Big Smoke Brass
Big Smoke Brass Band is a leading voice on the Canadian brass scene, born on the streets of Toronto when, in the summer of 2017, a group of friends graduated from the jazz program at the University of Toronto and decided to busk together.
Donald Dogbo
In March 2020, Donald conceived the musical project Coubli, whose name means “adventurer” in his native language Bété. Through this project, he strives to further the marriage between jazz and the traditional rhythms of Central and West Africa, such as the akpongbô and the gbégbé (Ivory Coast), the bikutsi (Cameroon), and the mbalax (Senegal).
Lazo
Lazo (full name Lazarus John Finn) was born on the beautiful island of Dominica in the Caribbean. ‘Mr. Sunfest’, as he is affectionately known, is a crowd favourite who continues to exude a ‘feel good’ vibe through his unique combination of roots reggae ‘riddims’, conscious lyrics and an uncanny ability to connect with audiences.
Laila Biali
While Laila continues to earn high honours in the jazz world, her signature sound transcends genre as she “masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy” (The Washington Post). In all these projects, “Biali provides the positive, come-together messaging that we need in these challenging times” (Parade Magazine).
Djely Tapa
“I’m heading for the future with African heritage,” says Canadian Malian artist Djely Tapa (Sountougoumba Diarra). The singer, who hails from the Kayes region in western Mali and now resides in Montreal, brings to TD Sunfest ‘22 the wise words and vocal art of the griots, emblematic figures of ancient and contemporary Malian society.
Jeremy Ledbetter Trio
The Jeremy Ledbetter Trio features three Canadian virtuosos at the top of their game: pianist and bandleader Jeremy Ledbetter (best known to TD Sunfest patrons as a member of Caribbean Latin Jazz powerhouse CaneFire), drummer Larnell Lewis (Snarky Puppy) and bassist Rich Brown (rinsethealgorithm). Forged in an interstellar collision of contemporary jazz and world music, Ledbetter’s compositions form a style that is truly organic and uniquely his own.
Big Smoke Brass
Big Smoke Brass Band is a leading voice on the Canadian brass scene, born on the streets of Toronto when, in the summer of 2017, a group of friends graduated from the jazz program at the University of Toronto and decided to busk together.
Lara Wong Trio
Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. (Canada), award-winning musician Lara Wong now makes her home in Madrid, Spain. In 2021, she became the first woman to win the prestigious “Filon” award for best flamenco instrumentalist at the Festival Cante de las Minas, Spain’s most important flamenco competition. She was also the first foreigner to win in any category in the festival’s 60 year history.
Miguel de Armas Quartet
One of Cuba’s great masters of Afro-Cuban jazz, Havana-born Miguel de Armas fuses the riches of African polyrhythms with the complexities of American jazz, blues, roots and world music in a compellingly eclectic way.
