Aimee-Jo Benoit is a Calgary-based vocalist and a dynamic force in the jazz community. She is known for her distinct singing style and deep connection to Canadian songwriting. Artists like Sarah McLachlan and Blue Rodeo were a big part of her life, influencing her approach to storytelling and music.
Aimee-Jo has released two albums: Borjoner (2020), an improvisational collaboration with Trio Velocity, and Horns of Hope, released last year. Beyond performing, she serves on the board of BuckingJam Music Foundation and shares her experiences on her blog, Mother/Music/Hood.
Horns of Hope
“I received a grant from Calgary Arts Development at the beginning of the pandemic. By the time I got the grant in October 2020, I had started working in long-term care because both my husband and I lost work due to shutdowns.
“I had initially planned an intimate album that required deep creative focus, but with a full-time job and three kids, I had no time. By summer 2022, I realized that if I didn’t make another album, I’d be shutting off a piece of myself.
“I needed music that lifted me out of that darkness. The album explores the contrast between light and dark, between defeat and victory. It reflects not just my family’s experience during COVID but also the struggles of society as a whole. The theme of hope was central because we all needed something to hold on to.”
Cover vs. Arrangement
“Some songs almost beg for another version. Tension in interpretation is what brings new meaning to a song. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about interpretation and metaphor. That’s why I have a hard time when my music is simply labelled as a ‘cover.’ There’s so much more effort involved than just playing the same chords.
“Carsten Rubeling, an arranger I’ve worked with, approaches arrangements with a mathematician’s precision. Every aspect — the tempo, the horns, the drums — adds another layer to the story. That’s the difference. Some might call it pretentious, but I’m okay with that.”
Introduction to Jazz
“My introduction to jazz came through pop music — Sinéad O’Connor’s Am I Not Your Girl?, Björk, and Nina Simone in movie soundtracks. Later, my brother introduced me to more artists, and I had a boyfriend in college who [hosted] a jazz show on CJSW. That exposure helped me appreciate the layers of jazz — how songs are constructed and how they evolve in performance.
“The real magic of jazz happens live. It’s like musicians speaking their language. Of course, this happens in other genres, too, but that dialogue is constant in jazz. Musicians interact, react, and build on each other’s ideas in real-time.”
Dream Collab
“Being in bands like Woodpigeon was a special experience. Joining the band gave me the freedom to focus on singing and performing in a way that felt empowering.
“As for dream collaborations, I’d love to work with some heavy-hitting female jazz musicians, like Jodi Proznick or Laila Biali. If I could go back in time, I’d love to meet and collaborate with John Coltrane — that would be a dream.”
Calgary Jazz Scene
“We host a house concert series featuring incredible musicians from across Canada and sometimes the States, but Calgary lacks a dedicated jazz venue. In larger cities like New York or Toronto, there are venues specifically for jazz — small, intimate spaces where you can walk in on a Friday night to catch a show. Calgary doesn’t have that consistency.
“I know for a fact we have an incredible amount of talent in this city. And across the board, a lot of arts organizations are struggling with venue size and affordability.”
“Art was enough to save us all…”
“I thought art could be enough to bring about change. But after seeing the political climate shift, I realized that art alone doesn’t create change. If it’s just created in isolation, it’s only meaningful to the artist.
“I now understand that the power of art comes from experiencing it together as a community. Whether it’s three people or 100, the shared experience of witnessing art transforms us. In a world where so many people are isolated, it’s crucial to come together — not just as an audience, but as humans, to experience each other.”
Quick Takes
Favourite jazz venues in Calgary:
BuckingJam Palace (BJP), Bella Concert Hall
Albums she’s been obsessed with lately:
Lizzy McAlpine – Spring into Summer
Noah Franche-Nolan – Within the Stream
Caryn Davidson 9 – The History of Us
Best piece of advice received as an artist:
“Your value is not in what you do; it’s in just being” — as creatives, we are constantly in a state of absorbing and putting out. Accepting that being is enough is a crucial lesson.”
This Q&A was created as part of a collaboration with Art Commons.
Aimee-Jo Benoit will perform with The New Assembly in Canmore on April 12 and in Edmonton on April 15. To see and listen to her works, visit aimeejobenoit.com and follow her on Instagram: @aimeejobenoitmusic.
