Jacksoul

After a decade of turning audiences into dancing maniacs, Toronto’s Jacksoul have carved out a unique place in the country’s music scene. A “soul-jazz juggernaut,” the focus of this powerhouse is frontman/vocalist Haydain Neale, whose silky voice can go from rich charcoal all the way up to a spirit-tingling falsetto. After winning a Juno in 2000 for Sleepless, Jacksoul dug deeper for their 2004 release, Resurrected, which harkens back to the classic soul and R&B of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Al Green. Sweet and dangerous, the full-on funk of Jacksoul is an open invitation to head out onto the dance floor.

“Soul music. Straight-up, raw dawg, takin’ no prisoners, goin’ for your throat, tear-jerkin, ass shakin’, sweet and low down, fried chicken and dumplings with a side of grease, mess around and hurt yourself soul music!” proclaims Haydain Neale.