Agneya Chikte is a Toronto based drummer/percussionist who has been performing professionally for seven years. Known for his stylistic versatility, he moved to Toronto to pursue his Bachelor’s in Music at the prestigious Humber College – School of Creative and Performing Arts, and has been steadily rising through the ranks in the music scene. He has studied with some of Canada’s best-known musicians and educators, namely Mike Downes, Pat LaBarbera, Mark Kelso, Kirk MacDonald and Larnell Lewis. In his time at Humber, Agneya has had the honour of receiving multiple Awards and Scholarships, including the 2018 Canada-wide MusiCounts Scholarship.
Agneya performs on drum set and percussion alike, covering a broad range of styles reflecting his wide interest in a variety of music and his natural feel for groove and texture regardless of genre. He has performed across the GTA at stages and venues like the TD Toronto Jazz festival, Orangeville Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, the Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar, Burdock Music Hall and the Emmet Ray. In June 2018, Agneya was selected to be a part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival’s inaugural ‘Jazz Musician Intensive’ which was the festival’s own student showcase ensemble, consisting of two students each from the 4 post-secondary music programs in the GTA, under the direction of Juno Award winning composer and bassist, Mike Downes. Additionally, the Agneya Chikte Trio was declared the 2018 winner for Niagara Jazz Festival’s “Jazz for the Ages” youth jazz competition.
In October 2018, Agneya recorded his first EP as a leader, featuring Jeff LaRochelle on Tenor Saxophone, James Hill on Piano and Special Guest Rich Brown on Electric Bass.
Instagram/FB – @agneyachikte
Agneya’s Jazzology Playlist
- “Chutzapan” – Avishai Cohen Trio (2008)
- “Me and My Baby” – Benny Green Trio (1993)
- “Anthropology” – Meldhau & Rossy Trio (1993)
- “Entertain Me” – Tigran Hamasyan (2014)
- “Teleology” – Agneya Chikte (2018)
Jazzology with Heather Bambrick can be heard Wednesdays at 9 pm.