Carling Stephen

Carling Stephen is a jazz-blues singer from Peterborough, Ontario. Carling weaves soul, blues, jazz, roots and folk seamlessly with her rich vocal tones and tender, seemingly effortless delivery.

Growing up, Carling attributes her love of jazz to discovering her grandparents’ jazz and big band CD collection, where she was inspired by the great jazz-blues singers like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone.

Carling had been drawn to music since childhood, discovering her ear for harmony at age six while singing with her older sister, then learning piano and writing songs at seven. Encouraged by her music teachers, Carling began to to sing jazz standards in school assemblies, coffee houses, and found her stage confidence in high school musicals with lead roles and solos. She was performing in weddings and funerals, and at fifteen turned professional by producing and recording two albums of jazz standards, contemporay and r&b covers from her parents’ living room, accompanying herself on piano. Through her teens, she organized concerts and practiced performing originals and jazz standards at local restaurants and venues. She attended school in Toronto, bringing her solo shows to small venues and clubs there, while collaborating with other musicians.

In these last five years, Carling has become the heartbeat of The Black Horse Pub & Restaurant’s Thursday Night Jazz-Blues Showcase (started by Phillips twelve years ago) stunning patrons and fellow musicians alike with her captivating stage presence and undeniable vocal skill.

Carling has moved club dates to performing in concert halls in the area, and is becoming recognized by her local musical community, and more recently the Toronto-based jazz-blues community. Through her writing and singing, Carling possesses a new and unique voice in the Canadian jazz music scene. She is currently producing her debut studio album, scheduled for release fall of 2026.

She has shared the stage with the Weber Brothers, Rick Fines, Roly Platt, Tim Edey of the UK, Next Generation Leahys, and has opened for Jane Bunnett and Maqueque at both The Market Hall Performing Arts Centre for International Jazz Day, and for the Women In The Forest concert series at Haliburton’s Logging Museum venue. With sights set on performing at more great Ontario music venues and beyond, this is only the beginning for Carling Stephen.

“I aspire to bring to people the great tradition and the joy of jazz – to reflect love and heartache in my own songwriting that reflects the time in which we live.”

Learn more about Carling HERE

Listen to Carling as featured in these songs: