Juno Award-winning Singer-Songwriter Dawn Tyler Watson has earned her place among the International Blues elite. She adopted Montreal as her home after earning her BFA in Jazz Studies and Theatre from Concordia University.

Since then, her fiery stage presence and soul-stirring performances have garnered her national and world-wide recognition with multiple awards including Maple Blues Awards for Songwriter, Best Album, Female Vocalist of the Year, and a 2020 American Blues Music Nomination for Vocalist of the Year alongside greats like Curtis Salgado & Mavis Staples.

Her latest record “Mad Love,” was just awarded the 2020 JUNO award for Blues Album of the Year.

Musicians:
Dawn Tyler Watson: vocals
John Sadowy: piano
Clinton Ryder: bass
Al Bourgeois: drums

Youtube video: “It Don’t Mean A Thing”

With 8 musicians on stage, this mini big band knows its standards and includes the compositions of the great names in jazz: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Mary Lou Williams, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson …

Its band leader Michaël Srey carefully selects, arranges and transcribes each piece mainly from the Swing Era but also from the Early Jazz, Blues, Be Bop or Hard Bop style.

The band enjoys a good reputation among the local dance scene thanks to its great sense of swing and the quality of its arrangements. A swing evening not to be missed.

Youtube video: “Christopher Columbus”

Tibao Leborgne is a drummer composer based in Montreal. While he grew up in Bordeaux, his Guadeloupean heritage has a profound impact on his musical approach and work. Another major source of inspiration for him is trumpeter Marquis Hill. This evening, Tibao’s quintet will play pieces of Marquis Hill’s musical world from different albums such as Modern Flows Vol. 2, The poet, Love Tape and more…

Musicians:
Duncan Hunter Neale – Trumpet
Daniel Green – Alto saxophone
Matthew O’Hallaran – Piano
Mason Jeffrey-Off – Bass
Tibao Leborgne – Drums

Youtube video: The Thump

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”

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)
Fraser Hollins (bass)
Louis-Vincent Hamel (drums)

Youtube video: “Taurey Butler Trio – The Preacher”