The Afton Project, led by bassist and composer Devin Patten, is a chamber jazz ensemble that transforms the singer-songwriter aesthetic into an impressionistic soundscape with elements of improvisation.

The band began as a trio featuring vocalist Laura Swankey and guitarist Andrew Marzotto through a series of concerts at the intimate performance space of Sellers & Newel secondhand books on College street in Toronto. The unique and unifying sound that developed between these three distinct voices inspired them to record the process and with the help of Ewen Farncombe and Jean Martin (Barnyard Records) they recorded the trio at Pacha Sound on the Danforth in a single day. Influenced by the new music for voice and chamber orchestra Patten was working on at the time, he chose to include parts for the inimitable voices of violinist Aline Homzy and vibraphonist Michael Davidson expanding the lush and vibrant sound of the ensemble and elevating the material.

The collection of songs on this record are arrangements of works from Patten’s friends, former collaborators and mentors that share stories of great vulnerability, promote curiosity and which seek to reveal the interconnected struggles that reach across our differences (cultural, sexual, ideological). These reimaginings are an attempt to not only amplify the voices and ideas of the great songwriters featured, but to cultivate environments that encourage us to see one another through the ritual of listening to a vinyl record or in the concert setting itself.

The album’s release will be celebrated with a concert at Annette Studios in Toronto on November 14th, 2025.