Results for "Toronto"

Patrick Smith: Bebop, Brass Bands, And A Bookstore

by Lawrence Peryer
February 28, 2026

Today, The Tonearm's needle lands on Toronto saxophonist Patrick Smith. Patrick has become a key player in the city's creative music scene. His album, Words Underlined, came out in December on Lit Soc Records, the first release from the new label started by Sellers & Newell, a Toronto bookstore that moonlights as a music ...

Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet Nominated For 2026 Juno Award – Jazz Album Of The Year

January 31, 2026

The Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet has received a 2026 JUNO Award nomination for Jazz Album of the Year for their latest release, Impact—marking a major milestone for the acclaimed Canadian pianist, composer, and bandleader Steve Holt. The nomination recognizes Impact as one of Canada’s most compelling jazz recordings of the year. The album showcases Holt’s ...

Micaela Rae

Ona

Oná is a Canadian-Brazilian eclectic chamber jazz ensemble inspired by the life-force that is the music of Brazil. Although an emerging ensemble, each musician has achieved international recognition on the Classical, Jazz and World Music stages spanning 3 decades. The ensemble's unique instrumentation of two french horns, bassoon, reeds (flute, clarinet, Saxophone), guitar and percussion provides a captivating global, “classical” sound combined with the soul of Jazz and Brazilian Choro music. Oná Ensemble strives to create new pathways for music creation, collaboration and performance.

Aretha Tillotson: Sad Junie (to Highway Jake)

by John Chacona
December 11, 2025

If the average fan living south of the 49th Parallel knows anything about jazz in Canada, it might begin and end with Oscar Peterson and Diana Krall. Yes, Toronto is emerging as a great jazz city and there are all those players from Nanaimo, but in between, nothing, right? Bassist Aretha Tillotson is here to explode that ...

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Born: August 1, 1996

Guelph and Toronto based drummer/composer/arranger Carlan Pulkkinen continues to work in multiple aspects of the industry with experience as a performer, teacher, and live sound/recording/mixing. In his formative years, he has played with the Guelph Youth Jazz Ensemble and the Hamilton Rising Star Big Band at including venues such as the Niagara Jazz Festival, Guelph Jazz Festival and Guelph's Hillside Festival. He taught at kids music camps for many years at the Children's Music Academy in Guelph and ran the audio/video/music studio department at his local high-school. 

In more recent years, he has studied with well respected drummers Ted Warren, Ernesto Cervini and Nick Fraser and is a former student of the University of Toronto jazz program, where he continues to work today maintaining drum equipment

Ali Hugo Breaks New Ground With Genre-defying Jazz Album 'Jazzalane'—Now Streaming

June 14, 2025

Since making his debut in 2015, singer-songwriter and producer Ali Hugo has become known not just for his eclectic musical journey but also for his ability to adapt, evolve, and lead in an ever-changing music industry. Now, Hugo unveils his boldest project yet: JazzaLane—a full-length jazz album that showcases his evolution as a genre-bending artist and ...

Stefan Hegerat's Bet Against Algorithmic Music

by Lawrence Peryer
June 1, 2025

Stefan Hegerat reached his breaking point with Spotify. Last year, the Toronto drummer and composer made a decision that's becoming more common among independent musicians: he began the process of removing his music from the streaming giant. “I recently read Liz Pelly's book about the evolution of Spotify and that really sealed the deal ...

Beverly Taft

Steve Holt To Release New Album - Impact - On April 25, 2025

April 18, 2025

Celebrated Canadian jazz pianist returns with a fresh collection of original compositions Pianist Steve Holt's latest album IMPACT is a celebration of fresh, original compositions crafted over more than a year, showcasing Holt’s dual passion for composing and playing. This release marks an exciting new chapter in his storied career, blending innovative ideas with a deep ...