Dystoh
Twenty years of world touring with the Souljazz Orchestra, then a lockdown that changed everything: Ray Tabana and Phil Motion tightened the machine into a duo — hard-hitting congas, a roaring baritone sax, and afrobeat as a mother tongue
Biography
Dystoh is the duo of Ray Tabana and Phil Motion, founding members of the Souljazz Orchestra — the Ottawa band three times nominated for the JUNO Awards, with whom they toured the world for twenty years. The project was born at the start of the pandemic, in full lockdown: two seasoned musicians used the pause to sharpen a new artistic voice, more direct, built for the stage.
Their sound draws on the most physical sources of afrobeat, Latin music and reggae — with touches of blues, salsa and dub: hard-hitting congas, a roaring baritone saxophone and tight two-part vocal harmonies. After a live debut at Dakar Music Expo, in Senegal, in 2022, the duo has toured Colombia, Canada and Europe.
Their self-produced debut album, Heat of the Times (May 2024), journeys through the realities, anxieties and hopes of our chaotic modern world. The duo is preparing a series of singles through the summer and fall of 2026 — and makes its official-showcase debut at Mundial Montréal.
Stages and milestones
Founding members of the Souljazz Orchestra (three JUNO Award nominations) · Twenty years of international touring · Live debut at Dakar Music Expo (Senegal), 2022 · Tours in Colombia, Canada and Europe · National Arts Centre, Ottawa, January 24, 2026 · Axé Summer WorldFest — National Arts Centre, July 17, 2026, with Guiss Guiss Bou Bess · OFF Mundial 2025 showcase (Toscadura)
Upcoming dates
- Thursday November 19, 2026 — Vitrine officielle · Rythmes Nocturnes — Mundial Montréal 2026 — 0 h · Foufounes Électriques, Montréal (Canada) — Official page ↗
Public dates — collected from the artist's official channels on November 9, 2026.
Discography
Heat of the Times (debut album, May 2024)
Calendar
- Thursday, November 19, 2026, 12:00 a.m. — Mundial Montréal 2026, Foufounes Électriques, Montreal (official showcases — Rythmes Nocturnes night)
Show formats
- Stage duo — congas, baritone sax and vocals: the energy of an orchestra, with two musicians
On video — their Mundial Montréal 2026 showcase
The official presentation video of Dystoh for Mundial Montréal 2026: Thursday, November 19, 2026 · 12:00 a.m. (night of Nov 19–20) · Foufounes Électriques, Montreal. Video © Mundial Montréal — provided to Festival TV in the festival's official media kit.