About Me

I’m Dhaivat Jani, a Toronto-based, award-winning drummer, tabla player, and composer originally from Ahmedabad, India. My musical journey began at the age of five with a focus on Indian classical music. By 16, I had earned my tabla Visharad with three gold medals. After graduating from Humber College with a Bachelor of Music, I made Toronto my home in 2018.

In 2023, I released my debut album, Sum // Parts, with my contemporary jazz ensemble, Dhaivat Jani PLUS. The album was well-received, earning praise from notable outlets like All About Jazz, Paris Move, and Jazz.FM91. Alongside leading my ensemble, I’ve traveled around the world performing music with various musicians and collaborating widely as a sideman, transitioning fluidly between drums and tabla across a variety of genres. Recently, I’ve had the privilege of working with renowned artists such as Pat LaBarbera, Hamid Motebassem, Kiran Ahluwalia, Roberto Occhipinti, Rez Abbasi, Mike Downes, and Adam Rudolph.

My creative work also extends to multimedia collaborations. I’ve worked with artists from diverse disciplines, including dancers, poets, painters, and filmmakers, to push the boundaries of what music can express. Projects like Transmigrations, with software artist Ryan Kelln, explored technological transformations and AI through art. Another project, Offerings at Ishpadinaa, featured site activations by Nova Dance at the Spadina Museum, reclaiming narratives of resistance and joy inspired by cultures impacted by colonialism.

Over the years, my work has been recognized with several honors, including the Nuit Blanche Fellowship in 2021 and the Intercultural & Creative Music Fellowship with the Aga Khan Museum in 2022. I’ve also been fortunate to receive awards like the CCRT Scholarship from the Government of India, the Yamaha Music Canada Award, and the Jazz.FM91 Award.

At the core of my work is a passion for pushing creative boundaries, blending various art forms while keeping music as the driving force behind everything I do.