by Mike Lisching
I still feel the pulse of the thousands of festival goers at the TD Stage at the Montréal International Jazz Festival in 2024. The energy of that summer night is now available to the world on Dominique’s 2024 live album.
This past week, I had the opportunity to capture moments at two unforgettable and far more intimate performances by Montréal-based singer Dominique Fils-Aimé—first at the SFJAZZ Joe Henderson Lab, and then at the Blue Note Napa. Each show highlighted not only her extraordinary vocal range, but also the emotional depth and precision that has made her one of Canada’s most celebrated rising artists.
Dominique first caught international attention after being nominated for Révélation Radio-Canada, and shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize in 2019. Then in 2020, she won the Juno Award for “Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” for Stay Tuned! In 2024, she returned triumphantly to the Montréal International Jazz Festival with a headlining set that drew thousands, cementing her place as a powerful voice in contemporary soul and jazz. Her music, deeply rooted in blues, gospel, and soul traditions, often traces the journey of Black music through history—bridging personal storytelling with cultural homage.
At SFJAZZ, her set was marked by crystalline clarity and control, moving effortlessly from tender whispers to soaring, gospel-inflected crescendos. Songs like Love Take Over and Big Man Do Cry carried a hypnotic groove, with the band laying down a lush foundation of bass, percussion, and subtle guitar textures.
In the quiet of the intimacy, one could hear the occasional coughing of a fan in the early rows. Dominique answered this moment with care and love, taking a bottle of water from the stage to the fan before continuing the performance. This act of love was a display of themes seen in her music. She also spoke directly to questions of love and play between songs, talking to “jumping in puddles, hiding cookies in your pocket”, and asked the audience, “What if we brought back nap time? To lie down on the floor, cry and laugh, anywhere, anytime”.
The second night at the Blue Note Napa show offered an opportunity to accept Dominique’s invitation to not just listen, but experience the performance. Often performing with her eyes closed, we joined her with our closed eyes to feel the moment without sight. In the intimate club setting, Dominique leaned into warmth and direct connection with the audience. The audience didn’t need to speak French to feel the emotion of Moi Je T’aime, and the room pulsed with the depth of the rhythms and soaring guitar of Our Roots Run Deep to close the show.
After the show, I overheard one new fan offer, “I feel like I have been reborn”.
What makes Dominique’s live performances remarkable is how she balances precision with vulnerability. Every note feels intentional, yet never rigid. She uses silence and breath as much as melody, allowing songs to expand into moments of stillness before rushing back with rhythmic vitality.
With her ability to cross genres while staying rooted in jazz and soul traditions, Dominique Fils-Aimé is an artist to watch closely. These Bay Area performances were proof of her artistry and generosity as a performer—inviting the audience not just to listen, but to feel deeply.
Dominique heads to Seattle and Portland this week but returns to California for one more show at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 26. This is a show not to be missed.
Band Members: Harvey Bien-Aimée – Percussion, Etienne Miousse – Guitar, David Osei-Afrifa – Keyboards, Danny Trudeau – Bass, Simon Lévesque – Sound Sculpting
SF Jazz
Blue Note Napa
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