Canadian Jazz Scene

In Canadian jazz history, it all starts with the First Four: pianists Oscar Peterson and Paul Bley, and trumpeters Kenny Wheeler and Maynard Ferguson. They all reached international success in the early '50s, and, interestingly, all of them (except Wheeler) are from Montreal. In the '30s, Guy Lombardo (from London, Ontario) preceded them as a renowned bandleader.

Gil Evans (born in Toronto) ushered in "The Birth of the Cool" with Miles Davis, and his arrangement of "Angel" by Jimi Hendrix proved groundbreaking at the time. Diana Krall is the current face and voice of Canadian jazz, but it is her formidable piano style that underpins all of her work.

Tortured genius Lenny Breau was a child-prodigy jazz guitarist whose fluid, silken style proved immensely influential. Actor Don Francks (TV's La Femme Nikita) released saloon jazz albums in the '60s. Other highlights include Juno winners Metalwood, Jane Bunnett, Doug Riley, and a seldom-heard vocal track by Oscar Peterson.

The Canadian jazz scene is the most exciting in the world, anchored by its annual circuit of festivals, and a veritable explosion of homegrown acts in every possible discipline. From the pioneering efforts of the First Four (Oscar Peterson, Kenny Wheeler, Maynard Ferguson, and Paul Bley) to today's stars, like Diana Krall, Amon Tobin, and Molly Johnson, our Canadian Jazz Scene playlist is a concise sampler of the nation's jazz from past to present.