Past Events › Jazz

Canadian boogie-woogie pianist, vocalist, composer, and arranger brings his high-energy – and some musician friends, including Canadian bassist David Piltch and drummer Johnny Vidacovich, a New Orleans legend – to Koerner Hall. New Orleans, “The Big Easy,” has been a crucial component of Michael Kaeshammer's musical DNA since he began his career in his teens as a boogie-woogie pianist in his native Germany. "I grew up with the music of New Orleans, from listening to my dad's records," he recalls.…

Cuban-born Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family, and immigrated to Canada in 1998. A giant of Afro-Cuban jazz, Hilario Durán performed with legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Legrand and Arturo Sandoval. In his now 4-decade career, Durán has won multiple Junos and Canadian National Jazz Awards. For this special programme, Hilario will be joined by the Hilario Durán Trio: Hilario Durán – Piano, Roberto Occhipinti – Bass, Mark Kelso – Drums, and by Annalee Patipatanakoon…

Godfather of Cuban jazz, Chucho Valdés, performs music from his newest release, Jazz Batá, revisiting his 1972 album of the same name. The complexity of batá – the deep classical music of West Africa – permeates Valdés’s piano solos. All three supporting musicians are from the Guantánamo region, with deep roots in Cuban musical culture as well as being conservatory-trained. Chucho Valdés, Jazz Batá 2 was named one of Billboard’s 20 Best Latin Jazz Albums of 2018. “Chucho Valdés’ Cuban jazz masterpiece honors…

Grammy Award-winning, New Orleans-born Branford Marsalis has stayed the course. From his early acclaim as a saxophonist bringing new energy and new audiences to the jazz art, he has refined and expanded his talents and his horizons as a musician, composer, bandleader, and educator – a 21st century mainstay of artistic excellence. It is no secret that the Branford Marsalis Quartet can be as freewheeling off the bandstand as in performance. Saxophonist Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis, and…

Celebrate the life and music of Dave Brubeck with his sons, bassist Chris, drummer Dan, and cellist Matt, plus saxophonist Bobby Militello, who performed and recorded with Brubeck from the 1970s. This multimedia show with stories, video, and music performed by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet takes us on a journey along the timeline of Brubeck’s extraordinary life and career.

This concert was originally scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2021.​ Jazz From Around the World: Indonesia and Turkey Jazz pianist, Joey Alexander, became the first Indonesian musician to chart on Billboard 200 with his album, My Favorite Things, released when he was 11 years old – in 2015. He is one of the youngest musicians ever nominated for a Grammy Award in a jazz category.

This concert was originally scheduled for October 3, 2020.Jazz From Around the World: India “The beauty of Miles from India is how the players from different cultures and backgrounds meet on Miles’ turf with their individual voices completely intact. Miles from India is not only an amazing celebration of the music of Miles Davis, it’s also a tribute to the way Miles and Teo Macero changed the way jazz music can be made.” (All Music Guide)

Five-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves’s timeless voice and enthralling performances have made her the “most admired jazz diva since the heyday of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday” (The New York Times).

Celebrated tenor saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman’s 1994 album MoodSwing introduced his first permanent band, an astonishing collection by four precociously talented musicians who would rapidly establish themselves as creative beacons. After years of individual triumphs, Redman reunites the original group, all Koerner Hall regulars — pianist Brad Mehldau, who won the 2020 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade — for an unforgettable performance of brand new material alongside signature work that showcases Redman’s “musical…

Jazz From Around the World: Japan and South Korea Japanese jazz and classical pianist Makoto Ozone has performed with Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis, and was a favourite of Oscar Peterson. He founded the group No Name Horses, hosts a jazz radio program, and writes music for live theatre and TV. “The astonishing Seoul-born singer Youn Sun Nah ... a discreet, diminutive vocal giant.” (The Guardian) “Youn Sun Nah is “a UFO touching the universe of music with a magnificent voice and passionate originality” (Le…

Jazz From Around the World: Indonesia and Turkey Jazz pianist, Joey Alexander, became the first Indonesian musician to chart on Billboard 200 with his album, My Favorite Things, released when he was 11 years old – in 2015. He is one of the youngest musicians ever nominated for a Grammy Award in a jazz category.

Two great pianists on two pianos perform original compositions and works by other seminal Latin jazz composers.
Cuban-born Hilario Durán began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun­-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats, and later was Chucho Valdés’s chosen successor in Cuba’s most modern big band, Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna.

An evening to celebrate Thelonious Monk and the centennial of Charles Mingus.

John and Claudine Bailey Distinguished Visitor in Jazz

The charismatic jazz saxophonist plays the music of three giants of jazz. Redman’s new 3×3 project emerged in part from his COVID-19 pandemic experience.

Kellylee Evans sings Nina Simone and Jackie Richardson sings Abbey Lincoln, Salome Bey, and Diane Brooks.

After a week of inspiring our young at the Jazz Academy, four top-flight musicians from sea to sea combine their talents for an unforgettable evening of jazz.

Juno Award-winning Hungarian-Canadian pianist and the RCM’s inaugural Jazz Artist in Residence, Robi Botos, takes us on a trip through Roma-inspired jazz piano with the help of Joanna Majoko (vocals), Mike Downes (bass), Tim Ries (saxophone), Larnell Lewis (drums), and more.

“One of the premier musicians of his generation” (DownBeat), eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride leads an all-star quartet that draws on the powerhouse connection between McBride and drummer Nasheet Waits.

An unforgettable night of jazz and world music featuring two incredible artists from across the globe!

Oscar nominee and seven-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard and his electric ensemble are joined by the double Grammy Award-winning Turtle Island Quartet to perform arrangements of Wayne Shorter’s music along with an array of original work.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with some foot-stomping hot jazz and salty stride piano from the era of Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, and Fats Waller.

Grammy Award-winning jazz singing sensation Samara Joy’s voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King, appearances on the Today Show and millions of likes on TikTok – cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star.

Grammy Award-winning jazz singing sensation Samara Joy’s voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King, appearances on the Today Show and millions of likes on TikTok – cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star.

An evening of Cole Porter & Friends from a veteran of Toronto's jazz circuit. She'll draw from her 2023 album Night And Day (The Cole Porter Songbook) and beyond, backed up by William Sperandei – trumpet; Don Breithaupt – piano; Russ Boswell – bass, and Mark Kelso – drums.

World-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli has been hailed by The Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook.” He returns to Koerner Hall with a new album that showcases his versatility and virtuosity in exploring the timeless songs of Broadway and Hollywood.

“Stacey Kent has practically done it all over the past twenty years, selling north of two million albums, putting her gorgeously delicate stamp on standards, intruding fresh tunes into the canon, racking up awards, and bringing her flawless voice to fans in more than fifty countries.”

Larnell Lewis and Joy Lapps bring their signature Caribbean jazz alongside Koerner Hall favourites John Patitucci, Brian Blade, and Jon Cowherd.

Cécile McLorin Salvant is one of the most highly regarded jazz vocalists of her generation. She has released seven albums since 2010, six of which have been nominated for best jazz vocal album Grammy Awards.