Dhaivat Jani Plus: “Sum//Parts” (2023) CD Review

Dhaivat Jani is a drummer and composer originally from India and now based in Canada. In addition to Dhaivat Jani Plus, he leads the jazz trio Electrio. Sum//Parts is the debut full-length album from Dhaivat Jani Plus. I spent a while looking at the album cover art before even removing the plastic wrap. It’s beautiful. I wish I had this on vinyl, so that the art would be bigger, and I could more easily immerse myself in it. But I leave it to the music to have that effect on me, and indeed it does. All of the tracks on this album are originals, composed by Dhaivat Jani. The band is made up of Dhaivat Jani on drums, tabla and solkattu; Lucas Dubovik on saxophone; Matt Greenwood on guitar; Matt McCormack on bass; Eliana Parker on vocals; Joshua Stanberry on piano, keyboards and synthesizers; and Dean Veneruz on vibraphone. By the way, there is more wonderful artwork by Ketul Patel in the CD liner notes booklet.

The album opens with “Day 21,” which begins with some rhythmic vocal work, which continues as the instruments come in. It’s interesting, because the voice really feels like part of the rhythm, so that the saxophone feels like the actual voice of the piece as it begins to take off. And it is the saxophone that takes us into that gentler, sweeter section and begins to lift our spirits and then energize us. When the vocals return, they become our focus, this time going through some changes, including in pace. The vocal work becomes exciting. That’s followed by “Pulwama,” which begins with some cool percussion. The music soon puts us at ease. This track features some beautiful vocal work that feels like it is calling for a healing, for understanding. And perhaps the music, or the voice itself, is able to effect that healing. I believe music is humanity’s best hope for uniting people and bringing an end to aggression. The music here begins to build in power, and features some nice work on both guitar and keys. It takes us up, then gently brings us back down.

There is some tension as “Even If” begins, and as the music bursts open, that tension is at the fore. This track too has peaks and valleys, like we are trying to relax ourselves, to not give into our worries and our anger. But give in we do. Don’t you find yourself doing that? I keep trying, and keep failing. This track contains some pretty piano work during one of its softer moments, and then the power of the piano grows, and we feel that beauty will triumph over hostility and anxiety. As the saxophone and guitar take over, we feel overwhelmed again. There is a great power to that section. In those final, nearly still, moments of this track we wonder which has triumphed. Interestingly, as that track ends at the high end of the piano, the next one, “Change Is The Only Constant,” begins in that general area. There is also some good work on bass early on. The track takes on a friendly, comforting vibe, even as the drums and bass seem to push things forward with that great groove. That burst of energy which follows feels like motion up an incline, though toward what I’m not sure. But there are gentle moments along the way, particularly on vibraphone. The vibraphone leads us to the most beautiful passage in the piece. And even if the pressure mounts, we feel that things are going to be okay, that we can manage. This track has a cool and surprising ending.

“It Might Rain” begins with some pretty work on piano, with a somewhat lonesome, introspective feel. When the song kicks in, the piano work continues beneath the other instruments for a time. Then the piece reaches a different level, with a heavy force driven by the bass, almost like a heavy metal vibe, and the saxophone takes the opportunity to cut loose here, to express itself with abandon. Halfway through, there is a break in the action, and we return to a prettier place. It is not long before the power begins to build again from there, heard mainly in the guitar and drums, but now there is a strange glory to it. Rather than feeling ominous, the music now pulls us in. The track then concludes the way it began, with some softer work on piano. The band then takes us into a strange interior world with “Kaleidoscope,” where we are caught in some kind of fun house, finding our own image in pieces surrounding us. After a minute or so, it interestingly takes on something of a disco feel, and we feel like we are no longer alone, but enjoying ourselves out there on the dance floor. However, soon we are again thrust into stranger territory, trying to get our bearings as the elements spin around us, or spin us around. The saxophone then speaks directly to us, one on one, and we trust it. Once it has us, it leads us into a crazy whirlwind, as the other instruments toss us around, the saxophone still leading the action. Then suddenly we are back in the disco land. Ah yes, perhaps we never left the dance floor.

As “Peshkaar” begins, we are taken to a distant realm, where there is a spiritual element to the land itself. The tabla leads us into a dance, combining with the voice to create an interesting rhythm. Yet there is something almost haunting behind it, creating an unusual atmosphere. The album then concludes with “Unchain,” which has something of a mysterious feel as it begins, and we wonder just what will be revealed to us here. We do not enter this realm tentatively, but rather with solid and strong steps. Once there, the vibraphone soothes us, lets us know we are on the right path, and have no need for hurry, that things will be known in time. Michael Davidson plays vibraphone on this track. The bass encourages us. And suddenly we are in the middle of something powerful and moving, something over which we have little if any control. There is some excellent work on saxophone. This track then ends as it began.

CD Track List

1. Day 21
2. Pulwama
3. Even If
4. Change Is The Only Constant
5. It Might Rain
6. Kaleidoscope
7. Peshkaar
8. Unchain

Sum//Parts was released on June 9, 2023.