Dhaivat Jani

Dhaivat Jani is a Toronto-based, award-winning drummer, tabla player, and composer from Ahmedabad, India. He began his musical journey at age five, focusing on Indian classical music, and achieved his tabla Visharad at 16, earning three gold medals. A Humber College graduate with a Bachelor of Music, Dhaivat has called Toronto home since 2018.

In 2023, Dhaivat released his debut album Sum // Parts with his contemporary jazz ensemble, Dhaivat Jani PLUS, earning acclaim from notable outlets like All About Jazz, Paris Move, and Jazz.FM91. Beyond leading his ensemble, Dhaivat collaborates as a sideman, transitioning fluidly between drums and tabla in a wide range of genres. His recent collaborations include work with renowned artists such as Pat LaBarbera, Hamid Motebassem, Kiran Ahluwalia, Roberto Occhipinti, Rez Abbasi, Mike Downes, and Adam Rudolph.

Dhaivat’s creativity includes multimedia collaborations such as “Transmigrations,” with software artist Ryan Kelln, exploring technological transformations and AI through art, and “Offerings at Ishpadinaa,” featuring site activations by Nova Dance at the Spadina Museum, which explored reclamations of resistance and joy, inspired by cultures impacted by colonialism.

His talent has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Nuit Blanche Fellowship in 2021 and the Intercultural & Creative Music Fellowship with the Aga Khan Museum in 2022. Other honors include the CCRT Scholarship from the Government of India, the Yamaha Music Canada Award, and the Jazz.FM91 Award. Dhaivat’s vision is to push creative boundaries, blending various art forms while keeping music at the heart of his work.