Masterclass Series
The University of Toronto Jazz Masterclass Series is held every Friday from 3:15-4:30 pm in Walter Hall (Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queens Park.)
Sponsored by the David Rubel Realtor Team, this series offers jazz students the chance to learn from internationally recognized jazz musicians, local talent, and industry experts.
The Jazz Masterclass series is open to all music students, alumni, and staff.
2026/2027 Masterclass Clinicians
Sexual Violence & Harm Reduction
in Music Performance Session
September 25th, 2026
*Current students only
Hosted by Reshma Drodia, Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Faculty of Music, and a representative from the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre.
Reshma is a trauma-informed social worker and educator whose work focuses on the enhancement of individual, communal, and institutional EDI, as well as creating and implementing harm/violence reduction and prevention strategies. Prior to joining the Faculty of Music as its inaugural EDI Director, she was with the St. George Campus Accessibility Services for six years. During her time with this office, she supported thousands of students as an Accessibility Advisor, trained and led a large team of Accessibility Advisors as they accommodated students, and served as the Chair of the office’s first EDI Committee. She co-created a workshop with the university’s AODA Officer on Language, Ableism, and Inclusion she has delivered regularly across the tri-campus since 2020. In 2021, her work was recognized when she received the Jill Matus Excellence in Student Services award. She is actively involved in governance, serving on the University Affairs Board for two years, the board of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations since 2014, and the Leonard Foundation since 2020.
The Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre supports students, staff, and faculty at the University of Toronto who have been affected by sexual violence or sexual harassment. Through confidential, non-judgmental, client-centred services (including appointments and drop-in programs), we’re here to help U of T community members understand and access various support options related to sexual violence prevention and response. We assist in navigating counselling resources, medical services, academic or workplace accommodations, financial aid, and legal help.
Devin Gray
October 2nd, 2026
Devin Gray (Portland Maine, USA) is a distinguished drummer, composer, bandleader and producer known for his innovative contributions to contemporary jazz. Since relocating to New York City in 2006, Gray has become a prominent figure in the jazz community, collaborating with esteemed musicians such as David Liebman, Gary Thomas, Tony Malaby, and Kris Davis. He currently divides his time between Brooklyn and Berlin, engaging with diverse musical scenes.
Gray’s most recent project, “Melt All the Guns II” (2024), continues his exploration of socially conscious themes, this time featuring Ralph Alessi and French pianist Myslaure Augustin. The album comprises tracks like “East Berlin 2024” and “Audre Lorde Straße, “reflecting his engagement with contemporary issues and global perspectives.
Rainer Wiens
October 9th, 2026
Rainer Wiens is a musician focusing on prepared guitar and lamellaphones (plucked idiophones from Africa, called sanza or thumb piano, likembe, mbira or kalimba). He was born in Germany and is currently living in Montréal.
Over the last fifteen years contemporary jazz musician Rainer Wiens has developed one of the most original guitar styles. He has composed music for dance, theater, television, and film.
During the ’80s Wiens appeared in performances across Canada and in Europe with his jazz group, Silk Stockings. Along with Tom Walsh, he was a founding member of the group N.O.M.A., and he also started Sound Image Theater.
Rainer Wiens works closely with Malcolm Goldstein, John Heward, and Frank Lozano, and he has released a compact disc, Bonunca Dream Music.
Mat Maneri & Lucian Ban
October 16th, 2026
For over fifteen years, Ban and Maneri have forged one of the most distinctive artistic partnerships in contemporary improvised music, creating a singular language where Transylvanian folk traditions, European modernism and chamber jazz converge. Their work has resulted in a series of acclaimed albums for ECM and Sunnyside Records, with some of the most important musicians in jazz, from John Surman to Louis Sclavis, from Ralph Alessi to Gerald Cleaver, Tony Malaby and many others.
Their artistic dialogue with Bartók’s legacy began with Transylvanian Folk Songs (2020), recorded with the legendary John Surman and named by NPR among the Best Albums of the Year. The album was hailed by JazzTimes as “as much an act of tribute as it is a transformation” and was followed in 2024 by Transylvanian Dance, released by the german ECM label and representing the culmination of this artistic journey. The recording spanned ongoing touring and appeared in major international and jazz press, from Financial Times, El Pais, European Jazz Media Charts, All About Jazz, and won several Best of the Year lists nominations.
Rather than reconstructing traditional music, Ban and Maneri allow Bartók’s melodies to become catalysts for fearless improvisation. Romanian, Hungarian, Middle Eastern, African and contemporary musical traditions naturally converge within their performance, echoing Bartók’s own belief in the “connective tissue” linking the folk musics of the world.
As Ban and Maneri explain:
“These folk songs reveal what Bartók called the ‘connective tissue’ linking musical traditions around the world—a connection founded on what he described as the ‘brotherhood of peoples.’ Folk music is a vessel of communal memory. More than a century after those villagers sang into Bartók’s Edison phonograph, we continue to participate in that shared culture, its beauty and its mystery. Every improvisation carries not only our own histories and experiences, but also those of the audiences before whom we perform.”
Jazz and Creativity – The Secret Codes Embedded in Béla Bartók’s Field Recordings
The Ban Maneri duo will be performing this music at CONTXT on October 17 evening & a matinee October 18. Tickets will be available at calibanartstheatre.com
October 23rd, 2026
No Masterclass
October 30th, 2026
Fall Reading Week
No Masterclass
Ernesto Cervini New Quartet
November 6th, 2026
Drummer, composer and bandleader Ernesto Cervini has built a reputation as one of Canada’s most distinctive and energetic jazz artists. His newest quartet brings together four exceptional Toronto musicians: trumpeter Kae Murphy, guitarist Andrew Marzotto, bassist Mark Godfrey, and Cervini on drums.
The ensemble marks a new chapter in Cervini’s music, combining the melodic and rhythmic drive that has long defined his writing with a fresh, open-ended approach to the jazz quartet. Drawing inspiration from artists including Radiohead, The Smile, Avishai Cohen, Nir Felder, The Bad Plus and Pat Metheny, the group moves freely between lyrical melodies, intricate grooves, improvisation and raw energy.
Murphy, Marzotto and Godfrey are each compelling musical voices in their own right, and their contrasting personalities give the quartet its distinctive sound. Murphy brings a fearless, expressive approach to the trumpet; Marzotto adds both atmospheric colour and explosive energy on guitar; and Godfrey provides a deeply melodic and propulsive foundation. At the centre is Cervini’s drumming — energetic, interactive and always focused on serving the music.
The quartet’s debut album, Water Pistols at Dawn, showcases Cervini’s latest compositions and a band built around trust, interaction and a willingness to take chances. The result is contemporary Canadian jazz that is adventurous without losing sight of melody: sophisticated, playful, powerful and deeply communicative.
Gentiane MG Trio
November 13th, 2026
Gentiane Michaud Gagnon, known professionally as Gentiane MG, is a Montreal based pianist and composer whose music explores human connection, emotional depth, and the quiet relationship between inner life and the natural world. Blending contemporary jazz, classical influence, and evocative imagery, her work unfolds as a series of poetic musical scenes shaped by memory, curiosity, and lived experience.
Raised in Jonquière in northern Quebec, a region defined by vast wilderness and solitude, Gentiane developed an early sensitivity to sound, silence, and atmosphere. Music became her primary language from a young age and a deeply spiritual anchor. She began piano lessons at five, quickly immersing herself in sound, emotion, and nuance. Alongside music, nature played an equally formative role in shaping her inner world. For Gentiane, both music and nature are wordless languages that must be heard, seen, and lived, offering connection beyond explanation.
Her classical training at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec in Saguenay grounded her in technical fluency, refined touch, and a deep sense of phrasing and emotional clarity, while early exposure to rock music and later immersion in jazz expanded her sense of rhythm, freedom, and collective expression. A defining moment came at age fifteen during a performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto, when she experienced complete presence at the piano and knew music would be her life’s path. Soon after, she moved to Montreal to study jazz, drawn to its emphasis on listening, communication, and shared human experience.
Gentiane holds a master’s degree in jazz performance from McGill University, where she received the Graduate Award Fellowship, as well as a diploma from the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique du Québec. Her primary influences include Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, and Herbie Hancock, alongside a lifelong relationship with classical repertoire and composition.
James Bryan
November 20th, 2026
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James Bryan McCollum (PKA James Bryan) is a Juno and Latin Grammy winning songwriter, guitarist and producer who’s mission is to inspire, uplift and connect through music. He began his career in Canadian acts The Philosopher Kings and Prozzak before James’ passion for collaboration grew into a global songwriting and recording career with top artists including Drake, Nelly Furtado, Shawn Mendes, Luis Fonsi, Martin Garrix, Yuna, Lisa Marie Presley and many more.
James has co-written and performed on hundreds of recordings, with artists from every continent , performed on stages from Wembley Stadium to Madison Square Gardens and Massey Hall. He has lived in Toronto,London and LA and is at home in any studio in the world. James has also released 4 albums as a solo guitarist , most recently , We Rise.
"With anyone I work with, my goal is to find what makes them unique and nurture that until it shines bright enough for the whole world to see and hear."
November 27, 2026
No Masterclass
December 4th, 2026
Last Week Before Break
No Masterclass
Lina Allemano Four
January 15, 2027
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Adventurous chamber-jazz quartet LINA ALLEMANO FOUR, based in Berlin & Toronto, plays trumpeter Lina Allemano’s striking original music. Allemano is recognized as one of the leading innovative trumpeters / composers on the scene today and was winner of the prestigious 2026 German Jazz Prize (Brass Instruments).
LINA ALLEMANO FOUR has been touring extensively across Europe, USA and Canada since 2005 and recorded 8 internationally-acclaimed albums. The band is known for their inventiveness, playfulness, and synergy as they deftly blur the line between composition and improvisation. Their music has been described as abstract melodicism, combining lush colours with dense free-flowing rhythmic textures. Their album Vegetables (Lumo Records) was nominated for 2022 JUNO Awards Jazz Album of the Year (Group), and the band was a featured act at Jazzfest Berlin 2025 where they released their newest album, The Diptychs. LINA ALLEMANO FOUR was named in 2026 for the 5th year in a row in DownBeat Magazine Annual Critics Poll for 'Rising Star Jazz Group’.
Photo by Jim Kroft
Robert Lee Group
January 22nd, 2027
Robert Lee is an upright bassist, composer, and bandleader in the Toronto jazz scene. He is a graduate from the University of Guelph and Humber College music programs. He obtained his Masters in Contemporary Performance from Berklee Valencia in 2021. He has performed at various venues and festivals across Ontario and internationally, including the Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival, the Guelph Jazz Festival, the Newmarket Music Festival, the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, Jimmy Glass Off Festival (Spain), MusicFest Canada, and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival.
Robert performed on the 2024 Juno Nominated album “Little Bit a’ Love” by vocalist Denielle Bassels. He was named a Toronto Arts Foundation Finalist for “Breakthrough Jazz Artist” in 2025.
The Robert Lee Group is a unique project consisting of original compositions inspired by Korean folk stories and poetry, spanning various fantasy and romantic narratives. The project aims to develop an artistic identity founded in the emotional provocation of jazz and improvised music while exploring and implementing Korean traditional elements into one cohesive creative theatre. Robert has delved deeper into exploring his identity as a Korean Canadian, questioning what it means to simultaneously straddle two contrasting cultural identities. Featuring Jacqueline Teh (vocals), Sangah Lee (guest vocals), Jen Lo (piano), Roa Lee (gayageum), Allison Au (on saxophone), Jay Yoo (guitar) and Andrew McCarthy (drums) the project blends jazz improvisation, R&B/soul, folk, and film music with Korean traditional elements into a seamless amalgamation of colourful textures and unique arrangements.
January 29, 2027
No Masterclass
Meghan Gilhespy
February 5th, 2027
Meghan Gilhespy is an experimental vocalist and jazz scholar specializing in feminist jazz historiography. Meghan researches the cultural politics of experimental jazz singing, and is the first woman in Canada to obtain a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies. In addition to a long history of conventional jazz performance, including her own published album Vive Le Tour (2016), Meghan has done studio work for Netflix, The National Film Board of Canada, and presented multiple improvised performances with dancers, which has expanded her skills as an experimental vocal improviser. She has been a faculty member at the Creative Music Workshop since 2024, and is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Concordia. University in Montréal.
February 12, 2027
No Masterclass
February 19, 2027
Winter Reading Week
No Masterclass
Ralph Alessi ft. Ches Smith,
Matt Mitchell, Jon Hebert
February 26th, 2027
Ralph Alessi is an ECM recording artist and acclaimed American jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator known for his distinctive and innovative approach to jazz improvisation and composition. Born in San Rafael, California, in 1963, he was raised in a musical family. His father, Joseph Alessi, was a classical trumpeter and his mother, Maria Leone, an opera singer. In addition, his brother Joe Alessi is a world renowned classical trombonist. His upbringing in this environment laid the foundation for his deep connection to music.
He studied at the California Institute of the Arts, where he pursued both classical and jazz music, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (and master’s degree in jazz bass). Alessi’s versatility in different musical traditions has contributed to his unique sound, blending classical precision with avant-garde jazz.
Alessi relocated to New York City in 1991, and since then has collaborated with many prominent musicians, such as Steve Coleman, Ravi Coltrane, Jason Moran, Don Byron, Fred Hersch and Uri Caine. His own ensembles and recordings showcase his skill as both a bandleader and a composer, with 13 albums as a leader. This include Baida (2013), released on ECM Records, receiving widespread acclaim for its complex, lyrical compositions and improvisations. Baida was shortlisted by several publications as one of the best jazz albums of the year. His latest ECM release in 2024 was It’s Always Now which writer Jim Macnie proclaimed as having a “poignant lyricism.” In 2025, he will record and release his 5th album on ECM records featuring Matt Mitchell, John Hebert, Ches Smith and his brother Joe, appearing together on record for the first time.
In addition to his performance career, Alessi is also a committed educator. He has been on the faculty at institutions such as the Eastman School of Music and the New England Conservatory, and currently the founder and director of the School for Improvisational Music in Brooklyn, New York as well as on faculty at the Hochschule der Künste Bern in Switzerland. His teaching emphasizes creative exploration and improvisation, influencing a new generation of jazz musicians.
Alessi’s music is celebrated for its intricate, emotive, and expressive qualities, blending technical mastery with an adventurous spirit. His innovative work continues to shape contemporary jazz and inspire both listeners and fellow musicians.
Undercurrent Qt & Zack Lober
March 5, 2027
A native of Montreal, Canada, via NYC and Boston, Zack Lober is a bassist and composer now based in The Netherlands. He is a co-founder of the critically acclaimed jazz group "The Story" and leads his own group called "The Ancestry Project", a performance piece featuring music and video that also incorporates his musical explorations with turntables. He is also the co-leader of the collective quartet “Landline” along with fellow members Chet Doxas, Jacob Sacks, and Vinnie Sperrazza. His latest Netherlands based trio project NO FILL3R features drummer Sun-Mi Hong and trumpeter Suzan Veneman. The group’s second album “So We Could Live” featuring Dutch tenor saxophone legend Jasper Blom was released to critical acclaim in October 2025. He is active as an educator and clinician and holds a Masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
He has performed as a band member in groups led by artists including David Binney, Henry Threadgill, Seamus Blake, Butch Morris, Frank London, John Escreet, Greg Ward, Jamie Baum, Jerry Bergonzi, Phil Grenadier, Jason Palmer and Chet Doxas and has also performed throughout Europe, India, Mexico, Canada, and the United States in bands led by Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen, Benoit Charest, Christophe Schweizer, as well as with "The Story".
Zack is also active in the rock and pop world and has performed and/or recorded with artists including Caro Emerald, Zach Williams (of The Lone Bellow), Jessica Williams (Girls), The Swingle Singers, Emma Frank, Alejandra Ribera, Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy (The Cult).
Ostara Project (Trio)
March 12th, 2027
For Canadians, the arrival of spring is momentous: the air is fresh and full of possibility as tender green shoots reach up towards the light and the cycle of rebirth and renewal begins again. The Ostara Project, named for the Germanic goddess of the spring equinox, embodies hope and growth by showcasing the strength and creativity of Canadian women in jazz.
Ostara artists are all top-tier musicians, composers and bandleaders who reflect the geographical, cultural and creative diversity of Canada’s musical landscape. Lead by award-winning jazz musicians Jodi Proznick and Amanda Tosoff, The Ostara Project includes Rachel Therrien, Allison Au and Valérie Lacombe, with guest artists invited on a per-project basis. Individually, they are outstanding artists: collectively, they are a force.
Ostara’s self-titled debut album (Cellar Live, 2022) received a JUNO award nomination 2023. Two upcoming albums—Roots (instrumental) and Wings (vocal)— feature original compositions that celebrate the cultural, ethnic and familial backgrounds of Ostara artists plus an impressive roster of guests: Shruti Ramani, Emilie- Claire Barlow, Laila Biali, Dawn Pemberton and Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson.
In a genre and industry where women are severely underrepresented, the Ostara Project is a powerful example of perseverance, community and creativity. New growth rising, stretching to claim space, propelled by joy. This is the music of Ostara.
