“Authentic and unmistakably her own, Whitney Ross-Barris offers something rare: a creative proposition that stands outside the ordinary, one in which sound, memory, and emotion intertwine with unusual clarity.” - Thierry De Clemensat

— Paris Move

“Ross-Barris is a composer of exceptional sensitivity, and with her clear, unassuming voice, respects tradition while gently pushing its boundaries” - Pierre Giroux

— All About Jazz

“Whitney Ross-Barris’ latest recording is a triumph of musical genre-blending.” - Lesley Mitchell-Clarke

— The WholeNote

Whitney Ross-Barris

Jazz Singer & Songwriter

Whitney Ross-Barris is an Ontario-based jazz singer and songwriter with proud roots in the theatre and the 2026 Solo Artist of the Year at the Durham Regional Excellence in Arts, Music and Sound (DREAMS) Awards. Her newest release, Curtains of Light is a genre-bending record of original music rooted in jazz but woven through with threads of soul, spoken word, classical, folk and choral music. The album reflects the full breadth of her artistic experience—intimate and expansive in equal measure.

A regular performer across Ontario's vibrant music scene, Whitney has released four jazz albums, including her self-titled EP, her full-length solo record Everybody’s Here, as well as The Bright Lunch Trio , co-written with guitarist Nathan Hiltz. She has also appeared as guest singer and lyricist on such celebrated recordings as The Art of Breath: Volume One with saxophonist John MacMurchy.

During the pandemic, with clubs and theatres closed temporarily or for good, while isolating with her three young children, Whitney maintained her relative sanity through songwriting at her 117-year-old piano. With the support of the Ontario Arts Council and her community of fans, her new record of entirely original compositions, Curtains of Light, was released in late 2025 to critical acclaim.

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Photos

Photo by: Tracy Walker

Photo by: Tracy Walker

Photo by: Tracy Walker

Music Samples

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    Bourgeois Reverie 3:34
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    There You Are 6:03
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    Bird of Paradise 3:53
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    If I Were You 5:04
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    Only at Night 3:54
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    Midwinter Blue 2:16
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    Curtains of Light 4:42
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