Following a lucrative summer, Toronto-based drummer, tabla player and composer Dhaivat Jani is preparing to release his debut album.
The recent graduate of Humber College’s jazz program and former participant in Jazzology was chosen as “band of the year” at the Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival, performing with his contemporary jazz-fusion quintet Dhaivat Jani PLUS. This summer, he was also selected to compose an original piece for a film and live showcase as part of the Aga Khan Museum’s intercultural and creative music fellowship.
Jani also received the Suyun Kim Memorial Award, Presented to an international student in Humber College’s music program who has demonstrated a passion and talent for jazz. He adds that to an impressive list of awards for the young, up-and-coming musician.
Now, Jani is preparing to release his debut record Sum // Parts in early 2023.
The album features all original music he wrote and record with Dhaivat Jani PLUS. The recording features Jani’s live quintet of saxophonist Lucas Dubovik, guitarist Matt Greenwood, pianist Josh Stanberry, bassist Matt McCormack, along with the additional talents of vibraphonist Dean Veneruz and vocalist Eliana Parker.
Jani says Sum // Parts has a contemporary jazz sound that also draws from Indian classical, progressive rock and fusion.
“All of the pieces have come to me over the last couple of years through my experiences of being in Canada as a music student, an immigrant, living through the pandemic,” Jani says. “[The title represents] the idea that the music is the sum of all the parts that I am over the years of my upbringing in India to my journey here and so on.”
Meanwhile, Jani has also played on recordings released this year by Peter Holbrook, Ross Morgan, Decklan Funston and others.
Originally from Ahmedabad, India, Jani started his musical journey at the age of five by beginning his training in Indian classical music on the tabla. From there, his musical influences extended to jazz, prog-rock, world and electronic music. He has been working as a drummer and composer for more than 10 years now, collaborating with award-winning musicians, filmmakers, actors, poets, painters, yoga artists and more.
Keep an eye out for the debut album by Dhaivat Jani PLUS coming early next year. Meanwhile, you can watch Jani’s performance of his original composition Kaleidoscope below: