The Jazz Room

Join us for another exciting Thursday night Soul night with GARNETTA CROMWELL & DaGROOVMASTERS!

GARNETTA CROMWELL & DaGROOVMASTERS are a high energy band who leave their audiences with an outstanding memorable performance – their funky fusion blues, finger snapping and toe-tapping music is very contagious!

They have performed at numerous local and national festivals including: Kitchener Blues Festival, TD Jazz, Calgary Bluesfest, Orangeville BluesFest, South Side Shuffle, Lighthouse Blues Fest, Wasaga Beach Blues Fest and many more, including performances at the Hard Rock Cafe & Alfred’s in Memphis. Their critically acclaimed full-length album, “Time to Shine” was released in 2023, and accompanied by a western Canadian tour. It was nominated for two prestigious awards: Maple Blues Award, for New Artist/Group, and the 2024 Blues Blast Magazine Music Award for New Artist Debut Album.

Garnetta Cromwell, a powerhouse lead vocalist and entertainer who sends “goosebumps” up and down your spine, instantly connects and engages with her audience. She has performed at Toronto’s prestigious Massey Hall for two consecutive years on the 35th & 36th Women’s Blues R***e, and has performed alongside some of Canada’s top Juno Award recipients, including: Divine Brown, Dawn Tyler Watson, Tanika Charles, Samantha Martin, Shakura S’aida, Blue Rodeo, Kenny “Boss” Wayne, Angelique Francis and Ken Whiteley.

Saturday afternoon join us for Jazz Jam!

Saturday night at The Jazz Room, you're not going to want to miss Steve Holt!

Steve Holt is a JUNO-nominated jazz pianist and one of Canada’s premier jazz artists. A graduate of McGill University’s prestigious music program (B.Mus Jazz Performance, 1981) and was a student of legendary
pianist Kenny Barron in New York. Holt built his career through decades of international performances, collaborations, and critically acclaimed recordings. He has performed with legendary figures such as Archie Shepp, Larry Coryell, James Moody, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Bob Mover, and Michel Urbaniak. His music blends strong melodies, modern swing, Latin grooves, and lyrical ballads, with a focus on ensemble interplay and improvisation.

In 1983, Holt’s debut album earned a JUNO nomination, setting the tone for a career marked by artistic excellence and innovation. In 2002, he earned Honorable Mention at the USA Songwriting Competition, the world’s largest songwriting contest..

In April 2025, Steve Holt released “The Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet – IMPACT,” his first album as leader and composer in over two decades. IMPACT was nominated for the 2026 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year.

This Friday night The Jazz Room is excited to welcome Ale Avery Nuñez!

Ale Avery Nunez is a 2026 first time Juno Nominee for Vocal Jazz Album. A vocalist, songwriter and bandleader rooted in jazz and soul and based in Toronto, Canada, Ale brings a musical sophistication to every performance, with a tone that is uniquely her own and a true dedication to her artistry. Her influences range from Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Nat King Cole, and Etta Jones to Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones and Feist. An honours graduate of the Bachelor of Music degree at Humber College, Ale has established herself as an in-demand vocalist and musician, making her mark in music scenes near and far. You can often see her perform at venues such as The Rex and Jazz Bistro. She has sung with some of the best musicians of Toronto and New York City including Neil Swainson, Terry Clarke, Adam Arruda, Peter Bernstein and more. Ale was featured in JazzFM91's 2024 Discover Women in Jazz series, and the 2024 TD Markham Jazz Festival. More recently Ale performed at the Toronto Jazz Festival 2025 and Port Hope Jazz Festival 2025. Ale was one of five finalists in the 2025 Ella Fitzgerald International Jazz Vocal Competition by The Blues Alley Jazz Society. Ale recently made her debut in Vancouver and Port Moody with Cory Weeds and the Nightcrawlers, Peter Bernstein and Neil Swainson in late 2025. Ale's debut album with Cellar Music featuring Peter Bernstein and Neil Swainson will be released in August 2026.

Ale’s debut “Under the Lemon Tree,” was recently nominated for a 2026 Juno Award - Best Vocal Jazz Album and is available on all streaming platforms. It was also one of the top 25 Jazz releases in 2025 as selected by JazzFM 91.1's Dani Elwell.

Saturday night the Jazz Room is excited to welcome Gianluca Occhipinti!

Gianluca Occhipinti is a Toronto-based pianist and composer whose work reflects a foundation in both classical and jazz traditions. Immersed in music from an early age, he has developed a distinctive voice shaped by a wide range of influences, mentors, and performance experiences. Over the past year, Gianluca has showcased his original songs at venues across Toronto, the best of which he has amalgamated into his debut album, “Dissolution”.
This show marks the Waterloo debut of Gianluca Occhipinti’s new album “Dissolution”. Comprised of 13 original tracks; drawing inspiration from RnB, gospel, samba, fusion and more, “Dissolution” takes contemporary jazz through a journey of groove and improvisation.

Friday night at The Jazz Room you're not going to want to miss the Patrick Smith Quartet!

This quartet is the new generation’s take on classic jazz. We aim to swing hard and pay hommage to great artists that came before us in this tradition.

Patrick Smith is a saxophonist based in Toronto (originally from Ottawa). He has established himself as one of the most in-demand saxophonists of the Canadian music scene. In recent years he has extensively toured Canada, the US, and Europe with Legends of Motown (featuring Michael Dunston and Gary Beals), My Son The Hurricane, The Reklaws, Chelsea Mcbride’s Socialist Night School, and Forever Seger.

He keeps an active freelance schedule in Toronto and around North America appearing with artists such as Order of Canada Recipient Dave Young, Juini Booth (bassist for Mccoy Tyner and Tony Williams), The Reklaws, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Yemen Blues, Erez Zobary, Heavyweights Brass Band, Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks, Eighth Street Orchestra, Dan Pitt Quintet, King Cardiac, Duck Society, Kazdoura, and Shout The Band. An active bandleader, he currently leads three projects. His quintet which plays hard hitting original modern jazz. A quartet, his generation’s take on classic jazz which swings hard and pays hommage to the great artists of the jazz tradition. And Pangea, which features UK Jazz fused with Neo-Soul, World Music and R&B. A jazz fusion concept group featuring some of the top members of the Toronto music scene. This group draws from the spirit of John Coltrane reimagined in the 21st century in the age of connectivity across the globe. It features local heavyweights of the Toronto music scene. Darryl Joseph-Denie (Ahi), Kae Murphy (BADBADNOTGOOD, Whitney), and Jon Catanus (Erez Zobary, Diskarte)

Jazz Jam, Saturday afternoon! See out website for details!

Saturday night The Jazz Room is excited to welcome back Angela Verbrugge to our stage!

Western Canadian Music Awards ‘Jazz Artist of the Year’ nominee Angela Verbrugge brings Gershwin- and Cole Porter-era standards to life with her signature charm. A finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, Verbrugge weaves in timeless stories of the heart with her own Canadian jazz compositions and lyrics.

The Vancouver Island-based artist is described as “both hip and a hoot” (JazzWeekly), and has toured in Japan, Hong Kong, S. Korea, Taiwan, Türkiye, the UK, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Italy, and coast to coast in Canada — all since 2021! She has released four albums to great reviews from the international jazz press, topped polls in JazzTimes and All About Jazz, and is regularly played on leading jazz radio programs. Her recorded songs have been streamed almost a million times across platforms.

Backed by a stellar piano trio —New York City Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Ray Gallon (p), and first-call Toronto rhythm section members Jon Maharaj (b) and Morgan Childs (dr)— you can expect a warm, witty, and uplifting performance featuring beloved classics and new favourites delivered with irresistible musical chemistry.

Friday night at The Jazz Room, Nevin Campbell and his amazing quartet will be hitting our stage!

Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck took the world by storm in 1959 with the release of the album “Time Out” which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard pop album chart and became the first jazz album to sell one million copies. Together with saxophonist Paul Desmond, their song writing and innovative performances would influence the future generations of jazz musicians. Their most famous song, Take Five, became a world-wide hit and, to this day, is the best-selling jazz song of all time.

Pianist Nevin Campbell brings his stellar quartet, Dave Brubeck Tribute, to the Jazz
Room to celebrate the music of this jazz legend. Come and enjoy an unforgettable
evening as they play selections off of the infamous “Time Out” album, including Take
Five and Blue Rhonda a la Turk, as well as selections off of Dave Brubeck’s vast
performance catalogue. This is a show you do not want to miss!

Thank you and Ontario MPP for Waterloo Catherine Fife for supporting the arts in our community!

This grant has allowed The Jazz Room to complete another successful season - number 15! - of bringing exciting, first-class Jazz music to our community!