Jane Mei is a Montreal-based jazz pianist whose musical voice is grounded in lyricism, engagement, and an occasional humoristic twist. In 2025, she completed her Bachelor’s in Jazz Performance at McGill University, where she studied privately with Marianne Trudel and Jean Michel Pilc. She then released in the same year Oceanography, her debuting all-originals album in which every piece evokes an element or a living creature of the sea.

Jane and her tightly knit trio will be playing live renditions of the album compositions. The modern rhythms and modal colours of the compositions, the chemistry of the band’s interactions, as well as Jane’s numerous ocean facts and stories behind each composition are bound to make for an irreplicable night of innovative, programmatic jazz.

Musicians
Jane Mei – piano
João Menegale-Barbi – bass
Christina Beaudry-Cardenas – drums

Video: “Mola Mola”

One of Canada’s most sought after musicians, Jim Doxas plays extensively both nationally and overseas. Distinguished for his improvisational approach to jazz, he makes the case that percussion can be as performative as a lyrical instrument.

Video: “Upstairs Jam Session hosted by Jim Doxas”

Born in Santiago de Cuba, young Andy Rubal Bello has had music running through his veins ever since he was a little boy.

Musicians
Andy Rubal: piano and vocals
Yojan Vargas: bass
Lazaro Martinez: percussions

Youtube video: “Carola” live at Festival International Nuits d’Afrique 2023″

Taurey Butler is a phenomenal jazz pianist of the highest calibre.

Hailing from East Orange, New Jersey, he has played in numerous cities across the world from Hong Kong to New York and now makes his home in Montréal. Taurey’s debut self-titled recording on the Justin Time label was released in November 2011 to resounding critical acclaim. He emerges as a fully-formed master of hard-driving swing with a deep feeling for the blues and ballads.

It’s easy to get lost in the fire and funk, the sweetness and swing, of Taurey Butler. But you can also follow the light that his music emanates.

Musicians:
Taurey Butler (piano)
Rémi-Jean LeBlanc (bass)
Wali Muhammad (drums)

Youtube video: “Taurey Butler Trio – The Preacher”

Following their successful performances two years in a row, Argentinian singer María Luz Seferiades and Egyptian/Canadian guitarist and oud player Ali Omar El-Farouk collaborate for their third year to take their listeners on a journey into the deepest longings for Latin America, presenting their own interpretations of well-known Bolero, Tango, Samba, and Bossa Nova songs.

They return for their second year in a row at Upstairs with their latin quartet, accompanied by Michael Goulart on bass and José Miguel Valero on percussion.

Musicians:
María Luz Seferiades – Voice
Ali Omar El-Farouk – Guitar
Michael Goulart – Bass
José Miguel Valero – Percussion

Video: “Veinte Años”