Kate Wyatt & Carl Mayotte at NHJF
Updated: Aug 23
Photo / video credit : Raphaëlle Cadoret - M Media Jazz
Kate Wyatt trio
Kate Wyatt Trio at the North Hatley Jazz Festival
A highlight of this year’s North Hatley Jazz Festival was the deeply sensitive performance delivered by Montreal-based pianist and composer Kate Wyatt and her trio. Renowned for her refined lyricism, nuanced playing, and the profound musical rapport she shares with her bandmates, Wyatt transported the audience into a musical world that was both elegant and captivating.
Following the success of her debut album *Artifact* (2022)—which appeared on numerous "best jazz albums of the year" lists and earned her a nomination for the prestigious Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award—the pianist continues her upward trajectory with *Murmurations* (2025). This new release reaffirms the trio’s unique standing within the contemporary Canadian jazz scene.
Joined by bassist Adrian Vedady and drummer Louis-Vincent Hamel, Wyatt presented a performance in North Hatley where grace and intensity met effortlessly. Blending original compositions with inspired improvisation, the trio demonstrated remarkable cohesion; every musical exchange reflected attentive listening and genuine artistic trust.
The performance showcased the group's true strength: a collective expression that was both spontaneous and precise, capable of transcending stylistic boundaries while maintaining a deeply personal identity. It was a concert imbued with beauty, subtlety, and emotion—one that captivated both jazz aficionados and newcomers alike.
Carl Mayotte - bassist
Under a pavilion at the North Hatley Jazz Festival, on a balmy summer evening illuminated by a starry sky, bassist and composer Carl Mayotte treated the audience to a moment of rare intensity as he presented music from his latest album, *Claude*.
Known for his infectious energy, impressive virtuosity, and decidedly modern approach to jazz, Carl Mayotte revealed a more intimate side of his artistic world this time around. Inspired by two pivotal life events—the fire that destroyed his apartment in 2023 and the passing of his father in 2024—this new work navigates themes of nostalgia, resilience, and light.
Driven by a fresh musical language that draws from contemporary jazz, indie-pop, and modern British fusion, the compositions from *Claude* resonated deeply within the unique atmosphere of North Hatley. Blending emotionally charged passages with dazzling musical flights, the concert struck a chord with the audience, eliciting both goosebumps and smiles.
Through this deeply personal project, Carl Mayotte pays tribute to his father, Claude, transforming memories and hardship into a celebration of life. It was a memorable performance that once again confirmed the musician’s essential place on the current Canadian jazz scene.
Photo / video credit : Raphaëlle Cadoret - M Media Jazz
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