Toronto-based jazz vocalist Alex Pangman and her quintet have premiered a music video for If We Never Meet Again, a song by Louis Armstrong chosen specifically for this moment in time.

Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats chose the song “during the darkest times of the first wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic, and recorded it safely in isolated studio booths in the summer of 2020.

There’s an added sense of sincerity that Pangman imbues in the lyrics. As an immune-suppressed recipient of a double-lung transplant, the singer has had to stay isolated more than the average Canadian. While other musicians were able to briefly get back into clubs or give small, outdoor concerts this summer, Pangman has had to rely on monthly livestreams from her home to maintain connection to fans and friends.

“Jazz music saw nations through the 1918 flu pandemic, the Second World War, and many other crises,” Pangman says. “It’s built for catharsis, distraction, and also celebration. I’m hopeful that 2021 will bring celebration.”

Watch the music video below.