“Canadian soprano saxophonist and flutist Jane Bunnett continues to let her love [for] Afro-Latin music guide her… showcasing some of the brightest young instrumental and vocal talent Cuba has to offer.”
— JazzTimes

“Maqueque blends scintillating Afro-Cuban rhythms, folkloric influences, and exhilarating jazz.”
— Earshot Jazz Magazine

“The sextet only has gotten stronger, tighter, funkier, and the music … bears the unmistakable confidence of a band that has found its voice, and is eager to speak with it.”
— DownBeat

Five-time Juno Award winner Jane Bunnett has turned her bands and recordings into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the U.S., and Cuba. A three-time Grammy nominee, Bunnett has received The Order of Canada, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Premier’s Award for Excellence, and is internationally celebrated for her visionary leadership, creative integrity, and deep commitment to Afro-Cuban music.

Formed as a mentoring and recording project with exceptional young Cuban women musicians, Maqueque has grown into a powerhouse ensemble acclaimed across North America and beyond. The group has appeared at major festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival, been featured on Jazz Night in America, and earned wide critical recognition. Their 2014 debut album Jane Bunnett and Maqueque won a Juno Award; Oddara (2016) received a GRAMMY nomination; and On Firm Ground / Tierra Firme (2019) was nominated for a Juno. The band has also released Playing With Fire (2023) and Diez Años (2024). Maqueque was named one of the Top Jazz Groups in the 2024 DownBeat Critics Poll.

New album coming in 2026! The recording features Maqueque augmented by a woodwind choir composed of virtuoso flutist Orlando “Maraca” Valle from Havana and the stunning Magic Sax Quartet from Santiago de Cuba. Arrangements by GRAMMY-winning arranger/pianist Hilario Duran.