journey – to make any place your home.

Trombone Charlotte & Jared Higgins Present: Grapevine Quartet
August 19 & 26 @ 5:30pm

Charlotte McAfee-Brunner - Trombone and Vocals 

Jared Higgins - Guitar 

Max Simpson - Bass 

Andrew McCarthy - Drums

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Toronto's very own Charlotte McAfee-Brunner, AKA Trombone Charlotte, has  been working in the local Jazz scene since 2016 as a trombone sideman and has  been singing and leading bands since 2021. With her roots in 30s and 40s swing  and both classic and modern big band music, she has made a serious footprint in  the Traditional New Orleans Jazz scene in Toronto as well. Some career highlights  of the past few years include bandleading one or more times at Toronto Jazz  Festival, Kensington Market Jazz Festival, Port Hope Jazz Festival, Mont Tremblent  Blues Festival, and singing original songs in the 2023 Women's Blues Reveue at  Massey Hall. She also performed in a big band of Toronto's top musicians  accompanying the Yellow Jackets at Koerner Hall this past April! 

Trombone Charlotte has recently returned from New Orleans where she played  regularly at many iconic venues like the Spotted Cat or Fritzel's Jazz Pub; sat in at  Snug Harbor, Preservation Hall, and the Danny Barker Festival; and played  Trombone for Monty Banks at the French Quarter Festival and for Glen David  Andrews at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. 

JV’s Boogaloo Squad
August 20 & 27th @ 5:30 pm

Joel Visentin - Organ
Adam Beer-Colacino - Guitar
Jeff Halischuk - Drums

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Toronto-based keyboardist and composer Joel Visentin is a proud Winnipeg export with a passion for the Hammond B3 organ. Originally a pianist, the organ first grabbed him while studying music at Humber College. In 2015 he joined up with the unparalleled guitarist Adam Beer-Colacino and veteran Toronto drummer Jeff Halischuk to form the group of his dreams, JV’s Boogaloo Squad.  The musical connection was electric, and all three musicians immediately recognized that they had stumbled on something greater than the sum of its parts.  They have since worked their way up through the national club circuit, recently headlining at major jazz festivals throughout Ontario and Québec including Toronto's International Jazz Festival in 2018. In the short time since the release of their 2019 album, "Going to Market", JV's Boogaloo Squad has reached #6 on US Campus Jazz Radio charts as well as number #29 on JazzWeek's chart for US commercial Radio. Brad Barker of Jazz FM 91 has even named this project one of three "new jazz albums from 2019 that you need to hear".  This group has truly crafted a unique and soulful sound that is both thrilling on impact and deeply evocative of a timeless musical nostalgia.  With an extensive repertoire combining original music and soul hits, along with a palatable energy on stage, a show with JV's Boogaloo squad is guaranteed to have audiences dancing on their feet and calling out for more. 

Melody Diachun’s Sumner Tales: The music of sting
August 20, 21, 22, 23 @ 8:30 PM

Melody Diachun – Vocals

David Restivo – Piano, Keyboards

Michael Occhipinti – Guitar, Loops, Ambient effects

Doug Stephenson – Acoustic bass

Tony Ferraro – Drums

Awarded Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards, vocalist and songwriter Melody Diachun (DAY-shun) is known for her “soulful confidence, exquisite phrasing, and impeccable sense of time" (All About Jazz). With five albums to her name and nominations including Female Vocalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards, she has been called “a force to reckon with in contemporary vocal music” (Toronto Music Report).

At The Rex, Melody presents Sumner’s Tales: The Music of Sting—songs by Sting and The Police, viewed through a contemporary jazz lens. Backed by an outstanding band, she blends reverence for the originals with fresh insight. The group has earned praise for its “inspired arrangements, soundscapes, and grooves that range from lush to bombastic” (Tinnitist).

Rooted in a musical journey that began in Montreal and led through Nova Scotia, New York City, Banff, and Vancouver, Melody now finds her poetic home in Nelson, British Columbia. With her acclaimed group, she offers a heartfelt take on music that resonates across generations, honouring its spirit while making it entirely their own.

melodydiachun.com

The Harry Bartlett Trio
July 21 @ 5:30 PM

Harry Bartlett - Guitar
Michael Eckert - Pedal Steel
Thomas Hainbuch - Bass

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Harry Bartlett is an award winning guitarist and composer whose work blends elements of jazz, classical, and bluegrass music. Following the success of his debut album Wildwood, which was praised as “thoughtful, impressionistic, and cinematic” (LA Jazz Scene), Harry relocated to Nashville to immerse himself in traditional folk music.

During his time in Tennessee, he has had the opportunity to perform and record alongside Béla Fleck, Tray Wellington, Chris Eldridge, and Gary Nichols and study with renowned bluegrass guitarist Jordan Tice. These experiences have greatly influenced his evolution as both a guitarist and a composer.

Harry’s latest project, Mountain Air, showcases his personal guitar style and a deepening connection to acoustic music. While the album retains a foundational approach to jazz improvisation, it also offers clear shades of bluegrass, old-time, and folk influences. Recorded with the support of the Suba Institute, Harry worked alongside prominent Canadian jazz musicians, including violinist Aline Homzy and bassist Andrew Downing.

Melody Diachun’s Sumner Tales: The music of sting
August 20, 21, 22, 23 @ 8:30 PM

Melody Diachun – Vocals

David Restivo – Piano, Keyboards

Michael Occhipinti – Guitar, Loops, Ambient effects

Doug Stephenson – Acoustic bass

Tony Ferraro – Drums

Awarded Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards, vocalist and songwriter Melody Diachun (DAY-shun) is known for her “soulful confidence, exquisite phrasing, and impeccable sense of time" (All About Jazz). With five albums to her name and nominations including Female Vocalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards, she has been called “a force to reckon with in contemporary vocal music” (Toronto Music Report).

At The Rex, Melody presents Sumner’s Tales: The Music of Sting—songs by Sting and The Police, viewed through a contemporary jazz lens. Backed by an outstanding band, she blends reverence for the originals with fresh insight. The group has earned praise for its “inspired arrangements, soundscapes, and grooves that range from lush to bombastic” (Tinnitist).

Rooted in a musical journey that began in Montreal and led through Nova Scotia, New York City, Banff, and Vancouver, Melody now finds her poetic home in Nelson, British Columbia. With her acclaimed group, she offers a heartfelt take on music that resonates across generations, honouring its spirit while making it entirely their own.

melodydiachun.com

WE 3 Trio
August 22 @ 5:30 pm

Ilios Steryanis - Drums
Josh Smiley - Piano
Bennett Young - Bass

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Coming together under unusual circumstances, the members of piano trio We 3 found a  common thread in a mutual appreciation for pianist Phineas Newborn. They quickly decided to  add the entire 1958 album We Three to their repertoire, a classic piano trio record that features  Roy Haynes and Paul Chambers. Since then, Josh Smiley on piano, Bennett Young on bass and  Ilios Steryannis on drums have added other composers to their playlist, including Oscar  Pettiford, Benny Golson, and the late and dearly missed Toronto musician Julia Cleveland.

Melody Diachun’s Sumner Tales: The music of sting
August 20, 21, 22, 23 @ 8:30 PM

Melody Diachun – Vocals

David Restivo – Piano, Keyboards

Michael Occhipinti – Guitar, Loops, Ambient effects

Doug Stephenson – Acoustic bass

Tony Ferraro – Drums

Awarded Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards, vocalist and songwriter Melody Diachun (DAY-shun) is known for her “soulful confidence, exquisite phrasing, and impeccable sense of time" (All About Jazz). With five albums to her name and nominations including Female Vocalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards, she has been called “a force to reckon with in contemporary vocal music” (Toronto Music Report).

At The Rex, Melody presents Sumner’s Tales: The Music of Sting—songs by Sting and The Police, viewed through a contemporary jazz lens. Backed by an outstanding band, she blends reverence for the originals with fresh insight. The group has earned praise for its “inspired arrangements, soundscapes, and grooves that range from lush to bombastic” (Tinnitist).

Rooted in a musical journey that began in Montreal and led through Nova Scotia, New York City, Banff, and Vancouver, Melody now finds her poetic home in Nelson, British Columbia. With her acclaimed group, she offers a heartfelt take on music that resonates across generations, honouring its spirit while making it entirely their own.

melodydiachun.com

Blunt Object
august 23 @ 2:00pm

Led by Robin Jessome - Trombone

No Reservations
Cover Charges:
$15 Front Section
$10 Back Section

Blunt Object is a Toronto-based 11-piece  jazz-type ensemble performing energetic,  creative music; balancing unique  improvisers with quirky and compelling  arrangements. Featuring the quirky music  of Carla Bley, the ensemble presents  engaging music with a refreshing sense of  humour.

Melody Diachun’s Sumner Tales: The music of sting
August 20, 21, 22, 23 @ 8:30 PM

Melody Diachun – Vocals

David Restivo – Piano, Keyboards

Michael Occhipinti – Guitar, Loops, Ambient effects

Doug Stephenson – Acoustic bass

Tony Ferraro – Drums

Awarded Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards, vocalist and songwriter Melody Diachun (DAY-shun) is known for her “soulful confidence, exquisite phrasing, and impeccable sense of time" (All About Jazz). With five albums to her name and nominations including Female Vocalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards, she has been called “a force to reckon with in contemporary vocal music” (Toronto Music Report).

At The Rex, Melody presents Sumner’s Tales: The Music of Sting—songs by Sting and The Police, viewed through a contemporary jazz lens. Backed by an outstanding band, she blends reverence for the originals with fresh insight. The group has earned praise for its “inspired arrangements, soundscapes, and grooves that range from lush to bombastic” (Tinnitist).

Rooted in a musical journey that began in Montreal and led through Nova Scotia, New York City, Banff, and Vancouver, Melody now finds her poetic home in Nelson, British Columbia. With her acclaimed group, she offers a heartfelt take on music that resonates across generations, honouring its spirit while making it entirely their own.

melodydiachun.com

WATKINSON, HENDRY & MIP
August 24 @2:00pm

Primarily first-come, first-served, Limited VIP tickets are available for guaranteed premium seating and meet & greet.
Cover Charges
$15 Front Section
$10 Back Section

Chloe Watkinson, Neil Hendry, and Mip have been playing as a trio since 2018. They played in New Orleans, Montreal, Eutin (Germany), and around Ontario. They also collaborated on Chloe Watkinson's January 2025 release "skin writer", now streaming. You can also find "Mip Power Trio", and "So Long Seven" online. For the first time at The Rex (in this iteration) they will combine forces and perform originals by all three writers.

Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz
august 24 & 25 @ 8:30 PM

Led By : Waleed Abdulhamid

Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz is always evolving, just like the artists and landscapes that inspire it. The band lives in a constant state of “Becoming,” embracing a spirit of exploration, inclusivity, and accessibility. Their music is a rich blend of African rhythms and American jazz harmonies to create a true cultural melting pot. More than just a band, Waleed Kush-Afro Jazz draws from African values of community and shared knowledge. The group isn’t solely about performing; it’s dedicated to building connections – both within the ensemble and with audiences.

Their workshops mirror this philosophy, emphasizing mentorship and collective learning. This philosophy inspired Waleed to call himself and his bandmates “Humanity Practitioners,” due to their first-hand experience seeing music as a healing art form. Through their music and interaction with audiences, they create a space for healing—for themselves and everyone they reach. “...this music is where we meet, all of us. We (the group) are from Sudan, Japan, Poland, Cuba, Barbados, Spain, for sure I would not meet all these talented artists if I were still in Sudan.”

- Waleed Abdulhamid.

In addition to live performances, the band is actively involved in educational initiatives, offering workshops and seeking mentorship opportunities to nurture the next generation of musicians and artists. They believe in the power of education and shared experiences to foster understanding and build stronger communities. Their work exemplifies how art can be a catalyst for connection, healing, and positive change in the world.

Rohaam Keyvani Quintet
August 25 @ 5:30 pm

Andrew McAnsh - Trumpet 

James Griffith - Alto Saxophone  

Rohaam Keyvani - Piano  

Kieran Menard - Bass 

Alex Sgrignoli - Drums 

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Rohaam Keyvani is an active pianist in Toronto.  He has played with many big names of Toronto and  NYC. His playing is deeply rooted in the styles of  people like Aaron Parks, Kenny Barron, and many  more. He has seen many mentors along the way like  pianist Kenneth Ascher and many top toronto Pianists.  He is also rooted in Toronto culture having worked and  played with many students and professors of  institutions like UofT and Humber. 

Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz
august 24 & 25 @ 8:30 PM

Led By : Waleed Abdulhamid

Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz is always evolving, just like the artists and landscapes that inspire it. The band lives in a constant state of “Becoming,” embracing a spirit of exploration, inclusivity, and accessibility. Their music is a rich blend of African rhythms and American jazz harmonies to create a true cultural melting pot. More than just a band, Waleed Kush-Afro Jazz draws from African values of community and shared knowledge. The group isn’t solely about performing; it’s dedicated to building connections – both within the ensemble and with audiences.

Their workshops mirror this philosophy, emphasizing mentorship and collective learning. This philosophy inspired Waleed to call himself and his bandmates “Humanity Practitioners,” due to their first-hand experience seeing music as a healing art form. Through their music and interaction with audiences, they create a space for healing—for themselves and everyone they reach. “...this music is where we meet, all of us. We (the group) are from Sudan, Japan, Poland, Cuba, Barbados, Spain, for sure I would not meet all these talented artists if I were still in Sudan.”

- Waleed Abdulhamid.

In addition to live performances, the band is actively involved in educational initiatives, offering workshops and seeking mentorship opportunities to nurture the next generation of musicians and artists. They believe in the power of education and shared experiences to foster understanding and build stronger communities. Their work exemplifies how art can be a catalyst for connection, healing, and positive change in the world.

Trombone Charlotte & Jared Higgins Present: Grapevine Quartet
August 19 & 26 @ 5:30pm

Charlotte McAfee-Brunner - Trombone and Vocals 

Jared Higgins - Guitar 

Max Simpson - Bass 

Andrew McCarthy - Drums

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Toronto's very own Charlotte McAfee-Brunner, AKA Trombone Charlotte, has  been working in the local Jazz scene since 2016 as a trombone sideman and has  been singing and leading bands since 2021. With her roots in 30s and 40s swing  and both classic and modern big band music, she has made a serious footprint in  the Traditional New Orleans Jazz scene in Toronto as well. Some career highlights  of the past few years include bandleading one or more times at Toronto Jazz  Festival, Kensington Market Jazz Festival, Port Hope Jazz Festival, Mont Tremblent  Blues Festival, and singing original songs in the 2023 Women's Blues Reveue at  Massey Hall. She also performed in a big band of Toronto's top musicians  accompanying the Yellow Jackets at Koerner Hall this past April! 

Trombone Charlotte has recently returned from New Orleans where she played  regularly at many iconic venues like the Spotted Cat or Fritzel's Jazz Pub; sat in at  Snug Harbor, Preservation Hall, and the Danny Barker Festival; and played  Trombone for Monty Banks at the French Quarter Festival and for Glen David  Andrews at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. 

JV’s Boogaloo Squad
August 20 & 27th @ 5:30 pm

Joel Visentin - Organ
Adam Beer-Colacino - Guitar
Jeff Halischuk - Drums

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Toronto-based keyboardist and composer Joel Visentin is a proud Winnipeg export with a passion for the Hammond B3 organ. Originally a pianist, the organ first grabbed him while studying music at Humber College. In 2015 he joined up with the unparalleled guitarist Adam Beer-Colacino and veteran Toronto drummer Jeff Halischuk to form the group of his dreams, JV’s Boogaloo Squad.  The musical connection was electric, and all three musicians immediately recognized that they had stumbled on something greater than the sum of its parts.  They have since worked their way up through the national club circuit, recently headlining at major jazz festivals throughout Ontario and Québec including Toronto's International Jazz Festival in 2018. In the short time since the release of their 2019 album, "Going to Market", JV's Boogaloo Squad has reached #6 on US Campus Jazz Radio charts as well as number #29 on JazzWeek's chart for US commercial Radio. Brad Barker of Jazz FM 91 has even named this project one of three "new jazz albums from 2019 that you need to hear".  This group has truly crafted a unique and soulful sound that is both thrilling on impact and deeply evocative of a timeless musical nostalgia.  With an extensive repertoire combining original music and soul hits, along with a palatable energy on stage, a show with JV's Boogaloo squad is guaranteed to have audiences dancing on their feet and calling out for more. 

Adrean Farrugia
August 27, 28, 29 & 30 @ 8:30 pm

Adrean Farrugia - Piano
Band - TBA

Award winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia is one of Canada’s most distinct voices on the piano.

Since the late 1990s Adrean has been in high demand as a freelance performer and educator. Keeping a busy touring schedule, mainly as a sideman, Adrean has toured extensively across Canada and the United States as well as in venues across Europe, Australia, the UK, Israel and in Japan.

Adrean has performed/recorded with some of jazz’s greatest and most diverse artists including: Ernie Watts, Adam Nussbaum, Larry Carlton, Curtis Fuller, Tom Scott, Bob Brookmeyer, Randy Brecker, Eric Alexander, Cyrille Aimee, Molly Johnson, Jane Bunnett, Ron Blake, Joel Frahm, Matt Penman, Dafnis Prieto, Kinan Azmeh, Brad Goode, Kenny Wheeler, Darcy James Argue, Don Thompson, Lorne Lofsky, Kevin Turcotte, and Pat Labarbera.

Adrean currently performs/has performed with such diverse projects as saxophone legend Ernie Watts’ Band, the Matt Dusk Band, the Brad Goode Group (featuring Ernie Watts and Adam Nussbaum), The Ernesto Cervini group Turboprop (featuring saxophonist Joel Frahm), The Johnny Griffith Quintet, Heather Bambrick, Marito Marques, Violinist Drew Jurecka, Kiki Misumi, Tim Shia’s ‘The Worst Pop Band Ever’, the Bob Brough Quartet, Avery Raquel, and the Darcy Hepner Big Band.

As a leader Adrean has released four albums. His second album ‘Ricochet’ was nominated for a 2011 Juno award for best contemporary jazz recording. As a composer Adrean has penned more than 30 works to date.

Adrean is currently on the faculties of Mohawk College and Humber College where he teaches contemporary piano, ensembles and improvisation. He has also served on the faculty of York University. He has also done workshops/clinics at the University of Colorado, University of Toronto, The University of Western Ontario, The Banff Centre for the arts, The Sydney and Brisbane Conservatories, and in Warsaw Poland as part of the Polish Jazz Society’s 35th annual Summer Jazz Workshop.

Adrean has been a contributing writer to piano guru Larry Fine’s publication “The Piano Book”, the world’s foremost publication on all things piano. Adrean has also been a performer and panelist at the 63rd, 67th, 69th and 70th annual Conference on World Affairs in Boulder Colorado.

Adrean is endorsed by Shigeru Kawai pianos.

Nastasia Y
August 28 @ 8:30pm

Nastasia Y - keyboards, vocals  

Andrew McAnsh - drums  + TBC 

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Nastasia Y (nas-TA-sya Why) braids ancient  folk songs with modern grooves to create a  sound uniquely her own - but if you need a  genre, try Ukrainian soul. Her artistry is  shaped just as much by growing up in Kyiv,  raised on her late father’s freedom songs, as  by jazz school days in Toronto listening to  Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu. Weaving  ancestral sounds with lush synths, funky  loops, and groovy basslines, her music is  fresh yet nostalgic - entangled in the  complex emotions of war and love,  heartbreak and hope. Her album Kyiv  Soul earned praise from CBC, World Music  Charts Europe, and a Canadian Folk Music  Award nomination.  

Adrean Farrugia
August 27, 28, 29 & 30 @ 8:30 pm

Adrean Farrugia - Piano

Band- Tba

Award winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia is one of Canada’s most distinct voices on the piano.

Since the late 1990s Adrean has been in high demand as a freelance performer and educator. Keeping a busy touring schedule, mainly as a sideman, Adrean has toured extensively across Canada and the United States as well as in venues across Europe, Australia, the UK, Israel and in Japan.

Adrean has performed/recorded with some of jazz’s greatest and most diverse artists including: Ernie Watts, Adam Nussbaum, Larry Carlton, Curtis Fuller, Tom Scott, Bob Brookmeyer, Randy Brecker, Eric Alexander, Cyrille Aimee, Molly Johnson, Jane Bunnett, Ron Blake, Joel Frahm, Matt Penman, Dafnis Prieto, Kinan Azmeh, Brad Goode, Kenny Wheeler, Darcy James Argue, Don Thompson, Lorne Lofsky, Kevin Turcotte, and Pat Labarbera.

Adrean currently performs/has performed with such diverse projects as saxophone legend Ernie Watts’ Band, the Matt Dusk Band, the Brad Goode Group (featuring Ernie Watts and Adam Nussbaum), The Ernesto Cervini group Turboprop (featuring saxophonist Joel Frahm), The Johnny Griffith Quintet, Heather Bambrick, Marito Marques, Violinist Drew Jurecka, Kiki Misumi, Tim Shia’s ‘The Worst Pop Band Ever’, the Bob Brough Quartet, Avery Raquel, and the Darcy Hepner Big Band.

As a leader Adrean has released four albums. His second album ‘Ricochet’ was nominated for a 2011 Juno award for best contemporary jazz recording. As a composer Adrean has penned more than 30 works to date.

Adrean is currently on the faculties of Mohawk College and Humber College where he teaches contemporary piano, ensembles and improvisation. He has also served on the faculty of York University. He has also done workshops/clinics at the University of Colorado, University of Toronto, The University of Western Ontario, The Banff Centre for the arts, The Sydney and Brisbane Conservatories, and in Warsaw Poland as part of the Polish Jazz Society’s 35th annual Summer Jazz Workshop.

Adrean has been a contributing writer to piano guru Larry Fine’s publication “The Piano Book”, the world’s foremost publication on all things piano. Adrean has also been a performer and panelist at the 63rd, 67th, 69th and 70th annual Conference on World Affairs in Boulder Colorado.

Adrean is endorsed by Shigeru Kawai pianos.

The Triodes
August 15 & 29 @ 5:30 pm

Paul Neufeld - Keyboards

Michael Occhipinti - Guitar

Roberto Occhipinti - Bass

Drums: Lowell Whitty (August 15), Jinu Isac (August 29)

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

Toronto's Triodes is a genre-jumping instrumental group that traces its roots to the upbeat instrumental R+B, soul, and funk of groups such as Booker T and the MGs, The Meters, and Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, all with generous nods to early reggae and ska, modern jazz, experimental rock, and electronica.

Their album Chunked features unique covers of everything from Desmond Decker's hit "The Israelites" to groovy Duke Ellington on "Blue Pepper" to the psychedelic funk of The Rhythm Machine's "The Kick," alongside funky and quirky original music.

Adrean Farrugia
August 27, 28, 29 & 30 @ 8:30 pm

Adrean Farrugia - Piano
Band - TBA

Award winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia is one of Canada’s most distinct voices on the piano.

Since the late 1990s Adrean has been in high demand as a freelance performer and educator. Keeping a busy touring schedule, mainly as a sideman, Adrean has toured extensively across Canada and the United States as well as in venues across Europe, Australia, the UK, Israel and in Japan.

Adrean has performed/recorded with some of jazz’s greatest and most diverse artists including: Ernie Watts, Adam Nussbaum, Larry Carlton, Curtis Fuller, Tom Scott, Bob Brookmeyer, Randy Brecker, Eric Alexander, Cyrille Aimee, Molly Johnson, Jane Bunnett, Ron Blake, Joel Frahm, Matt Penman, Dafnis Prieto, Kinan Azmeh, Brad Goode, Kenny Wheeler, Darcy James Argue, Don Thompson, Lorne Lofsky, Kevin Turcotte, and Pat Labarbera.

Adrean currently performs/has performed with such diverse projects as saxophone legend Ernie Watts’ Band, the Matt Dusk Band, the Brad Goode Group (featuring Ernie Watts and Adam Nussbaum), The Ernesto Cervini group Turboprop (featuring saxophonist Joel Frahm), The Johnny Griffith Quintet, Heather Bambrick, Marito Marques, Violinist Drew Jurecka, Kiki Misumi, Tim Shia’s ‘The Worst Pop Band Ever’, the Bob Brough Quartet, Avery Raquel, and the Darcy Hepner Big Band.

As a leader Adrean has released four albums. His second album ‘Ricochet’ was nominated for a 2011 Juno award for best contemporary jazz recording. As a composer Adrean has penned more than 30 works to date.

Adrean is currently on the faculties of Mohawk College and Humber College where he teaches contemporary piano, ensembles and improvisation. He has also served on the faculty of York University. He has also done workshops/clinics at the University of Colorado, University of Toronto, The University of Western Ontario, The Banff Centre for the arts, The Sydney and Brisbane Conservatories, and in Warsaw Poland as part of the Polish Jazz Society’s 35th annual Summer Jazz Workshop.

Adrean has been a contributing writer to piano guru Larry Fine’s publication “The Piano Book”, the world’s foremost publication on all things piano. Adrean has also been a performer and panelist at the 63rd, 67th, 69th and 70th annual Conference on World Affairs in Boulder Colorado.

Adrean is endorsed by Shigeru Kawai pianos.

Richard Whiteman
August 30 @ 2:00pm

Richard Whiteman - Bass

No Reservations
Cover Charges:
$15 Front Section
$10 Back Section

“In addition to his evident skills as a pianist, Whiteman has a knack for composition, crafting bold post-bop tunes and elegant ballads that feel right at home with the group’s versions of standards.”

– Stuart Broomer, Toronto Life

Toronto native Richard Whiteman is an extremely versatile player, fluent in styles ranging from the stride masters of the twenties, through Bud Powell and Bill Evans, to modern giants like Keith Jarrett and Herbie Hancock. As a leader, he has released 10CDs  and has received raves from as far away as Japan, where his “GROOVEYARD” disc was rated one of the Top 500 Jazz Piano Trio records of all time.

For over thirty years  Richard has performed at major Toronto jazz venues, and has also played with orchestras (The Canada Pops Orchestra) and big bands (including The Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra), in new music concerts (Hemispheres Music Projects),  musical theatre (“Forever Plaid”), and at countless “casual” engagements with Canada’s finest jazz musicians. He has also toured Canada with the Cookers Quintet  and his own his trio and performed in Brazil and Egypt.

Some of the stellar musicians Richard has worked with are Don Thompson, Kenny Wheeler, Harold Danko, Marcus Belgrave, Pat LaBarbera, Ken Peplowski, Nick Brignola, Ed Bickert, Jane Bunnett and Dutch violin star, Tim Kliphuis. As well as leading his own groups, Richard is a member of the The Al Henderson Quintet and is much in demand by vocalists, including John Alcorn, Jackie Richardson, Dee Daniels, Bonnie Brett and Heather Bambrick.

In addition to his busy club, corporate and touring schedule, Richard is also an educator, teaching jazz piano and leading ensembles at York University in Toronto.

Joanna Majoko Duo
August 30th @ 5:30pm

Joanna Majoko - Vocals

No Reservations
$10 Cover Charge

For many Canadian music fans, the name Joanna Majoko is a familiar one: the Toronto-based vocalist, composer, and bandleader has established a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting young singers. Majoko has been a regular presence on the bandstand with some of the country’s top musicians, including Jane Bunnet and Maqueque, David Clayton-Thomas, of Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Larnell Lewis, of Snarky Puppy. She has performed at some of the world’s biggest festivals, such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, France’s Jazz sur son 31 Festival, and Switzerland’s Internationales Jazz festival Bern, where she participated in a week-long residency with Maqueque. Majoko has also been the recipient of a number of notable accolades, including Emerging Jazz Artist at the 2021 Toronto Arts Foundation awards, Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2019 ByBlacks People’s Choice Awards, major grants from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council, and FACTOR, and has been a master class artist at Humber College and the University of Toronto.

Born in Germany to German and Zimbabwean parents, Majoko spent the majority of her childhood in Zimbabwe, where she grew up speaking Shona and German and participating in choirs, musicals, drum ensembles, and traditional Zimbabwean dance groups. From Zimbabwe, Majoko moved briefly to South Africa; then, at the age of fourteen, she and her family moved to Manitoba. It was at the University of Manitoba that Majoko would become immersed in jazz, and would hone her skills as a vocalist, composer, and bandleader. Later, a move to Toronto would prove to be the catalyst for the next stage of her career. In Toronto’s rich, multi-faceted musical community, Majoko found a steady stream of festivals, radio stations, and club programmers who were eager to hear her voice, both as a guest vocalist and with her own successful group. Majoko has been a fixture at the Toronto Jazz Festival, on Jazz FM, at clubs such as The Rex and Poetry, and at major venues, including the Harbourfront Centre and the Canadian Opera Company’s Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. In addition to her talents as a vocalist, composer, and arranger, Majoko has expanded her skills as a multi-instrumentalist, developing a sense of advanced rhythmic independence by incorporating the caxixi and claves into her performance practice. This year, she adds another important entry to her list of accomplishments: the release of her debut EP, No Holding Back.

Adrean Farrugia
August 27, 28, 29 & 30 @ 8:30 pm

Adrean Farrugia - Piano
Band - TBA

Award winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia is one of Canada’s most distinct voices on the piano.

Since the late 1990s Adrean has been in high demand as a freelance performer and educator. Keeping a busy touring schedule, mainly as a sideman, Adrean has toured extensively across Canada and the United States as well as in venues across Europe, Australia, the UK, Israel and in Japan.

Adrean has performed/recorded with some of jazz’s greatest and most diverse artists including: Ernie Watts, Adam Nussbaum, Larry Carlton, Curtis Fuller, Tom Scott, Bob Brookmeyer, Randy Brecker, Eric Alexander, Cyrille Aimee, Molly Johnson, Jane Bunnett, Ron Blake, Joel Frahm, Matt Penman, Dafnis Prieto, Kinan Azmeh, Brad Goode, Kenny Wheeler, Darcy James Argue, Don Thompson, Lorne Lofsky, Kevin Turcotte, and Pat Labarbera.

Adrean currently performs/has performed with such diverse projects as saxophone legend Ernie Watts’ Band, the Matt Dusk Band, the Brad Goode Group (featuring Ernie Watts and Adam Nussbaum), The Ernesto Cervini group Turboprop (featuring saxophonist Joel Frahm), The Johnny Griffith Quintet, Heather Bambrick, Marito Marques, Violinist Drew Jurecka, Kiki Misumi, Tim Shia’s ‘The Worst Pop Band Ever’, the Bob Brough Quartet, Avery Raquel, and the Darcy Hepner Big Band.

As a leader Adrean has released four albums. His second album ‘Ricochet’ was nominated for a 2011 Juno award for best contemporary jazz recording. As a composer Adrean has penned more than 30 works to date.

Adrean is currently on the faculties of Mohawk College and Humber College where he teaches contemporary piano, ensembles and improvisation. He has also served on the faculty of York University. He has also done workshops/clinics at the University of Colorado, University of Toronto, The University of Western Ontario, The Banff Centre for the arts, The Sydney and Brisbane Conservatories, and in Warsaw Poland as part of the Polish Jazz Society’s 35th annual Summer Jazz Workshop.

Adrean has been a contributing writer to piano guru Larry Fine’s publication “The Piano Book”, the world’s foremost publication on all things piano. Adrean has also been a performer and panelist at the 63rd, 67th, 69th and 70th annual Conference on World Affairs in Boulder Colorado.

Adrean is endorsed by Shigeru Kawai pianos.

Brooke Blackburn
August 31 @ 2:00pm

Primarily first-come, first-served, Limited VIP tickets are available for guaranteed premium seating and meet & greet.
Cover Charges
$15 Front Section
$10 Back Section

Brooke Blackburn is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and the lead vocalist for The Bentley Collective; guitarist for two-time Juno nominated band The Blackburn Brothers.
As a songwriter Brooke has had a focus in Black Canadian historical events on many compositions. With the release of The Bentley Collective’s solo album, “Songs,” the band has been performing throughout Toronto and have established a few residencies that keeps the vibe fresh. Through the shutdown they had the opportunity to write and record at home set-forth a single release “ “Heroes” and another 2 albums worth of material that could be heard presently on stage during the bands live performances. This is music that has a message and a groove. 

Mike Murley Quartet with special guest Anders Mogensen (Denmark)
August 31st & Sept 1st @ 8:30 pm

Mike Murley - saxophone
Kevin Turcotte - trumpet
Dan Fortin - bass
Anders Mogensen - drums

An engaging, lyrical saxophonist, Mike Murley is one of Canada’s most celebrated jazz artists.  He has played on fourteen Juno Award-winning recordings since 1990, seven as a leader or co-leader, seven as a sideman.  His most recent Junos include The North (2018), Metalwood’s Twenty (2017) and his trio’s Test of Time (2013).

Murley moved to Toronto from his native Nova Scotia in 1981 and has enjoyed a career that has spanned a wide stylistic spectrum.  Recordings with legendary Canadian artists such as Ed Bickert, Rob McConnell, and Guido Basso showcase the saxophonist’s talents in the mainstream standard repertoire.  On the more contemporary side, Murley has collaborated frequently with younger generations of improviser/composers including pianist David Braid and guitarist David Occhipinti.  He is also well known for his work with the three-time Juno Award winning electric jazz group Metalwood. In addition, he has recorded and performed with numerous international artists including David Liebman, Renee Rosnes, John Schofield, Norma Winstone, as well as the late Paul Bley, John Abercrombie, and Kenny Wheeler.

As an educator Murley has held positions at the University of Toronto, York University, Humber College, and as a visiting member of faculty at the Banff School of Fine Arts.  He also served as Jazz Area Chair/Coordinator at both U of T (2016-18, 2020-21) and York (2008-11). 

In 2022 Murley retired from U of T and returned to Halifax NS, from where he continues to tour nationally and internationally.

Mike Murley Quartet with special guest Anders Mogensen (Denmark)
August 31st & Sept 1st @ 8:30 pm

Mike Murley - saxophone
Kevin Turcotte - trumpet
Dan Fortin - bass
Anders Mogensen - drums

An engaging, lyrical saxophonist, Mike Murley is one of Canada’s most celebrated jazz artists.  He has played on fourteen Juno Award-winning recordings since 1990, seven as a leader or co-leader, seven as a sideman.  His most recent Junos include The North (2018), Metalwood’s Twenty (2017) and his trio’s Test of Time (2013).

Murley moved to Toronto from his native Nova Scotia in 1981 and has enjoyed a career that has spanned a wide stylistic spectrum.  Recordings with legendary Canadian artists such as Ed Bickert, Rob McConnell, and Guido Basso showcase the saxophonist’s talents in the mainstream standard repertoire.  On the more contemporary side, Murley has collaborated frequently with younger generations of improviser/composers including pianist David Braid and guitarist David Occhipinti.  He is also well known for his work with the three-time Juno Award winning electric jazz group Metalwood. In addition, he has recorded and performed with numerous international artists including David Liebman, Renee Rosnes, John Schofield, Norma Winstone, as well as the late Paul Bley, John Abercrombie, and Kenny Wheeler.

As an educator Murley has held positions at the University of Toronto, York University, Humber College, and as a visiting member of faculty at the Banff School of Fine Arts.  He also served as Jazz Area Chair/Coordinator at both U of T (2016-18, 2020-21) and York (2008-11). 

In 2022 Murley retired from U of T and returned to Halifax NS, from where he continues to tour nationally and internationally.