Toronto-based acoustic jazz trio The Sweet Hots features JUNO-nominated vocalist and Canada’s “Sweetheart of Swing” Alex Pangman, Grammy-nominated violinist Drew Jurecka, and guitar virtuoso Nathan Hiltz. This combo is deeply influenced by the “hot” jazz sounds of the 1920s and ’30s – at once classy, emotive, playful and impeccable. Winner of the 2015 NOW Reader Poll for best female vocalist, Alex brings the songs of early jazz alive. The group has charted two #1 singles on iTunes. www.alexpangman.com

B.C.-raised, Toronto-based pianist, composer and educator Amanda Tosoff has six albums to her credit. As a bandleader and side-woman, she has performed widely and earned numerous accolades, including the Montréal Jazz Festival Grand Prix de Jazz and a 2022 JUNO nom. Vocalist Emilie-Claire Barlow, a two-time JUNO winner, has released 12 self-produced albums. They are joined on stage by a stellar group – Allison Au on sax, Jon Maharaj on bass and Morgan Childs on drums. www.amandatosoff.com

Award-winning Hungarian-born, Toronto-raised pianist, composer, arranger and producer Attila Fias is highly regarded for his ability to synthesize Brazilian lilt and rhythm, Indian phrasing, Hungarian melodies and Latin intensity into one, distinct musical flavour. Attila has recorded three original albums, include 2016’s Ride, which was featured widely on national radio programming and on social media. www.attilafias.com

Caity Gyorgy (pronounced “George”) is an award-winning vocalist, composer and lyricist known for singing bebop and swing music. Caity has performed across Canada and recorded with Allison Au, Pat LaBarbera, Jocelyn Gould, Don Thompson and Christine Jensen. Her EP Now Pronouncing, was selected as one of CBC Music’s Top 15 Canadian Jazz Albums of 2021 and won the 2022 JUNO for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. She is set to release a 13-song album entitled Featuring this fall. www.caitygyorgy.com

Carlo is an old friend. You’ve known them since you can’t remember when. You’re not sure when you stopped seeing them regularly, but now that you’re reunited, it’s like no time has passed. You understand the great ifs, whats and whys of each other’s lives, the darkness and the irony, the fun and the frivolous, the dubious and the reliable. A fresh take on vintage surf tunes in a complete musical experience. carlosurf.bandcamp.com/album/carlo

The Carn Davidson 9 started in 2010 as a collaboration between two JUNO-winning artists, trombonist William Carn and saxophonist Tara Davidson. This nine-piece, chordless ensemble uses its seven horns as melodic, harmonic and rhythmic devices, anchored by bass and drums. The co-led ensemble is an opportunity for both artists to craft their compositions for chamber jazz instrumentation. CD9’s latest recording, The History of Us, was released in November 2021 to much critical acclaim. www.williamcarn.com

CR Avery is an elusive and creative force! “... riveting & rewarding” – Lonesome Highway Magazine. “... a cultural magpie who’s impossible to pigeon-hole” – Net Rhythm Magazine. “... Imagine if Neil Young was inspired by hip-hop” – Vancouver Sun. “ ...audacious & astounding” – London Time Out Magazine. “Like a collaboration between Beck & The Beastie Boys at their most experimental crossroads” – Music Guide. “First there was The Beats, then Hunter S. Thompson, now there’s C.R. Avery.” – Kruger Magazine. www.cravery.com

Hungarian-born Debi Botos's heritage and strongly musical family inspired her to develop into a skilled, self-taught Gypsy jazz guitarist, exploring and honouring the style that defined the sounds of pioneer Django Reinhardt. She divides her time teaching at Django in June Camp, performing around Toronto and in the U.S., including at the prestigious Academy of Music in Northampton, Massachusetts, and collaborating with genre leaders Samson Schmitt, Ludovic Beier and Stephanie Wrembel. Hear her on Instagram.

Emily Steinwall is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from Toronto, just named winner of SOCAN's 2022 Songwriting Prize following the release last year of her debut, self-produced album, Welcome to the Garden. Performing and touring professionally from her teen years, Emily believes strongly in the healing power of music and gathering. Her mission is to cultivate natural beauty and loving vibrations through sound and music. Emily has impressed the Toronto music scene with her unique and transportive performances. www.emilysteinwall.bandcamp.com

Born in Montreal, Eric St-Laurent studied improvisation in New York City before moving to Berlin, where he worked for a decade as a sideman to big and small names of the European music world. Moving to Toronto, Eric started his own band and worked as a studio musician. His interest in the intersection of art and technology has led to the recent creation of recordings exploring common ground between composition, electronic and jazz. www.ericst-laurent.com

After years of touring together, Elizabeth Shepherd and Michael Occhipinti have teamed up to create ES:MO – a musical duo focused on genre-less creativity and exploration. Their album, The Weight of Hope, was nominated for the 2022 JUNO Vocal Jazz Album of The Year. Elizabeth is a multi-dimensional vocalist/pianist twice nominated for the Polaris Prize. Michael, a versatile, creative guitarist (and former Artistic Director of the TDMJF), won the 2022 JUNO for Jazz Album of the Year with the group Avataar. www.esmoband.com

Guitarist KC Roberts and vocalist Genevieve Marentette are established Toronto musicians whose long friendship and mutual passion for music electrify their performances. KC can lay down a groove like nobody’s business, and Gigi’s transcendent vocals are indescribable. Drummer/percussionist Adam Bowman adds the perfect layer to make the music soar. The trio’s improvised, up-tempo set of feel-good grooves are offered in tribute to TDMJF Artistic Director Sarah Kim Turnbull. www.genevievemarentette.com

Peruvian-born songstress Irene Torres is a versatile storyteller. She has been part of the Latin, flamenco, fusion ensemble Santerias and the original blues and soul group Irene Torres & The Sugar Devils. In her new solo album, she blends folkloric traditions with the exploration of new places, reflecting the immigrant experience of transition. Irene is featured on Lou Pomanti’s album Lou and Friends and has toured internationally with the Afro-Cuban band, Battle of Santiago.

Impassioned and scrappy, rockin’ and so very groovous, Jake Chisholm finds fire with his voice, his guitar, and his “true swagger brothers in electrified cahoots” – Darcy Yates on bass, Jimmy Bowskill on stringed instruments and Ian Mckeown on drums. In 2022, Jake released “Hands Held High,” describing it as “music that grins in the face of unsung days.” A sure bet to notch up the party vibe in the McKay Wine & Beer Garden! www.jakechisholm.ca

Master of Ceremonies, Millennium Bandstand“The TD Markham Jazz Festival continues to be my favourite jazz festival in Ontario, and I’m thrilled to be back as emcee for the 13th year.” Artist, bandleader, writer, broadcaster and director Jaymz Bee celebrates his 20th year producing and hosting “Jazz in the City” for JAZZ.FM91. Jaymz has been featured on most Canadian TV networks, including shows for CBC, Much Music, Bravo, Prime, Global and CTV. His bands have included Look People, The Royal Jelly Orchestra, Bonzai Suzuki, The Tiki Collective and his current project, touring “Music for Secret Agents – James Bond and Beyond!”Joel Goldberg is currently shooting a documentary on Jaymz’s life, and Charles Hackbarth just illustrated his “memoir colouring book” (available at the Festival). Jaymz is directing his first film, “Wild Music,” which wraps at the end of August and will hit the festival circuit in 2023. He is co-founder of Vesuvius Music Inc. and still leads international tours to Havana ... [Continue reading →]

Jessica Lalonde is a classically trained soprano who shifted from opera studies to her first love, jazz, and by 2018 was named one of Jazz.FM91’s “eight Canadian women in jazz you need to know.” She partners with two-time JUNO-winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia, a first-call artist who’s played on over 40 recordings, penned more than 30 original tunes and released five of his own albums. www.jessicalalonde.com, www.adreanfarrugia.com

Manteca have been a pan-cultural mash-up since their Toronto debut in 1979. Drawing on musical influences throughout the Americas, this nine-artist collective, founded by percussionist Matt Zimbel, has been an international innovator in creating original music composed and arranged using the bones of world, jazz, funk and orchestral music. The JUNO winners have represented Canada at the world’s most prestigious festivals, offering an explosive, high-energy show full of joy and exhilarating musicianship. www.manteca-music.com

Described as evoking, "the aura of dark, smoky nightclubs of a bygone era," Molly's voice conveys depth few vocalists in any genre ever reach. Like the woman behind it, it is filled with humor, joy, surprise, sassiness and, of course, love. A respected philanthropist and Officer to the Order of Canada, Molly has raised millions for people living with HIV/AIDS. As well as a five-year stint on CBC Radio, she launched the Kensington Market Jazz Festival in 2016 and released her album, Meaning to Tell Ya, in 2018. www.mollyjohnson.com

Like many jazz/R&B artists, this Toronto-based powerhouse cut her teeth on the church pews. Melding soul, R&B, gospel and jazz, Queen Pepper has graced many stages, including ours. She has sung with the Toronto Mass Choir, backed by the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and opened for Canadian icons Holly Cole, David Clayton Thomas, Lou Pomanti and John Finley. Queen Pepper recorded a duo album with JUNO winner Adrean Farrugia and in 2019 released her debut album – True Stories, Vol. 1. www.queenpepper.com

Richard Whiteman is a multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto, classically trained in piano and drawn to jazz while in high school. From university, Richard went on to play piano with Canada’s best before deciding in 2004 to study the double bass. He formed his “bass” quartet with Reg Schwager, Amanda Tosoff and Morgan Childs in 2012. Richard has recorded ten CDs as a bandleader and established himself as one of Canada’s finest musicians and teachers. www.richardwhiteman.com

JUNO-winning artist Sammy Jackson is an emerging Jamaican-Canadian singer- songwriter recognized for her distinct way of fusing elements of jazz, R&B and pop. Sammy has performed at many notable venues and events, from CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio and Jazz.FM91's One-Stop Jazz Safari to The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar, Luminato and the TIFF Bell Lightbox. In 2021, Jackson's latest release, With You, won the JUNO for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. www.sammyjackson.com

Brooklyn-born, Swiss-raised, Canadian-based Shakura S'Aida brings her scorching vocal style and powerful blues back to the MJF stage with her usual blast of energy. Singing and acting from an early age, Shakura vaulted into international touring in 2008, hosted a CBC Radio program, developed a busy recording career, continued acting and has just won the "Blues with a Feeling" Award at the Toronto Blues Society's 2022 Maple Blue Awards. www.shakurasaida.com

In the delicious McKay Wine & Beer Garden, plan to kick back and soak up the sounds of Canada's premier faux-Hawaiian ensemble. The band features Burke Carroll on steel guitar, Nichol Robertson playing wooden guitars, Teddy Hawkins keeping the beat on percussion and vocals, and Victor Bateman adding his string bass to this unique mix. To connect, find them on Facebook.

Founded by Artistic Director and conductor Josh Grossman in 1998 (a founding AD of the Markham Jazz Festival), the 18-piece TJO performs music by some of the pivotal composers in jazz – writers like Thad Jones, Phil Nimmons, Rob McConnell and more. The orchestra’s repertoire has evolved to include works ranging from classic swing tunes to the leading edge of contemporary jazz, with an emphasis on Canadian composers and arrangers. www.thetjo.com

Known for her lyrical and soulful clarinet playing, Virginia MacDonald began playing at age seven and has established herself as an in-demand bandleader, side-woman and composer, performing across Canada with iterations of her quartet and quintet. French-American recording artist Laura Anglade conjures the great 20th century vocalists with emotion and eloquence beyond her years, touring in Canada, the U.S. and Europe from her base in Toronto. www.virginiamacdonald.ca