Amoung the great art events being presented this week at York University is a selection of fine live jazz.

From March 21 through 24 The York U Jazz Festival offers midday and evening performances featuring the York U Jazz Orchestra led by Al Henderson, four jazz choirs, and ten small ensembles directed by the likes of Mike Murley, Lorne Lofsky, Kevin Turcotte and Mark Eisenman.

Check out the full calender of events here yorku.ca

Check Thursday March 30th off on your calander and get out to see some great performances and support a good cause.

St. Stephen’s Community House proudly presents the 4th Annual Global Divas Gala Concert, an international celebration of women and song. Official performance line-up includes:

Jane Bunnett the Toronto soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader, has built her career at the crossroads between Cuban music and jazz. Twice nominated for Grammy awards, a fixture of the nominations for Canada’s Juno awards, and honored with an appointment to the Order of Canada, Toronto’s own jazz virtuoso has turned her bands into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the United States, and Cuba. janebunnett.com

Muna Mingole “The Blue Flame of Cameroon”, sets the stage ablaze while taking her audience on a cultural voyage through African music. Described as Canada’s Queen of the most popular rhythms of Cameroon, Makossa and Bikutsi, her first album, Dipita, was nominated as “Best Global Rhythms Recording of the Year” at the 2005 UMAC Awards. Muna’s immense popularity has lead her to share the stage with music greats such as Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Kanda Bongo Man (Democratic Republic of Congo), and The Têtes Brulées (Cameroon). munamingole.com

Tanya Tagaq Gillis is possibly the most unique performer of traditional, Canadian music in our country. In just six short years, the groundbreaking Inuk throat singer, has brought an ancient Inuit vocal game to the heights of the experimental music scene. Born in Cambridge Bay, Nanuvut, she’s collaborated with Bjork, the Kronos Quartet, and in 2003 she toured Europe as part of the Canada Council’s “Sonic Weave tour”. This past November, at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, the enigmatic performer earned a standing ovation and three awards, including “Best Female Artist”. This March, Tagaq’s work with the Kronos Quartet will culminate in a performance at Carnegie Hall. tanyatagaq.com

Amanda Martinez Born to Mexican and South African parents, Amanda Martinez was immersed early in the music of Latin jazz giants. Today, her own stylized mixes of bossa-infused Afro Cuban rhythms, Mexican folk, and jazz leaves Latin music lovers enthralled and blissfully mesmerized. Since 2001, the rising songstress has been a regular feature at Toronto’s downtown jazz clubs, festivals, and on televised broadcasts. When not performing to capacity audiences, or composing original material, Martinez is the host of the listener-acclaimed “Café Latino” on Jazz FM 91.1.

Kellylee Evans is a unique voice in the jazz world – and many of today’s top musicians and producers have taken notice. With a smooth, unique style that dances through Jazz, Soul, R’nB, Blues, and World Music rhythms, Kellylee’s rich and energizing sound ignites inspiration.

In 2004, Kellylee was awarded 2nd place in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition. The judges, including Quincy Jones, and Dee Dee Bridgewater chose Kellylee out of a pool of over 160 gifted vocalists from around the world. Since 2005, she has been a regular contributor to CBC Radio, a fixture on Rogers TV, and showcased on Toronto’s City TV. Following a whirlwind recording session with top artists whose credits include George Benson, Art Garfunkel, The Manhattan Transfer, Erykah Badu, Roberta Flack, and Common, Evans will release her long awaited debut CD, Fight or Flight?

Zaki Ibrahim Twenty-five years, four continents, and several generations in the making, Zaki Ibrahim creates music that is captivating and vibrant, thick with poetics, and steeped in earnest emotion and humor. Shaped by the diversity of her Apartheid-era hometown and household, Zaki was quick to embrace the dual role of singer and cultural connector. She has worked with a broad family of Canadian and South African musicians including Juno Award-winner Kemo (Rascalz), as well as Ladybug Mecca of the Digable Planets. Her two singles, “Grow” and “Daylight”, released under the Treehouse label in the UK, are making the rounds internationally and she is currently putting the finishing touches on her first official full-length release. Later this year, Zaki will perform at the legendary Apollo Theatre.

This year, all proceeds from Global Divas will go towards the St. Stephen’s Youth Arcade. Find out more at ststephenshouse.com