17 | 2016 | JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP | Mark Kelso & The Jazz Exiles | | The JUNO Awards

Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario

The Jazz Exiles is an exciting new group of musicians helmed by Toronto drummer/composer Mark Kelso. Featuring Rich Brown on bass, Robi Botos on keys, Luis Deniz on sax, and Joey Martel on guitar, these players create an intense and creative musical playground for their Jazz/Funk/Fusion style.

Formed to continue on in the likes of groups such as Weather Report, Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny Group and Snarky Puppy, the music of the Jazz Exiles is energetic and wild, yet melodic and accessible to all. The ferocity of the grooves will definitely get your body moving.

Their first recording, Stealing from My Youth, is a finely crafted and beautiful sounding CD featuring 10 original compositions by Kelso written specifically to feature these fine players. Says Kelso, “With this group of musicians, I have no limits. I can write anything for them and they can take the music and make it sound incredibly exciting and fresh in a very short time.”