Nancy Walker

Nancy Walker Biography

Pianist and composer Nancy Walker has been recognized with honours Canada-wide, including the Montréal Jazz Festival’s Grand Prix de Jazz, the National Jazz Awards Keyboardist Of The Year Award, a JUNO nomination for Instrumental Album Of The Year, and an induction into the Mississauga Music Walk Of Fame. A dynamic improviser, an artful composer and a responsive accompanist, Nancy has been praised both for her work as a solo artist and as a musical collaborator. As a side player she can be heard on a wide range of recordings, by artists from saxophonist Kirk MacDonald to vocalist Emilie-Claire Barlow to children’s entertainer Raffi. More recently she can be heard on the 2024 recording Here’s To Life by John Neudorf (on which she was both pianist and co-producer), and Sarah Jerrom’s 2025 JUNO-nominated Magpie.

Tracy Yang

Born: February 17, 1988

Born and raised in Taiwan, Tracy Yang has established herself as a composer, musician, and cross-discipline artist in New York City. Recognized with the Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, she's also been honored with grants from respected institutions like New Music USA, New York Foundation for the Arts, and Pathways to Jazz. She has collaborated with esteemed ensembles such as The Army Jazz Ambassadors, BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, SWOJO, and Taipei Jazz Orchestra. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Yang's expertise extends to the dance world, where she collaborates with renowned dance institutions, including Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Limón, Juilliard School, and ABT, to name a few

Estrella Acosta

Born: January 20

Cuban born vocalist Estrella Acosta is an acclaimed and versatile singer-songwriter. Though she never stopped singing the folk songs of her motherland, she is equally at home embracing various Brazilian and jazz idioms. With her warm earthy voice she creates an energetic yet intimate and personal style, rooted in the sounds of her native Cuba.

She has left a travel footprint that truly makes her a citizen of the world. After completing a degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, she set out to pursue her musical dreams in a journey that took her to Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, New York City and, finally, Amsterdam, where she now resides.

Wendy Jones

Born: June

Wendy is a jazz vocalist, recording artist, songwriter and arranger who is often praised for her approachable and accessible presence...both onstage and off. She consistently receives accolades for her authentic and honest renditions of jazz standards as well as her ability to transport an audience with her musical storytelling. She is drawn to music that is beautiful, somewhat nostalgic, but also though-provoking. 

 As a professional vocalist, Wendy has appeared on stages from NYC to Chicago to Tokyo and has performed with artists such as NEA Jazz Master Jamey Aebersold, legendary jazz guitarist Howard Alden, jazz violinist Christian Howes, Crystal Gale and has sung backup for the alternative hip hop group Deltron 3030.  She has appeared at Club Bonafide in NYC, the Jazz Arts Initiative in Charlotte, the The Mauldin Blues and Jazz Festival, Mountain Oasis Music Festival, the Spartanburg Jazz Festival, Our World Festival, and the Django Reinhardt Festival in Asheville, NC.

The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet & Drums

Born: June 9, 1988

THE TIPTONS SAXOPHONE QUARTET & DRUMS are an internationally renowned all-female saxophone quartet with drums, celebrating over 30 years as a band. Formed in 1988 in Seattle, WA by Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame member Amy Denio (alto sax, clarinet, voice), she is joined by co-leader Jessica Lurie (soprano/alto/ tenor sax,voice), Sue Orfield (tenor sax, voice), Tina Richerson (baritone saxophone, voice), and Robert Kainar (drums,percussion) from Salzburg, Austria.

The Tiptons' material ranges from micro-Big Band to Gospel, Bluegrass to Balkan, whimsical Chamber Jazz, and nocturnal Funk to Free Jazz Improvisation using saxophones, clarinet, their voices, drums, and inventive percussion to create a genre-busting ‘world soul’ sound. The band takes its name in honor of Billy Tipton, a female-born saxophonist who lived their life as a man in the 20th century to realize their dreams as a professional musician. Like Billy, the Tiptons have developed a personal, eclectic approach to their musical vision, creating some of the freshest sounds on the jazz/world/pop music scene today.