NEW ALBUM - AVAILABLE NOW
When the Light Comes to Play
MA:Q (pronounced M-A-Q) is the genre-bending project of Vancouver-based musician and composer Mary Ancheta, blending modern jazz, funk, soul, blues, and elements of world music into a sound that is adventurous, deeply grooved, and always evolving.
Following the 2023 EP Level Up, MA:Q’s full-length debut, When the Light Comes to Play, pushes into new territory with odd meters, angular blues, dynamic grooves, and intricate arrangements. The title track pulses with infectious energy, while “20 Feet From the Street” features legendary guitarist Mike Stern, known for his work with Miles Davis, the Brecker Brothers, and Jaco Pastorius.
MA:Q has shared the stage with an eclectic range of artists, including The Headhunters at the Montreal Jazz Festival, BADBADNOTGOOD, Parlor Greens, Seamus Blake, and Molly Lewis. In 2024, Ancheta and the band were invited to tour Australia and perform in Japan as part of the World Expo in Osaka.
The MA:Q sound continues to evolve beyond the album, with internationally acclaimed producers Mark de Clive-Lowe and Opolopo bringing their own perspectives to remixes of “When the Light Comes to Play” and “Slack.”
MA:Q is music without boundaries - rhythmic, soulful, raw, and always moving forward.
Mary Ancheta: keys
Dominic Conway: sax
Matt Reid: bass
Paul Clark: drums