Ben’s soulful voice is reminiscent of the greatest Rhythm and Blues vocalists of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Inspired by artists such as Junior Walker, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder and Clarence Carter, he will take you back to the days when vocals were the center point of music.

His critically acclaimed debut album “One Of A Kind” was nominated this year for a “Maple Blues Award”

He is also a lot more than just a voice. His guitar playing covers a wide range of styles – pleasing blues and funk fans alike.

From the moment he hits the stage, his contagious energy and charisma combine for a sound that is truly original. You’ll be tapping your feet within the first few notes.

Ben Racine: Vocals/Guitar
Nicky Estor: Drums
François Dubé: Bass
Kaven Jalbert: Tenor Sax
Mathieu Mousseau: Baryton Sax

Kiwi firebrand trumpeter Lex French teams up with Montreal’s ‘godfather of jazz trumpet’ Kevin Dean to present a tribute to Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie. Verve’s classic album ‘Roy and Diz’ is on the menu, along with select cuts and old favourites from each of these trumpet kings.

Lex French: trumpet
kevin Dean: trumpet
piano
bass
drums

Alto saxophonist Tevet Sela brings a wealth and breadth of influences to his playing that few musicians possess. The adept and dexterous post bopper’s music is often drenched in heavy blues and the Middle-Eastern inflections of his Israeli cultural heritage.

“Tevet Sela Quartet presents an intelligent and skillful mix of classical harmonies with a Klezmer influence and North-African rhythms…An intriguing concert for all who love innovative and exciting jazz” Time Out Magazine

“A beautiful alto sound to be savored slowly, with a precision that sides the quality of his compositions“ Christophe Rodriguez, SortiesJazzNights.com

Musicians:
Tevet Sela – Saxophones
John Roney – Piano
Fraser Hollins – Bass
Rich Irwin – Drums

Jim Doxas has been heavily influenced by rock, jazz, Motown and World Music. His work can be heard on over 150 albums and soundtracks, and he is a popular featured artist at jazz festivals worldwide.

Jim has been recognized by way of receiving Felix and Juno Awards, as well as nominations for Academy and Grammy Awards.

An exceptional sound, a sensitive approach, an innate sense of musical language are some of the characteristics that were used to define Chantal De Villiers’s tenor saxophone’s playing.
Chantal was born in Montreal, in a musician’s family. She was exposed to music at an early age by her dad, a professional pianist. She chose the tenor saxophone at age 15.

During her career, Chantal De Villiers has performed in duet, trio, quartet and quintet formation at a variety of events. Since music was a major force in her family, the musical relationship she developed with her father helped her define her style. The rich, hushed saxophone sound she developed brings to mind her influences, such as Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, Scott Hamilton, Stan Getz, Eddie Harris and Gene Ammons.

The concert she presents at Upstairs is the recipient of the Opus Prize for the best Jazz concert of the year 2020.

During her last concert, she was the guest of saxophonist Rémi Bolduc. It is her turn to invite him to this musical evening which marks a return after long months of the pandemic.

Musicians
Chantal De Villiers – tenor saxophone
Taurey Butler – piano
Fraser Hollins – bass
Rich Irwin – drums
special guest Rémi Bolduc – alto saxophone

Juno Award-winning Singer-Songwriter Dawn Tyler Watson has earned her place among the International Blues elite. She adopted Montreal as her home after earning her BFA in Jazz Studies and Theatre from Concordia University.

Since then, her fiery stage presence and soul-stirring performances have garnered her national and world-wide recognition with multiple awards including Maple Blues Awards for Songwriter, Best Album, Female Vocalist of the Year, and a 2020 American Blues Music Nomination for Vocalist of the Year alongside greats like Curtis Salgado & Mavis Staples.

Her latest record “Mad Love,” was just awarded the 2020 JUNO award for Blues Album of the Year.

Musicians:
Dawn Tyler Watson: vocals
John Sadowy: piano
Morgan Moore: bass
Rich Irwin: drums

Taurey Butler is a phenomenal jazz pianist of the highest calibre.

Hailing from East Orange, New Jersey, he has played in numerous cities across the world from Hong Kong to New York and now makes his home in Montréal.

Taurey’s debut self-titled recording on the Justin Time label was released in November 2011 to resounding critical acclaim.

He emerges as a fully-formed master of hard-driving swing with a deep feeling for the blues and ballads.

It’s easy to get lost in the fire and funk, the sweetness and swing, of Taurey Butler. But you can also follow the light that his music emanates.

Musicians:
Taurey Butler (piano)
Morgan Moore (bass)
Wali Muhammad (drums)

Justin Time Records

Taureybutler.com

Classically trained from the age of 4, as both a Jazz and Classical pianist as well as a composer, Juno award winner, James Gelfand has received critical acclaim in both the jazz world and the film industry.

James Gelfand: piano
Remi-Jean Leblanc: bass
Jim Doxas: drums

Youtube video: “Passing Zone”

Andy Rubal Cuban Quartet – Tribute to Buena Vista Social Club

Born in Santiago de Cuba, young Andy Rubal Bello has had music running through his veins ever since he was a little boy.

Andy Rubal: piano and vocals
Giovanni Ortega: Sax
Kiko Osario: Bass
Luis Izquierdo: Congas

Youtube video: “Andy Rubal with MARACA – Todo o Nada”

Ranee Lee is now celebrating thirty-five years in Montreal, Canada, where she enjoys a successful, multi faceted career as one of Canada’s most popular jazz vocalists, an award-winning actress, a songwriter, and a proud author of children’s books. Ranee has recorded twelve albums, a proud discography of acclaimed recordings that feature some of the finest jazz musicians of our time among its sidemen.

In November 2007, Ranee recorded her tenth album. Recorded live over two nights at The Upstairs, Lives Upstairs offers up 10 tracks penned by the likes of Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, James Taylor and Ranee herself (The Storm) that showcase her expressive, old-school, Sarah Vaughan-style vocals and growth as an artist. Lives Upstairs won the coveted Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album Of The Year 2010.

Ms. Lee is also an excellent and respected teacher. As an educator, Ranee has been part of the University of Laval for eight years, and McGill for over twenty years.

Throughout her career, Ranee has performed with many jazz notables, including Clark Terry, Terry Clarke, Bill Mayes, Herbie Ellis, Red Mitchell, Milt Hinton, Oliver Jones, John Bunch and George Arvanitas.

Youtube video: “Beautiful Love”

Jim Doxas has been heavily influenced by rock, jazz, Motown and World Music. His work can be heard on over 150 albums and soundtracks, and he is a popular featured artist at jazz festivals worldwide.

Jim has been recognized by way of receiving Felix and Juno Awards, as well as nominations for Academy and Grammy Awards.

The Trio is formed of Jean Derome on saxophones and flutes, Normand Guilbeault on doublebass and Pierre Tanguay on drums. These three musicians enjoy a strong reputation on the Montréal music scene and even though they are mostly known as new music and jazz musicians, they are often spotted accompanying our best singers-songwriters, poets, filmmakers, choreographers, etc.

Already active for almost a decade, the Derome Guilbeault Tanguay Trio has presented many repertoires in the past: tributes to Billy Strayhorn and Charles Mingus; an excursion into the Swing repertoire of the ‘30s and ‘40s, with renditions of tunes by Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, etc.; and more recently serious forays into the music of Eric Dolphy, Sonny Clark, Misha Mengelberg, Roland Kirk, Lee Konitz and Lennie Tristano.

The Trio has also played concerts entirely devoted to Jean Derome’s music (particularly as part of his April 2000 Exposition de musique at the Théâtre La Chapelle).

A growing, faithful audience follows the Trio everywhere it performs and the concerts attract an impressive number of young jazz musicians.