Toronto Vocalist Kim Kaskiw Transforms Focal Dystonia Diagnosis Into Triumphant Latin Jazz Fusion Album
Toronto, Ontario born and Ottawa-based Vocalist, Composer/arranger, and Tuba player, Kim Kaskiw unveils her new album THE LATIN JAZZ FUSION PROJECT‘. It’s a deeply personal and rich collection that bridges the worlds of Jazz, Latin Jazz, Funk and Fusion. Drawing from her life’s most profound moments, Kaskiw transforms hardship into harmony, inviting listeners into a world of grace, rhythm, and emotional truth.
Music has always been at the center of Kim’s life. One of her earliest memories is of being in a playpen, watching her mother play the piano. Even before she had words, she remembers shaking the bars of her play pen in frustration, desperate to touch the keys herself. That moment marked the beginning of a lifelong journey — one defined by sound, emotion, and connection.
THE LATIN JAZZ FUSION PROJECT reflects that same raw passion. It’s an album that celebrates life’s beauty while confronting its pain, inspired by her own experiences of loss, recovery, and resilience. With influences ranging from the storytelling of Shirley Horn and Nancy Wilson to the rhythmic genius of Tower of Power, Kaskiw’s powerful sound is both grounded in tradition and yet soaringly original.
A gifted composer vocalist and trailblazing tuba player, Kaskiw has created a work that is at once intimate and expansive. In ‘COME TO ME’ she blends Latin Jazz, funk, full horns including her tuba to create a timeless love song brilliantly arranged by Joey Berkley. The lush harmonica solo in ‘HER’ adds unexpected poignancy on this beautiful Bossa Nova, while ‘HERE AND NOW’, finds the listener identifying with every word. Anyone who has lost a love to another or lost a love to Cancer will immediately identify.
SOL SISTA is a tribute to commemorate her sister’s 50th birthday. This piece combines two, time signatures that add up to five and are based on the 5th degree of the scale to commemorate her 50th. ‘RISE UP’ is a funky anthem for anyone in recovery from substance abuse and a nod to her favourite band, Tower of Power. Waltz for JP is a gift to her musical mentor, J.P. Allain. Meanwhile Black Rooster is a composition Kim wrote while in Brazil; being kept awake by a black rooster cawing (in minor seconds) all night and all day. This is another fantastic arrangement by Joey Berkley.
Diagnosed with focal dystonia in 2020, Kaskiw found her musical future uncertain. The neurological condition causes involuntary painful muscle contractions, making it nearly impossible for many musicians to perform. Instead of retreating, she used her diagnosis as a creative catalyst — composing and recording music that reflects both her vulnerability and her strength.
Collaborating with tenor saxophonist and arranger Joey Berkley, who also lives with musicians’ focal dystonia, Kaskiw approached this recording as both an artistic statement and a triumph of will. Together, they crafted an album that not only celebrates Kim’s music but also raises awareness for a condition that affects millions of 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 perseverance radiates through every note of ‘THE LATIN JAZZ FUSION PROJECT’ a project that feels both deeply personal and universally inspiring.
Musically, the album is a masterclass in emotional storytelling and superb musicianship. Along with stellar musicians from Toronto, Ottawa and New York City, Kim’s voice, tuba and compositions, creates an incredible album that heals, uplifts, and reminds listeners of the beauty of the present moment.
With THE LATIN JAZZ FUSION PROJECT Kim Kaskiw delivers more than an album — she offers a testament to the creative human spirit. It is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, that very creativity drives our human identity and expression.