MA:Q JAZZ
MA:Q (pronounced M-A-Q) is the genre-bending project of Toronto-based musician and composer Mary Ancheta, blending modern jazz, funk, soul, blues, and elements of world music into a sound that is both adventurous and deeply groove-driven.
Following her 2023 EP Level Up, MA:Q’s full-length debut, When the Light Comes to Play, pushes the boundaries with odd meters, angular blues, dynamic grooves, and intricate arrangements. The album’s title track drives forward 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 impressive range of artists, including The Headhunters at the Montreal Jazz Festival, BADBADNOTGOOD, Parlor Greens, Seamus Blake, and Molly Lewis. In 2023, 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 remixes of “When the Light Comes to Play” and “Slack” by internationally acclaimed producers Mark de-Clive Lowe and Opolopo.
MA:Q is music without boundaries—rhythmic, soulful, raw, and always moving forward.
SCORING FOR FILM & TV
Mary Ancheta is a Canadian-Filipina composer and musician, born in Hamilton, Ontario. She studied music at McMaster University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music. Now based in Vancouver, BC, Mary’s music can be heard across film and television, including productions featured on Showtime, Netflix, HBO, National Geographic, and more.
Her scoring work includes Nakabingwit: First Comes Love (National Film Board of Canada), Emergence (Knowledge Network), Dino-Pup Dance (Corus), Golden Delicious (feature film), Subaru (commercial), Nosocomephilia (short film), a three-part ad series for the International Development and Relief Foundation, and Doj Jeh Mama – Thank You Grandma (Asian Heritage Month), among others.
Mary is deeply committed to storytelling and exploring the human condition through music. She is passionate about collaborating with filmmakers and artists and strives to help bring diverse stories and perspectives to the screen through her work.