The TD Halifax Jazz Festival is happy to present Avataar at The Carleton on Friday, July 12th. Doors open at 6:30 and show time is 8:30 PM. Tickets – $22.32 all in – are available through the festival HERE.

Avataar is a JUNO award winning Toronto-based world-jazz group featuring some of the Canada’s finest jazz, world, funk, and pop musicians. The personnel includes bandleader Sundar Viswanathan (saxophones, bansuri, vocals), Laura Swankey (vocals), Michael Occhipinti (guitar), Tyler Emond (bass), Ravi Naimpally (tablas) and Max Senitt (drums and percussion). Special guests on the most recent, sophomore album, Worldview, include Aaron Lightstone (oud) and Todd Pentney (piano, Fender Rhodes, synth).

Earmarked by JAZZFM91 as one of the ‘Best 25 Albums of 2021’, Worldview won the 2022 JUNO award for Best Jazz Album (Group). The music is inspired by the deep musical traditions of India, Africa and Brazil, rooted within the framework of modern jazz. In an innovative marriage of ancient and modern, driving grooves intersect with cinematic atmospheres and soaring melodies, creating a fresh, emotive sonic experience. Bandmembers share an eclectic range of musical expertise – hardbop, pop, rock, electronica, free improvisation, world and R&B/Soul filter into the interpretations of the tunes. Both Worldview and Petal (Avataar’s debut CD (2016)) received critical acclaim internationally from publications including DOWNBEAT, JAZZIZ, allaboutjazz, Jazz Weekly, and worldmusiccentral.com. Production of both albums and an upcoming live video was generously supported with grants from Ontario and Canada Arts Councils.

John Frederick Moore of ‘Jazziz’ writes “This is fusion in the very best sense of the word. Whether the group is expressing ecstasy, transcendence or tranquility, there’s never a dull moment.”