Maximilan de Souza
Bandleader • Bassist • Vocalist • Arranger
50+ Years of International Performance Experience
Maximilan is a world-traveled bassist, vocalist, and musical director with more than five decades of professional experience across East Africa, Europe, South America, the United States, and Canada. Known for his signature Steinberger CRM 4- and 5-string electric upright bass sound and his powerful lead vocals, he arranges all the music for his group and continues to perform with passion and precision.
Born in East Africa, Maximilan began playing bass at age 15 and quickly became a sought-after young musician, performing in major hotels, golf clubs, international venues, and backing high-profile cabaret artists. Over the years, he has played countless stages holding audiences of up to 2,500 people, working in genres ranging from jazz to blues, rock, country, classical, ragtime, bluegrass, folk, Motown, and pop.
In London, England, Maximilan studied at the renowned Berklee School of Music extension program and worked with EMI Records, where he met and socialized with some of the most legendary artists of the era. His time around EMI placed him in the company of The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Michael Jackson, The Mamas & the Papas, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Jimi Hendrix, David Cassidy, Pink Floyd, and members of the Count Basie Big Band, among many others.
Maximilan’s performances have taken him to world-class venues including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Hammersmith Palais, and festivals and events across England, Europe, Canada, the US, South America, Holland, and East Africa. Today, he calls Canada home and is an active member of the Canadian Independent Recording Artists Association (CIRAA).
Musical Influences
Maximilan draws inspiration from a rich blend of iconic artists and stylings:
Jazz & Big Band: Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Fats Waller, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker
Classic Vocalists: Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole
Motown & Soul: The Temptations, The Supremes, The Commodores, The Four Tops, The Miracles, Jackson 5, James Brown
Rock & Pop Legends: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Shadows, The Animals, Mamas & the Papas
Today
With over 50 years on global stages, Maximilan continues to perform, lead his ensemble, arrange music, and share his lifelong passion for rhythm, melody, and storytelling through song.
Electric Upright Bass/Fretted and Fretless Bass/6 string/5 string 4 string and guitar
John Collin (Drums)
ABOUT JOHN COLLIN
Professional Drummer • Jazz & Swing Specialist • Band Leader
John Collin is an accomplished drummer known for his dynamic artistry in jazz, swing, and big band performance. A Toronto native with more than twenty years of professional experience, John is recognized for his versatility, musicality, and deep understanding of the jazz tradition.
John studied in the Jazz Program at Humber College, where he trained under the renowned Roger Flock. Since then, he has become a familiar name in Toronto’s jazz community, performing with many of the city’s leading Big Bands and contributing his distinctive rhythmic style to ensembles of all sizes.
His work has been featured on Toronto’s premier jazz radio station, 91.1 JazzFM91, as well as on jazz radio in the United States. John has shared the stage with an impressive lineup of artists, including North American jazz legends Dave Pell and Pat LaBarbera, and has appeared at major Jazz Festivals across the Greater Toronto Area. He has also been featured in online and print publications, including Jazz Music Archives.
John’s career extends far beyond the local scene. He has toured across Canada with actress/singer Cassie Steele of Degrassi: The Next Generation, and has performed internationally as a show band drummer for Celebrity Cruises and Seabourn Cruises, as well as at high-end hotel engagements throughout Asia.
In addition to his performance career, John has contributed to more than 30 musical theatre productions and is frequently in demand for studio recording work. His session credits include projects produced by Cone of Sum 41, reflecting his ability to adapt across musical styles with ease and precision.
Today, John leads his own jazz ensemble and continues to perform at top venues throughout Toronto, bringing his refined sense of swing, creativity, and professionalism to every stage he plays.
Mr Ken Jones – Piano
KEN JONES — Pianist • Educator • Composer
Ken Jones is an accomplished pianist, composer, and educator with more than 30 years of experience teaching instrumental music and theory to students of all ages. As the co-founder of Ukulele Kids, Ken has inspired thousands of young musicians, helping them discover the joy of music through playful, accessible learning.
Based in North York, Ontario, Ken served as Head of Music at Earl Haig/Claude Watson School for the Arts, where he directed numerous award-winning ensembles in both Provincial and National competitions. His passion for music education extends beyond the classroom—Ken has adjudicated at festivals across the province and has been a driving force in developing early music literacy programs.
A versatile composer and arranger, Ken created original music and sound design for more than 65 educational software titles produced by Discis Knowledge Research, used widely in elementary schools throughout Canada.
Ken is also the long-standing Music Director at Kilcoo Camp for boys in Minden, Ontario, where he blends performance, instruction, and leadership to create meaningful musical experiences for the next generation.
As a performer, Ken appears regularly across the Greater Toronto Area, both with his band and as a solo pianist. His engagements include concert halls, private events, corporate functions, and club performances, where his expressive playing and warm stage presence shine.
As an “edu-tainer,” Ken brings enthusiasm, creativity, and inspiration to every stage and classroom, showing students that learning an instrument is not only attainable—but truly life-enriching.
GUEST ARTISTS – Mr Paul Mifsud -Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet
PAUL MIFSUD — Saxophonist • Multi-Instrumentalist • Performer
Paul Mifsud is a versatile saxophonist and woodwind specialist with a strong foundation in jazz performance and an extensive background on the international stage. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Paul developed his craft under some of the finest jazz educators in North America.
Paul’s career has taken him across major entertainment hubs, including extensive show band work in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, where he performed in high-energy productions for diverse audiences. He also toured nationwide with Robbie Lane and the Disciples, bringing his powerful tone and improvisational skill to stages across Canada.
Today, Paul is the lead alto saxophonist with the Brampton Jazz Mechanics, a celebrated big band known for its dynamic summer performances at outdoor venues throughout Brampton. Beyond jazz, Paul is active in rock, blues, and Latin groups across southern Ontario, showcasing his stylistic range and technical versatility.
A skilled doubler, Paul frequently performs with pit orchestras throughout the Greater Toronto Area, playing clarinets, flutes, and multiple saxophones—an essential talent in musical theatre productions.
Based in Keswick, Ontario, Paul continues to perform, collaborate, and contribute to the vibrant music community across the region.