On April 28, 2022, something very special will happen in the Jack Singer Concert Hall. For the first time ever, Arts Commons and JazzYYC come together to form the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra, welcoming members from across the country to represent the best in live jazz orchestral performance. 

With original compositions reflecting the theme Stories of Canada, we wanted to hear directly from a few of the performers about why they're excited to be involved in the project and how they feel it will influence the future of jazz music in Canada. Their answers are filled with excitement, hope, and inspiration for the next generation of Canadian jazz musicians.

Tara Davidson, First Alto/Premier Alto

This will be an extraordinary opportunity to perform alongside some of Canada's finest musicians, who have been selected from across the country. I hope this cross-provincial, collaborative musical event inspires more like it!

Allison Au, Second Alto/Deuxieme Alto

Representation matters. A huge part of why I started playing saxophone was because I had a strong female role model early on in my artistic journey. As a young person, seeing another woman performing allowed me to see myself, and gave me the courage to pursue the creative space I so passionately wanted to inhabit myself.

The CNJO is composed of a diverse group of incredibly talented musicians from all across the country. I am honoured to join the band, not only with the ambition to make amazing music, but also with the hopes of inspiring other young women to express themselves through music.

With a mandate to spotlight Canadian composers, I also feel that the ensemble is poised to be a wonderful platform for furthering the cultivation of the contemporary jazz voice in Canada. 

Chet Doxas, Saxophone

I’m honoured to be part of this new ensemble and proud of the initiative shown to highlight Canadian composers and artists. Through collaboration, development, performance and engagement, I look forward to building toward an inspiring future for Canadian music and the next generation of musicians who are learning and playing jazz in Canada.

Claire Devlin, Second Tenor/Deuxieme Tenor

It’s really an honour to be included in the CNJO, among musicians that I have looked up to for many years. In the sax section alone – I listened to Tara Davison when I was 15 years old, and I studied with Chet Doxas in my first year of undergrad at McGill. I get to play with my heroes in this project!

I think the Canadian jazz scene can only benefit from a group like this that unites musicians from across the country. In reality, there are many distinct jazz scenes within Canada, each with its own history and sound. So we all have something to learn from each other, and I can’t wait to discover the sounds we can create when we all come together.

Shirantha Beddage, Baritone/Baryton

This project excites me because of the diverse range of musicians involved, and the opportunity to premiere new works by such esteemed Canadian composers. I look forward to connecting with old friends and making new ones!

Jocelyn Couture, Lead Trumpet/Trompette Principale

I’m looking forward to sharing in the opportunity to play with all these great musicians from across the country, and also to play the music of all my composer friends.

André Wickenheiser, Trumpet/Trompette

I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra! This project is filled with some of the best musicians in Canada and will feature new music by a group of amazing Canadian composers. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this great jazz orchestra. The CNJO is bringing artists together that, in all likelihood, would not have an opportunity to work together otherwise. I think this project has the potential to increase musical collaborations from coast to coast, and ultimately strengthen the Canadian jazz scene.

Brad Turner, Trumpet/Trompette

It’s far too seldom that the various jazz communities in our huge country can come together and make music; any time we can do that it’s an opportunity to move things forward in a collaborative manner that is special and unique from working exclusively within one’s own scene at home.

Kelsley Grant, Trombone

I am excited to be involved in this project because it is bringing together some of my favourite musicians from around the country. I am looking forward to delving into the new music created for this project by some very inspiring composers. It will be exciting to see what transpires!

Musicians from all corners of the country rarely have the opportunity to come together and make music at a very high level.

William Carn, Trombone

I feel privileged to be a part of the 1st edition of the CNJO! There has never been a national jazz ensemble, so the prospect representing my little corner of Canada is thrilling. 

My hope is that young budding musicians will see their own faces reflected and represented in this talented collection of musicians from across this land. We’re so fortunate to have such a well rounded group of musicians which so happens to be men and women from different racial backgrounds.  Bravo!

Andrew Jackson, Trombone

I'm so excited to work with some of the finest jazz artists from across the country. A few of the bandmates are former teachers and mentors of mine, so I'm excited to reunite and pick up where we left off! My hope is that with all of this immense talent coming together, it will inspire audiences and as well help build a sense of unity in jazz across the country.

Isabelle Lavoie, Trombone

I am very excited to be taking part in this project, and I’m really looking forward to meeting, reconnecting, and performing with some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians. What a great way to showcase Canada’s talents and inspire the next generation of young players!

Chris Gestrin, Piano

I’m looking forward to this opportunity to join these talented musicians from across Canada to work together on this project. My general musical and personal life is so busy that the chance to travel to a different location and spend some concentrated time on a single purpose and musical goal is very exciting to me. I also love that the ensemble is so diverse in its representation. More of this needs to happen to inspire younger generations of aspiring Jazz musicians.

Rémi-Jean LeBlanc, Bass/Basse

Canada has a whole lot of great musicians and every sizable city seems to have its music community. However, probably due to the great distances between urban centers, I've always found that it lacks in inter-city collaborations, in a more country-wide community.  This band is a great way to start bridging some of that gap.

The Canadian National Jazz Orchestra premiers April 28, 2022 in the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons. Thank you to TD Bank for sponsoring the TD Jazz series.