Formed in 2007, Waxwing is a co-led group created by three veterans of the Vancouver music scene: Tony Wilson on guitar, Peggy Lee on cello and Jon Bentley on saxophones. The trio has released three studio recordings featuring their original compositions: "Flicker Down" (2021 Songlines Recordings) , "A Bowl Of Sixty Taxidermists" (2015 - Songlines Recordings), and "Escondido Dreams" (2007 - Drip Audio). The recipient of numerous Canada Council Grants, Waxwing has performed their unique works in concerts across Canada and has been a regular favourite in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. The trio has appeared many times on various CBC radio programs, as well as a feature performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The New York Times describes Waxwing’s music as "Elegant and bittersweet…. the original compositions accommodate fluttery abstraction as well as glowing consonance". Waxwing was nominated for Instrumental Artist of the Year at the 2022 Western Canadian Music Awards for Flicker Down.

Peggy Lee

Cellist, improviser, composer Peggy Lee was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. She studied classical cello, completing a bachelors degree in performance at the University of Toronto as a student of Vladimir Orloff and Denis Brott. She furthered her studies on the cello with lessons with Martha Gerschefski in Atlanta Georgia. In the fall of 1988 Peggy began a year residency with a string quartet at the Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta. It was here that she first became interested in collaborating with artists from different mediums and in veering away from the classical path. This led to a decision to move away from the known and thus to her relocating to Vancouver, B.C. where she now makes her home.
Peggy collaborates frequently with Ron Samworth, Tony Wilson and with her husband, drummer Dylan van der Schyff, as well as with many other longtime musical associates including Dave Douglas, Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Veda Hille and Lisa Miller. She also leads or co-leads a number of musical projects: The Peggy Lee Band, Film in Music, Waxwing (with Tony Wilson and Jon Bentley) and Beautiful Tool (with Mary Margaret O’Hara).  She has also collaborated extensively in theatre and dance with companies and artists such as Ruby Slippers, Rumble Theatre, Presentation House, David Hudgins, Peter Bingham and Delia Brett.

Tony Wilson

Tony Wilson is a guitarist, improviser, and composer based on Hornby Island, British Columbia. His compositions have been commissioned by the new music ensembles Standing Wave, Joe Trio, and the Little Chamber Music Society and big bands – The New Orchestra Workshop and the Hard Rubber Orchestra, as well as dance companies Kokora Dance and Joe Inc. Tony's compositions have been performed by such artists as Myra Melford, Marilyn Crispell, François Houle, Barre Philips, Mary Oliver, Ig Hennemann and Zubot and Dawson and many others.
Touring has taken him across Canada, Europe and the United States. He has shared the stage with international artists Vinny Golia, John Tchicai, Myra Melford, William Parker, Daniel Carter, Glenn Spearman, Wilbert de Joode, Steve Arquelles, Gerry Hemmingway, Han Bennink, Toby Delius, Beniot Delbecq, Eric Boeren, Paul Lovens, Marc Saunders and Canadian artists Francois Houle Jean Martin, Hugh Fraser, Brad Turner, Dylan van der Schyff, Peggy Lee. Christine Duncan, Marilyn Lerner, Paul Cram and many others. He has released 6 CDs under his own name: Tony Wilson Sextet "Lowest Note" and "The People Look like Flowers at Last". Tony Wilson Quintet "Horseplay" and "Pearls Before Swine." The solo project "Horses Dream" and the trio Waxwing "Escondido Dreams."

Jon Bentley

 Jon Bentley is a Juno nominated saxophonist based in Vancouver, Canada. A versatile musician, Jon performs and records in many genres of music both as a leader and a sideman. He has recorded and/or performed professionally in concerts with musicians/ groups such as Kenny Wheeler, Seamus Blake, Dave Douglas, Mark Helias, Brad Turner, Denzal Sinclaire, Eddie Daniels, Oliver Lake, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Phil Dwyer's Saxophone Summit, The Temptations, Peggy Lee Band, Neil Swainson, and Metalwood. Aside from his participation in many recording projects as a sideman, Bentley has released two albums as a leader: "Jon Bentley Quintet: Motions" and "Diversions: American Prophecy." As a co-leader, Jon has released: "UGETSU: Live at the Cellar", "Wilson/Lee/Bentley: Escondido Dreams", "Waxwing: A Bowl Of Sixty Taxidermists" and "Waxwing: Flicker Down". He has performed across Canada, England, and Europe and has been featured many times on CBC Radio with live and studio recordings for Tonic, The Signal, Jazzbeat, West Coast Performance, Hot Air, and Arts National. Bentley was nominated for a Juno award in 2014 as a performer on Peggy Lee Band's album "Invitation."