LIVE MUSIC with Alison Young hosted by The Night Owl and Dorland Music!

The Night Owl and Dorland Music are thrilled to announce an exciting night of music showcasing award-winning saxophonist, Alison Young. Alison provides an exhilarating musical ride that will captivate the audience.

Alison Young, a JUNO-nominated and Maple Blues award-winning saxophonist and composer, was born and raised in Ottawa. She began performing professionally as a teenager, cultivating a passion for blues, R&B, and jazz. After moving to Toronto to study music at the University of Toronto, Alison became a prominent figure in the city’s music scene and toured internationally as a side musician with various artists.

Since 2012, Alison has led her own ensemble, composing, and arranging for groups ranging from duos to septets. Her current project features some of Toronto’s top musicians: Jeff McLeod on piano and organ, Reg Schwager on guitar, Chris Banks on bass, and both Morgan Childs and Al Webster on drums. The Alison Young Quintet has headlined major stages at festivals such as the Toronto Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Markham Jazz Festival, and Niagara Jazz Festival. In 2017, CBC recognized Alison as one of the "Best 35 Canadian Jazz Artists Under 35," and she was featured in Pat LaCroix and Ted O'Reilly's book Toronto Jazz Treasures alongside some of her musical inspirations.

Driven by her love for hard bop, soul, and New Orleans-style funk, Alison recorded an album of mostly original compositions later that year, focusing on energetic and dynamic performances while maintaining a strong emphasis on elegant, memorable melodies. The album also featured the late Canadian jazz legend Guido Basso, who contributed his signature lyrical sound to two tracks. The Alison Young Quintet's debut album, So Here We Are, was released in November 2018 and earned a JUNO nomination for Solo Jazz Instrumental Album of the Year in 2019.

As a versatile and highly sought-after saxophonist, Alison Young has established herself as an in-demand side musician across a variety of genres. She has contributed to over 50 recordings, including JUNO-nominated albums by Alysha Brilla, Shakura S’Aida, and Digging Roots. Alison has performed extensively throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, sharing the stage with artists such as Joe Sealy, Big Rude Jake, Johnny Reid, the Shuffle Demons, and Suzie McNeil.

In the summer of 2019, she toured across Canada with pop icon Corey Hart and was featured on his single “Dreaming Time Again.” Alison’s exceptional talent has earned her the Maple Blues “Horn Player of the Year” award for three consecutive years in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Host or Publisher The Night Owl