Toronto-born, Ottawa-based vocalist, composer/arranger and tuba player Kim Kaskiw is turning a career-altering diagnosis into artistic momentum with the release of her new album, The Latin Jazz Fusion Project, a collection that blends jazz, Latin jazz, funk and fusion influences into an emotionally charged and deeply personal body of work.
The album marks a major milestone for Kaskiw, whose lifelong attachment to music began in infancy. She recalls one of her earliest memories as sitting in a playpen, watching her mother play the piano and “shaking the bars of her play pen in frustration,” desperate to reach the instrument herself. That formative moment set the foundation for a career defined by musical exploration, connection and expression.
The Latin Jazz Fusion Project draws heavily from Kaskiw’s lived experiences and confronts both resilience and loss. Influenced by the vocal storytelling of Shirley Horn and Nancy Wilson and the rhythmic flair of groups like Tower of Power, the project grounds itself in jazz tradition while expanding boldly into new stylistic territory. The album is framed not only as a creative endeavour but also as a personal statement shaped by adversity.
Diagnosed with focal dystonia in 2020—a neurological condition that causes painful involuntary muscle contractions and often disrupts a musician’s ability to perform—Kaskiw’s future in music was thrown into uncertainty. Rather than stepping back, she reframed the challenge as an opportunity to create. The result is an album that reflects her vulnerability and determination, recorded in collaboration with musicians from Toronto, Ottawa and New York City.
Collaborator Joey Berkley, a tenor saxophonist and arranger who also lives with focal dystonia, played a significant role in shaping the record’s sound. Their shared understanding of the condition informed both the artistic direction and the emotional undercurrent of the project. Together, they crafted a collection that highlights Kaskiw’s compositional strength, vocal presence and signature tuba work, while raising awareness for a condition that affects musicians worldwide.
“My motto has always been: If not now, when?” says Kaskiw. “I wanted to find a way to express myself fully in the studio and cheat dystonia in the process. I think I succeeded!” That sense of urgency and perseverance carries through the album’s thematic arc.
Among the standout tracks is “Come to Me,” a timeless love song anchored in Latin jazz and funk influences, complete with full horn arrangements and Kaskiw’s own tuba performance. The piece is described as “brilliantly arranged” by Berkley and showcases the fusion sensibilities that define the project. “Her,” a gentle Bossa Nova, incorporates a lush harmonica solo that adds “unexpected poignancy,” while “Here and Now” captures the emotional gravity of losing a loved one—whether to another person or to illness.
“Sol Sista” serves as a tribute to Kaskiw’s sister on her 50th birthday, built around a creative structure that combines two time signatures adding up to five, reflecting the theme of “five” in honour of the milestone. The track “Rise Up” channels funk influences and acts as “a funky anthem for anyone in recovery from substance abuse,” as well as a nod to Tower of Power. “Waltz for JP” honours Kaskiw’s mentor J.P. Allain, and “Black Rooster,” written during her time in Brazil, captures the humour and tension of being kept awake by a rooster—its call rendered musically through minor seconds. The arrangement, by Berkley, is another example of the album’s blend of storytelling and musicality.
Throughout the record, Kaskiw’s compositions and performances aim to convey a sense of healing, urgency and presence. The album, while technically intricate, remains accessible to listeners through its emotional clarity and thematic focus on recovery, family, mentorship and creativity in the face of constraint.
With The Latin Jazz Fusion Project, Kaskiw delivers more than a genre-spanning album—she offers what she describes as a personal testament to the endurance of the creative spirit. It is, at its core, a reminder that artistic expression can persist even when challenged, and that adversity itself can become a catalyst for innovation.
The release positions Kaskiw not only as a versatile vocalist and composer but also as a resilient artist continuing to shape Canadian jazz through determination, collaboration and a fearless embrace of musical fusion.
