I just saw the list of jazz artists involved in this year’s Juno Awards for the best Canadian jazz albums of 2019, including the list of winners. I listened to some of each nominated record—and decided to play a track from some of them that resonated with me. Some of them weren’t even in the ‘jazz’ category—but I thought they were at least pretty close to jazz.

You’ll hear selections by Dominique Fils-Aime, Bill McBirnie with Bernie Senensky, Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop, Dave Young Trio, Monkey House, Al Muirhead, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, OKAN, Joel Miller, John Stetch, Jacque Kuba Seguin, and Djely Tapa.

Sorry I didn’t have room in a one hour podcast to play all the nominees.

Other musicians you’ll hear—those who were part of the ensembles featured—are Don Breithaupt, Mark Kelso, Pat Kilbride, Justin Abedin, Kelly Jefferson, Reg Schwager, Neil Swainson, Ted Warren, Steve Kortyka, Ben Tiberio, Philippe Lemm, Elizabeth Rodrigues, Madelys Savigne, Danae Olano, Tailin Marrero, Yissy Garcia, Mary Paz, Joanna Majoke, Larry Cramer, Kevin Turcotte, Tara Davidson, Joel Frahm, William Carn, Adrean Farrugia, and Dan Loomis. Whew! That’s a lot.