If ever there was a “who to watch for” in Canadian jazz, this is the one. Caity Gyorgy (pronounced George) is a two-time JUNO award–winning Canadian vocalist who is known for singing bebop and swing music.

The Ostara Project, spear-headed by award-winning musicians Jodi Proznick and Amanda Tosoff, is a jazz super-group that showcases the strength and creativity of Canadian women in jazz

Back after their sizzling performance at JazzFest 2019, Vancouver-based, JUNO-nominated world/Latin band Mazacote is a hard-hitting ensemble with deep roots in the music of Columbia, Mozambique and Venezuela.

Malika Tirolien is a remarkable vocalist, musician, songwriter and producer from Guadeloupe, now living in Montreal. She is garnering international attention with her creative collaborations, including her electrifying performance on a Grammy-winning album by Snarky Puppy.

Born and raised in Germany, trained in New York City, and now based in Canada, 2023 JUNO award–winning jazz pianist and composer, Florian Hoefner, draws from a myriad of influences that cumulate in his unique brand of modern jazz.

Featuring a cross-section of North America’s finest and most in-demand musicians and led by Toronto drummer Ernest Cervini, Turboprop plays contemporary jazz that creates a vast landscape of musical textures and moods.

Aline’s etoile magique is led by Montreal musician Aline Homzy, an award-winning violinist and composer. Praised as one of Canada’s finest jazz violinists, she has performed at jazz festivals around the world and her music has been performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Kate Wyatt is now considered one of the top tier jazz musicians in the city of Montreal. She has been praised as having musical ideas and a style of playing and writing that is on par with the current jazz piano elite and has been hailed as “one of the top artists of Canadian jazz.”

Winner of the 2022 JUNO award for Jazz Album of the Year and Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2022 Western Canada Music Awards, pianist Will Bonness returns to JazzFest with his new quintet of all-star Canadians.

One of Calgary’s busiest musicians, trumpet player André Wickenheiser brings his dynamic sextet to close out JazzFest 2023 with cutting-edge original jazz.

Malleus Trio is an exciting instrumental band based out of Vancouver, BC. Their music seamlessly weaves together high-octane improvisation with original compositions executed by a musical rapport forged over more than a decade.

VOLK is a Calgary-grown project led by trombonist Carsten Rubeling featuring some of the city’s most exciting and creative musicians. The result is a powerful and fluid blend of jazz, soul, hip-hop and electronic music.

Founded by guitarist Ed Durocher, Apollo Suns is a nine-piece instrumental collective from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The band fuses the influence of jazz, rock and psychedelic music, to create their own unique sounds with the dancefloor in mind.

The Johnny Javier Quartet was formed as a trio in 2021, with bassist Ray Martens, and drummer James Evangelos. Trumpeter/vocalist Mark Ward will be joining the trio for this edition of Jazzfest.

Sara Neufeld is the owner/operator of Ray of Sun Drum Circles in Medicine Hat. She started facilitating circles in 2009. In 2015, she attended her first Circles of Rhythm Facilitator Training and it became her vision to share the joy of drumming with as many people as possible.