Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Kind of like a Blind Date, you won’t know who makes up this stellar group until they appear on stage before you! But they are superstars in the jazz scene, and we want you to be surprised and hugely entertained. Be prepared for some serious toe-tapping and head nodding as they explore their connection to jazz, fusion and their Afro-caribbean roots! AND HERE’S A HINT: The leader of this ensemble has serious rhythm and plays regularly with a band whose name rhymes with “yuppy”.

Location: Source Office Furnishings – Varley Art Gallery Patio Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Toronto based blues/R&B band, reviving some obscure and forgotten tunes by sassy ladies of the 50s and 60s, such as Big Maybelle, Little Sylvia, Dolly Cooper, Carmen Taylor, and Ella Johnson, as well keeping alive classics by Ray Charles and Etta James. Their dynamic stage presence and ruthless energy keeps the dance floor swingin’. They were first runner up in the 'Toronto Blues Society Talent Search' and winners of the Grossman’s Amy Louis Scholarship. Their debut record is available at www.badluckwoman.com For more information visit www.badluckwoman.com

Location: Varley Art Gallery (Opening Night Concert) Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 Time: 8:00 pm Juno-nominated artist and York Region native Barbra Lica, is a fast-rising star in the Canadian Jazz scene. In the short period of time since her 2012 debut album release, ‘That’s What I Do’, she has been selected as one of Canada’s Top five Jazz singers by CBC host Tim Tamashiro, as well as one of five up-and-coming jazz artists in Toronto by blogTO. Event Details & Tickets For more information visit http://www.barbralicamusic.com/

Location: Kennedy HiFi & Plurison Stage – MacKay Art Centre Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm Brenda Navarrete is one of Cuba’s great young talents and a rising star. She has collaborated with Cuba’s music elite and has toured in Canada and the US. From the beginning, Brenda set her sights on percussion and a career in music. A graduate of Cuba’s prestigious Amadeo Roldán Music Conservatory, she earned accreditations as an instrumentalist and ensemble and percussion instructor. Brenda is making her mark as an accomplished singer, percussionist, composer and arranger. Her new recording will ship in late 2017. For more information visit http://www.brendanavarrete.com

Location: Kennedy HiFi & Plurison Stage – MacKay Art Centre Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Busty and the Bass have come a long way in a short time. The nine members of the band connected in their first week at McGill University’s jazz school in Montreal and started jamming. Casual house party gigs soon led to live performances across the U.S., Europe, and Canada. The band is gearing up to release their debut full-length album. It is a continuation of their infectious brand of danceable electro-soul, hip-hop and funk. For more information visit http://www.bustyandthebass.com

Location: Kennedy HiFi & Plurison Stage – MacKay Art Centre Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm How to describe C.R. Avery? He is an elusive and creative force! Here are some quotes: "... riveting & rewarding." Lonesome Highway Magazine "... a cultural magpie who’s impossible to pidgin whole." Net Rhythm Magazine "... imagine if Neil Young was inspired by hip-hop." Vancouver Sun " ...their mix of high art & low brow amounted to the ultimate rock show." Exclaim! Magazine " ...audacious & astounding" London Time Out Magazine "like a collaboration between Beck & The Beastie Boys at their most experimental cross roads" Music Guide "first there was The Beats, then Hunter S. Thompson, now there’s C.R. Avery." Kruger Magazine For more information visit http://www.cravery.com/

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Internationally renowned singer/pianist Carol Welsman, originally hails from Toronto and is a 6-time Juno Award nominee. She will be performing in conjunction with her latest album FOR YOU a sampling of the 16 classic songs voted by her fans to appear on the recording via an exciting social media campaign. The album is officially released Sept. 1 2017 and marks her 12th recording.Welsman comes from a musical family and is the granddaughter of Frank Welsman, founder and conductor of the Toronto Symphony and sister of composer John Welsman. She performs all over the world, records in English and French, Spanish and Italian, and speaks these languages fluently. In addition to her Juno nominations, her 2009 album, I Like Men: Reflections of Miss Peggy Lee, was voted Top 5 Album Pick of the Year in USA ... [Continue reading →]

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm David Clayton-Thomas was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996. His jazz/rock composition 'Spinning Wheel' was enshrined in the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2007. David received his star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2010. He has sold over 50 million records to date. David's debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears (BS&T) won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album of the Year and Best Performance by A Male Vocalist. It featured three hit singles, 'You Made Me So Very Happy', 'And When I Die' and 'Spinning Wheel' as well as an irresistible rendition of Billie Holiday's 'God Bless the Child' that became a signature song for David. David continued to tour with BS&T until 2004 when he returned to his hometown of Toronto. He has released five critically ... [Continue reading →]

Location: Source Office Furnishings – Varley Art Gallery Patio Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Drew Jurecka is in high demand, not only as an accomplished jazz and session violinist but also as an arranger, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Though violin is his primary instrument, he also works frequently as a performer and recording sideman on viola, saxophone, clarinet and mandolin. Drew can be heard with his own group or as part of one of his bands, 'The Hot Jazz String Quartet' and the 'Hogtown Syncopators'. For five years, Drew played with Jeff Healey as part of his 'Jazz Wizards' band. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/839713482730849/

Location: Kennedy HiFi & Plurison Stage – MacKay Art Centre Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Elise LeGrow's debut album, 'Playing Chess' showcases her stunning voice and has wildly inventive arrangements. LeGrow first became obsessed with singing at roughly the same age she began speaking. By the time she hit her teens, she was working her way through the American songbook at nightclubs in Toronto and touring with an indie rock band on the side. Elise's voice combines fiery passion and sophisticated elegance, with a hint of a rasp lurking beneath the surface to add a sandpapery grit to her silky vocals. For more information visit http://www.eliselegrow.com

Location: Kennedy HiFi & Plurison Stage – MacKay Art Centre Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Rebecca Hennessy is a highly sought-after Toronto-based trumpeter, composer and bandleader who has been performing, recording and touring with various projects since moving to Toronto from Vancouver. Rebecca has released seven albums to date and has performed and recorded with internationally recognized artists including Adele, Ron Sexsmith, Andy Kim and more. In 2016, Rebecca Hennessy’s FOG Brass Band recorded their first full-length album, ‘Two Calls’. FOG performs Rebecca’s original music, which merges New Orleans party brass bands, Balkan folk music, country blues and jazz-rock. For more information visit http://www.rebeccahennessy.com

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Established in 2008, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band is a free educational program that provides the opportunity for selected middle and high school students to rehearse with an 18-piece big band and perform with international jazz luminaries. The group rehearses each week with Musical Director, Jules Estrin, and performs concerts at prestigious venues in Toronto and beyond. Over the years, they have shared the stage with legendary Jazz figures such as Joey DeFrancesco, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tom Scott, Lew Tabackin, Guido Basso and Al Jarreau.

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Friday, August 18, 2017 Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Lorraine Klaasen, daughter of legendary South African Jazz singer Thandie Klaasen, has preserved the classic sound of ‘Township Music' – the most distinctive sound of South Africa. Now based in Montréal, Lorraine electrifies audiences worldwide with her dynamic stage presence and showmanship. Her CD, 'A Tribute to Miriam Makeba’, won the 2013 Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year. Lorraine’s latest CD, the 2017 Juno Award nominated, ‘Nouvelle Journée’ is an optimistic, danceable record about the importance of family, empathy, love and hope. For more information visit http://www.lorraineklaasen.com

Location: Source Office Furnishings – Varley Art Gallery Patio Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Louis Simão has been composing, performing and recording for twenty years. Last year he released his solo album, ‘A Luz’ (The Light) – a collection of compositions and arrangements. Simão takes the listener on a journey through the sounds of the Portuguese-speaking world as experienced by this first-generation Canadian son of Portuguese immigrants. His music traverses samba, folkloric music, funk, and string and woodwind arrangements. Simão won Song of the Year for “Três Anos” at the 2017 International Portuguese Music Awards. For more information visit https://www.simaomusic.com

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Friday, August 18, 2017 Time: 9:30 pm - 11:00 pm Manteca has been a pan-cultural mash-up since it started in Toronto in 1979. Drawing on musical influences throughout the Americas, this nine-member artists’ collective has been an international innovator at creating original music composed and arranged using the roots of world, jazz and orchestral music. Manteca has shared stages with Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Van Morrison. The group has been a finalist for the Juno Awards four times and won the Juno for best instrumental once. For more information visit http://manteca-music.com/

Location: Kennedy HiFi & Plurison Stage – MacKay Art Centre Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Hailing from Portugal, Marito Marques is an accomplished musician and respected composer. Taking his influences from African roots music, jazz, and pop, Marques makes compelling music that is as beautiful to listen to as it is nourishing to the soul. His third and latest album, ‘Na Eira’ or “threshing floor” was released last year. Currently living in Toronto, Marques is considered one of the most requested and versatile drummers in Europe and Canada, having performed World Tours with many artists. For more information visit http://www.maritomarques.com

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Multiple Juno-award nominees and celebrated bandleaders, Michael Occhipinti (guitar) and Elizabeth Shepherd (vocals/piano), have performed together for years as guests in each other's groups. They have recently toured as a duo exploring the songs of Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot, and others. Michael and Elizabeth bring their own distinct stamp to everything they do, as do their side musicians Roberto Occhipinti (bass) and Davide Direnzo (drums). For more information visit http://www.michaelocchipintimusic.com or http://www.elizabethshepherd.com/

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Since 2008, the name MonkeyJunk has been synonymous with the emergence of a new kind of blues on the Canadian and international scenes. The name MonkeyJunk comes from Son House, who once said ‘I’m talking about the blues, I ain’t talking ’bout no monkeyjunk.’ The trio features: Steve Marriner, Tony D and Matt Sobb. MonkeyJunk has won many Maple Blues Awards and a JUNO award for Blues Album of the Year in 2012. MonkeyJunk will be joined by 2017 JUNO Award winner, Paul Reddick, for a special performance. For more information visit http://www.monkeyjunkband.com

Juno-award winner, Ranee Lee, is one of Canada’s most popular jazz vocalists. Ranee starred in Canada's first production of the musical portrayal of Billie Holiday. Career highlights include: acting opposite Billy Dee Williams in 'Giant Steps', hosting a TV series 'The Performers', being appointed to the Order of Canada, recording musicals, receiving two International Association of Jazz Educators awards and being an educator and faculty member at the University of Laval and McGill University. Ranee has recorded ten albums for Justin Time Records. For more information visit http://www.justin-time.com/en/profilArtist/308 Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Location: Source Office Furnishings – Varley Art Gallery Patio Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Roger Chong is an award-winning jazz guitarist, composer and educator who had garnered critical acclaim and praise for his work, as showcased in his five self-produced albums thus far. His quartet's latest album, ‘Funkalicious’, was nominated for a Toronto Independent Music Award and won a Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards. Roger was formally trained at York University. The Roger Chong Quartet keeps busy with performances all over Ontario. Chong also lends his musical talents to various big bands and jazz orchestras. For more information visit http://www.rogerchong.com

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Samantha Martin is an artist of extraordinary power, gravitas and deep-seated emotion. On first listen, one is immediately struck by the awesome presence and sheer magnitude of her other worldly voice. Cigarette-ravaged and whiskey-soaked in the extreme, Martin’s pipes are capable of conveying an infinite range of emotions. Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar released the debut album, “Send the Nightingale” to glowing reviews by fans and critics alike. They were nominated for four Maple Blues Awards in 2016. For more information visit http://www.samanthamartinmusic.com/

Location: Markham Subaru Stage – Millennium Bandstand Date: Thursday, August 17, 2017 Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Juno-nominated singer Shakura S’Aida (“Shack-ooo-ra Sigh-ee-da”), returns to the TD Markham Jazz Festival to help us celebrate 20 years of jazz excellence! Shakura is a versatile vocalist and consummate entertainer who has blown audiences away with her scorching vocal style, uncanny ability to deliver powerful, original songs and to get deep into the guts of the most venerable standard. She has been thrilling audiences with her powerful pipes for years and most recently as a guest host on CBC Radio 2’s Weekend Morning. For more information visit http://www.shakurasaida.com/

Location: Source Office Furnishings – Varley Art Gallery Patio Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Stacey Kaniuk is a singer/songwriter from Aurora, whose love of old-school Motown & soul music has influenced her own original songs and style. Her most recent album, 'Hot Air Balloon' continues to receive airplay from Canadian radio stations. She plays live shows as a solo act and with her dynamic eight-piece band. Stacey has a weekly residency at The Reservoir Lounge – one of Toronto's premiere jazz clubs. Her new EP is slated for release later this year. For more information visit http://www.staceykaniuk.com

Location: Source Office Furnishings – Varley Art Gallery Patio Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Stu Harrison was born and raised in South-Western Ontario, beginning piano instruction at the age of three. In 2016, Stu released his debut album, ‘Volume 1’ (One Nightstand Records), to critical acclaim, featuring Canadian legends Terry Clarke, and Neil Swainson. He has performed with artists such as Larnell Lewis, Billy Newton-Davis, Mark Cassius (The Nylons), Alicia Mackenzie, Jeni Walls, June Garber, Donna Grantis (Prince) and many more. Stu continues to perform, accompany, MD, and arrange regularly throughout Canada. For more information visit http://www.stuharrison.com

Location: Source Office Furnishings – Varley Art Gallery Patio Date: Sunday, August 20, 2017 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm The Hoffman/Lemish Quartet is a genre-defying group featuring two of Israel’s most innovative musicians. Amos Hoffman is an Israeli Jazz guitarist and oudist known as a pioneer who infuses the rhythms and melodic themes of the Middle East with Modern Jazz. Noam Lemish is a multi-faceted pianist and composer whose music, often characterized by intense lyricism and energy, defies categorization. Together, they lead a quartet, featuring bassist Justin Gray and drummer Derek Gray. Co-presented by Ashkenaz Foundation. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2033712530187696

Location: Kennedy HiFi & Plurison Stage – MacKay Art Centre Date: Saturday, August 19, 2017 Time: 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm They’re a little bit country and they’re a little bit rock ‘n’ roll, seasoned with a dash of soul, and with all four members of Toronto’s Millwinders handling vocal duties, the strength of The Millwinders truly is in the sum of its parts. The four members of the band are no strangers to the rockabilly/roots scene, having played previously in The Royal Crowns, The Bop Cats, Dodge Fiasco, and surf bands the Surfrajettes and the Wasagas. Together since 2009, this quartet has been quietly making a name for themselves entertaining crowds on both sides of the Canadian/US border. For more information visit http://millwindersonline.com/band.html