Black Gardenia takes listeners on a journey to an age where cool meant classy and noir was the norm. With Daphne Roubini at its helm, Black Gardenia evokes smoky elegance and cinematic swing — a Vancouver jazz mainstay now on the rise.
Their forthcoming 2026 release, Whiskey Scented Kisses (Cellar Live), marks Black Gardenia’s finest work yet. Leaving the ukulele far behind, Roubini embraces a more expansive palette: lush horn arrangements crafted by Paul Pigat, seven original songs co-written with band members, a never-before-published gem, and two exquisitely reimagined standards.
Inspired by the classic jazz recordings of the 1940s and 1950s, Black Gardenia creates music that feels timeless — at once vintage in spirit and alive with modern nuance.
“In the last years I found my life has evolved significantly, and with that so did this new Black Gardenia sound. I no longer felt like playing the ukulele, but I still love the unique sound of the band and our approach to jazz.” — Daphne Roubini
Each member of the band is a celebrated award winning artist in their own right, bringing a wealth of experience from Canada’s top stages and beyond—
The result is a sound steeped in smoky atmospheres and aching romance — timelessly elegant, cinematically evocative, and unmistakably Black Gardenia.
