The Royal Conservatory of Music has announced the lineup for its 14th concert season, which includes performances by Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jazzmeia Horn, Ravi Coltrane, Laila Biali, Joshua Redman and more.
More than 80 live concerts are planned between September and May at Koerner Hall in Toronto.
“After two long years of stopping, starting, and postponing, Koerner Hall will once again be brimming with great artists across multiple genres,” said Mervon Mehta, executive director of performing arts. “Our season will feature artists from 22 countries, six provinces, and six First Nations, and more than 30 new works will receive premieres. Some of the biggest names on the international music scene will sit comfortably beside emerging Canadian artists who are making their mark … We invite you to join us in the belief that music can bond our fractured society by bringing people together to experience the finest music.”
The theme of this season’s jazz series is devoted to exploring the great composers of the genre.
On Oct. 13, pianists Hilario Durán and David Virelles team up to perform original compositions and works by other seminal Latin jazz composers.
On Nov. 12, Ravi Coltrane will explores the music of his legendary parents John and Alice Coltrane.
On Feb. 11, trumpeter Jens Lindemann, pianist Jon Kimura Parker and the Yamaha All Star Big Band perform a special gala concert called Rhapsody in Blue, highlighting big-band music by composers such as Oscar Peterson, Nat King Cole and Tommy Dorsey.
On Feb. 25, the Mingus Dynasty Band and the John Beasley-led MONK’estra Quartet will join forces for a one-night tribute to both Thelonious Monk and the centennial of Charles Mingus.
On April 22, Joshua Redman’s new 3×3 project plays the music of Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter and Thelonious Monk.
On May 13, two star vocalists of Canadian jazz come together as Kellylee Evans sings the music of Nina Simone and Jackie Richardson tackles the tunes of Abbey Lincoln, Salome Bey and Diane Brooks.
Meanwhile, the eighth season of the Royal Conservatory’s Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage concert series features a lineup of top-tier Canadian and international jazz talent.
On Oct. 28, the series opens with a double bill of Montreal singer-songwriters Dominique Fils-Aimé and Allison Russell, who share a handful of Juno Awards, Polaris Prize nominations and Grammy Award nominations between them.
On Nov. 5, Jazzmeia Horn will perform songs from her latest record, the Grammy-nominated Dear Love, accompanied by an all-star Toronto big band.
On Dec. 1, Lisa Fischer returns to Koerner Hall, this time with the Grammy-winning quintet Ranky Tanky from South Carolina.
On Dec. 3, Laila Biali debuts music from her new album
Wintersongs, accompanied by an all-star ensemble and special guests Jane Bunnett and Emilie-Claire Barlow. The festive evening will feature original material alongside arrangements of beloved holiday classics.
On March 30, multiple Grammy-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant returns to Koerner Hall following the release of her latest album Ghost Song.
Among the Royal Conservatory’s many other concerts planned for the 2022-23 season are performances by Fred Hersch, the Shuffle Demons, Tigran Hamasyan and Somi, along with a special event to mark Truth and Reconciliation Day.
“We are very pleased to welcome audiences back to Koerner Hall for a remarkable new season of richly diverse concert performances,” said Peter Simon, the Royal Conservatory’s president and CEO.
In keeping with recent seasons, Koerner Hall will continue live-streaming select performances.
Tickets and subscriptions go on sale Friday, June 17, at 10 a.m. ET. See the full lineup at rcmusic.com.