July 12

11:30 a.m. - Hanlon Brothers Quartet

Nova Scotian born jazz artists Josh and Jake Hanlon make jazz music a family event. Their 2021 album NSTX is an album that combines their similar musical careers from Nova Scotia (NS) and Texas (TX). Josh Hanlon is based in the Dallas area while Jake remained in Nova Scotia where he is an Associate Professor of music at Saint Francis Xavier University. Joined by Paul Rushka on Bass and Tom Roach on Drums, this will not be one to miss for jazz lovers.

12:20 p.m. - Son Latino

Irresistible rhythms, driving piano and bass grooves, sultry vocals, and fiery trumpet solos; these are the hallmarks of Son Latino. This five-piece Halifax band is a favourite live ensemble for salsa dancers and Latin music aficionados around the city, performing traditional and contemporary tunes from all over Latin America. Son Latino literally means “Latin Sound” or “Latin music” but can also be translated as “They are Latin”. It’s an apt moniker for a cross-cultural band with members from Cuba, Colombia, and Canada. With thrilling rhythms and improvisational flair, Son Latino makes it almost impossible for audiences to sit still.

1:10 p.m. - Paul Rushka Quintet

Award-winning bassist Paul Rushka has been engaging audiences with his sonorous tone, assured confident pulse, and eloquent melodic creativity since 1997. His bass playing has been featured on over 20 commercially released recordings and several CBC broadcast recordings. Paul has toured across Canada numerous times, including in support of his debut album As It Happens, and has appeared at most major Canadian Jazz Festivals. Paul has appeared on stage with numerous jazz luminaries, including John Taylor, Joe LaBarbera, Julian Priester, Jimmy Greene, Peter Bernstein, Seamus Blake, Gary Smulyan, Champian Fulton, Brad Turner, Ross Taggart, Lorne Lofsky, Kirk MacDonald, Kevin Dean, André White, and many more.

2:00 p.m. - Nicole Ariana

Backed by a killer band, Nicole Ariana delivers an engaging and energetic live show. The 2022 Nova Scotia Music Award-winning SOCAN Songwriter and Electronic Artist of the Year, Ariana fuses hypnotic Alt-RnB/Pop vocals with moody production. Her album Crybaby was recently nominated as “R&B/Soul Recording of the Year” for the 2023 ECMAs.

July 13

11:30 a.m. - Ally Fiola & the Next Quest

Ally Fiola is a Nova Scotian saxophonist and film composer. Her recently recorded original jazz album, Interblaze, features 3x Grammy winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones), Grammy winning keyboardist Glenn Patscha (Bonnie Raitt), Kurdish guitarist Shvan Kaban, and many top-tier Nova Scotian musicians. Quirky melodies combined with joyous grooves and unexpected twists and turns, Ally’s compositions are often influenced by New Orleans brass band, soul, and contemporary jazz. As an experienced composer, she connects to a wide-range of listeners with music that is emotionally charged, infused with personality yet widely accessible.

12:20 p.m. - Lil' Barry Cooke & His Blue Devils

Barry Cooke is extremely active on the Halifax music scene and has played piano with Joe Murphy And The Water Street Blues Band for over 20 years At Your Fathers Moustache during their regular Saturday matinee. As well the list of performers Barry has played with is extensive, and includes, Dutch Mason, Theresa Malenfant, Shirley Jackson, Garrett Mason, Jack de Keyzer, Johnny Sansone and many others. Barry is a very versatile artist who can be heard providing the bass while simultaneously playing the piano.

1:10 p.m. - Roxy & The Underground Soul Sound

5-foot firecracker of funk, Roxy, Front and center the boys in the band lay down a heavy groove that conjures up classic sounds like James Brown, Etta James while keeping things fresh by drawing on modern styles such as D’angelo’s Neo Soul and Hip-Hop. Having opened for some of the biggest names in the genre's history, including Chaka Khan, the band looks to crave its place in the world of soul and funk and will have you screaming for more!

2:00 p.m. - Kate Wyatt

Pianist and composer Kate Wyatt 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 Montreal, Quebec, or even Canadian jazz.” (Cardin/Brunet, panm360.com). Her recent debut album “Artifact” was released to overwhelmingly excellent critical reviews, and was featured on “Best of 2022” lists from Canada, the US and Europe. Wyatt has performed with many recognized and respected musicians, including Kenny Wheeler, Jay Clayton, Ira Coleman, and the Orchestre national de jazz de Montreal.

July 14

11:30 a.m. - NSHJ Funk Unit

From the legacy of the band programs in Truro, lifetime friends David Burton and Ken MacKay have carried on the tradition of teaching, mentoring and supporting live music and young musicians throughout the province. The NSHJ FUNK UNIT is an extension of the Nova Scotia Honour Jazz program and is committed to enriching young musicians in Jazz-Rock, Fusion, Soul, Funk, and R&B music idioms. With the addition of trumpeter Ryan Cameron they continue to keep the funk alive in Nova Scotia since 2019!

12:20 p.m. - Les Moontunes

Groove is their mission; music is their vehicle. Fans of soul, jazz, and metal will be captivated by this 7-piece all-Acadian band, who blend catchy grooves with ambient interstellar jams to form their signature heavy soul music.

1:10 p.m. - Tevon Tynes & The SuperStatics

Tevon Tynes and his crew have been ripping it up in the Halifax music scene since 2019, with his immersive crowd interaction and fresh arrangements of your favourite funky covers. Tevon is no stranger to dynamic performances that range from quiet tender moments to eclectic vocal and guitar work sure to leave audiences wanting more at every show.

2:00 p.m. - Mary Ancheta Quartet

Mary Ancheta Quartet is based out of Vancouver, BC. Keyboardist Mary Ancheta is a Canadian / Filipina artist who steps into the spotlight with her genre-bending organic, modern take on jazz and electro-funk. Inspired by the likes of Squarepusher, The Meters, John Scofield, and Prince, Ancheta knows what’s up when it comes to arresting melodies and irresistible grooves with Trent Otter on drums, Dominic Conway on sax, and Matt Reid on bass. Encompassing her experience in film scoring Ancheta seeks to tap into raw fuelled moments favouring grittiness over perfection. The Mary Ancheta Quartet will perform songs from their highly anticipated debut EP Level Up.

July 15

11:30 a.m. - Laura Gallant & Octopus Mountain

Laura's music reflects on the paradox within the human experience, and what lies in between. Her songwriting, inspired by greats like Alicia Keys, Led Zeppelin, and Erykah Badu, leans into the different genres and jam sections that open up for her expansive vocal range to deliver a message straight from the heart. Supported by some of Halifax's finest musicians, expect a genre bending, multi dimensional experience.

12:20 p.m. - Los Primos 25th Anniversary ft. NSYJO, Jeff Goodspeed & Eclectius

2023 marks 25 years since the first Jazz Festival performance by a Los Primos group! This special concert at the Jazz Festival will feature the Nova Scotia Youth Jazz Orchestra which was created in 2019 by Los Primos under the direction of Paul Barrett, Augusto Enriquez and Jeff Goodspeed. This big band with strings will feature Josh Robinson singing a set of salsa music. Also part of the celebration will be Augusto Enirquez presenting some new originals and classics from Augusto’s collaborations with “Pucho” Lopez. Silvio Pupo, Jamie Gatti, David Burton, Jon Bailey, Will Hansen and Jeff Goodspeed will dive into this unorthodox marriage of Cuban music with many different genres to create “Eclecticus”.

2:00 p.m. - Aline’s étoile magique

Aline Homzy is an award-winning violinist and composer. Praised as one of Canada’s finest jazz violinists, she has performed and/or recorded with Danilo Perez, Munir Hossn and The Weather Station. Her music has been performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Swedish guitarist Mikko Hilden, and South-Korean bassist Yongwon Cho. During the pandemic, she produced the documentary “Sounds of Davenport,” which aimed to showcase musicians in her community through a beautifully captured video-concert, supported by her political representatives. Homzy was a finalist for the 2022 Toronto Emerging Jazz Artist Award, and was awarded a distinguished fellowship to attend the prestigious Hambidge Artist Residency in Georgia, USA also in 2022.

July 16

11:30 a.m. - Atlantic Sound Machine

Atlantic Sound Machine was founded in 2017 by Stephanie McKeown and has been entertaining Halifax since then! Performing big band hits of every genre through the eras. We have featured guest vocalists and instrumentalists to add to our diverse repertoire.

12:20 p.m. - Chebucto Big Band

The Chebucto Big Band is a Halifax based non-profit musical group comprised of local musicians from varied backgrounds. The band has been in existence for approximately 45 years and performs at various private and public venues including the Halifax Jazz Festival. Under the direction of John Cuming, our repertoire includes big band standards, swing, jazz and Latin music.

1:10 p.m. - SheJamBlues - Sirens of Sol ft Linda Carvery

SheJamBlues brings exceptional new talents and established performers together to unleash creative and exhilarating new voices in jazz & blues fusion, where musical expression proves ageless. A rare convergence of women on the same stage, these Sirens of Sol highlight both fine instrumental and vocal talents to great effect. The shared exuberance in freely expressing their blended sound together provides a truly unique performance.

2:00 p.m. - Wolf Castle & the Moon iLLusion

Wolf Castle is an Indigenous Mi’kmaq rapper, producer, and singer from Pabineau First Nation, New Brunswick. Heralded as “The Maritimes’ most promising young MC” by Complex and “one of this country's most promising young rappers” by CBC Music, his music carries an energy and wisdom beyond his years covering topics about love, loss, celebration, and perseverance. Joined by Fredericton-based group The Olympic Symphonium as his backing band for this show, you can expect pop-rap with old school roots, lyrics that are both catchy and confessional, and a new perspective on being young, indigenous, and proud of it.