Varley Gallery Patio Saturday, August 17, 2019 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm www.sitarfusion.ca Anwar is credited for sitar playing in the Oscar-winning score of the recent film, Life of Pi. Songs from his album with blues musician Paul Deslauriers are regularly featured on BluesFM, JazzFM, and the CBC. A classically trained musician from Pakistan, Anwar made Canada his home 20 years ago. Because of Anwar's attention to the nuances of vocal music and his high technical ability, his instrument becomes much like a voice. His sound influences range from Indian classical, to blues, Chinese and Arabic music.

Varley Gallery Patio Saturday, August 17, 2019 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm instagram.com/elenakapeleris Elena Kapeleris is a Toronto-based saxophonist, vocalist, composer, bandleader, and educator - whose love of music has lead her from Jazz to R&B, Blues, World Music and more. As a graduate of Humber College (Jazz Performance), she has studied saxophone with world renowned Pat LaBarbera, composition with Don Thompson, and voice with Shannon Gunn. Elena is a highly sought-after member of diverse local jazz and blues ensembles, including the Jay Danley Ethiopian-jazz Project.

Varley Gallery Patio Saturday, August 17, 2019 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm www.laurenfallsmusic.com Bassist Lauren Falls has come a long way from her hometown of Port Alberni, BC to earning her Masters Degree at the Manhattan School of Music, while also making an impact on the New York jazz scene. Having completed undergrad jazz studies at Humber College, Lauren has recently returned to Toronto, and the local jazz community is happy that she has. She has shared the stage with the likes of Mike Stern and Seamus Blake, and been mentored by the likes of James Moody, Billy Childs and Geri Allen. Falls is also an accomplished composer, having performed her original music extensively across Canada and the US. with her self-titled group.

Varley Gallery Patio Saturday, August 17, 2019 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm www.brightlunchtrio.com The Bright Lunch Trio is a Toronto-based jazz group made up of a singer from the Prairies (Whitney Ross-Barris), a guitarist from the Maritimes (Nathan Hiltz) and a bassist from the local burbs (JUNO award winning, Ross MacIntyre). Long ago, when singer, Whitney Ross-Barris flat-out lied to guitarist, Nathan Hiltz about being able to write songs, he quickly called her bluff, and six years later (fall ’17) they released their debut, self-titled album The Bright Lunch Trio, a collection of original songs, combining the proud traditions of jazz and the Great American Songbook.