"Epiphany"

A Collaborative Artistic Journey Through Emotion and Realization

"Epiphany" is a deeply personal and emotionally charged album that takes the listener on a journey through the artist's life experiences and realizations. With its diverse range of sounds and profound thematic depth, this album is a testament to the power of music in conveying complex emotions and universal truths. Each track is a piece of the artist's soul, and together, they form a captivating mosaic of human emotion and understanding. "Epiphany" is an outstanding contribution to the world of modern jazz and a powerful testament to the artist's creativity and vision.

"Epiphany" offers a rich and diverse soundscape, incorporating elements of folk, bebop, impressionism, waltz, minimalism, and hip-hop/R&B. This eclecticism adds a unique flavor to the album, showcasing The Shonai Collective's creative minds through collaboration, acceptance, and open-mindedness.

At its core, "Epiphany" has been classified as modern jazz due to its original sound and prominent improvisational elements. The album's exploration of complex emotions and philosophical themes through music makes it a significant addition to the modern jazz genre.

The album concludes with a minimalistic composition featuring two quotations by Swami Vivekananda, a prominent philosopher from Bengal. This track serves as a philosophical reflection on the betterment of humanity and society.

composition/piano- Shonai

double bass- Shifumi Saito

drums- Shantanu Sudarshan

album art- Steve Meifroidt

recording- Gaurav Chintamani

technical assitant- Nikhil Mawkin

mixing & mastering- Robert Nappholz

About

Based in Delhi, the vibrant cultural hub of India, this unique collective stands as a testament to the power of artistic collaboration across disciplines. Their innovative concept revolves around bringing together like-minded artists from diverse backgrounds to create, record, and perform original works that transcend traditional genre boundaries. Comprising Shifumi Saito on the upright bass, Shantanu Sudarshan on drums, and the composer Shonai on piano, this trio represents a fusion of diverse genres and creativity. Their current endeavor aims to culminate in the release of a full-length album, showcasing original compositions. What sets this collective apart is their refusal to be pigeonholed into a single musical category. Their sound is a dynamic blend influenced by a myriad of genres, including modern classical, impressionism, pop, R&B, soul, bebop, and funk, all within the framework of a traditional acoustic jazz setting. A significant portion of their work is marked by improvisation, a clear reflection of Shonai's diverse influences in the world of jazz. This improvisational spirit infuses their music with a sense of spontaneity, intensity, and complexity, creating a sound that defies easy categorization. Each piece crafted by this collective embarks on a unique narrative journey, exploring a wide spectrum of human experiences. Their artistry goes beyond mere music; it carries a profound message of unity and inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of valuing individuals for who they are beyond factors like ethnicity, color, religious beliefs, or cultural customs. Their approach to music is a reflection of life's unpredictable nature, where adaptability is key. Their compositions are a testament to the ability of human beings to navigate the uncharted waters of existence, much like the improvisational nature of their music. In essence, this Delhi-based collective is not just a musical group; they are artists who are breaking boundaries, challenging conventions, and spreading a message of harmony through their innovative, genre-defying compositions. As they continue to push the boundaries of artistic expression, their work serves as a reminder that true creativity knows no limits, and the power of collaboration can forge connections that transcend the boundaries of tradition and expectation. Today, this dynamic trio continues to captivate audiences with frequent performances while diligently crafting their eagerly awaited full album, set to grace listeners' ears in March 2023. Their journey is a testament to their passion and dedication to pushing the boundaries of musical creativity.

Instagram

Facebook page

Flashback..

Originally from Kolkata, this creative group made its debut in 2017 with a release on the compilation album "The Foxtrot Project V2" under Amuze Records. Shonai worked with Premjit Dutta and Akash Ganguly on drums and electric bass in their first collaboration. Following this exciting start, they embarked on a nationwide tour. Teaming up with two horn players, they morphed into a quintet, gracing various venues and the esteemed "The Giants of Jazz" festival in 2017. 

"Shonai nailed it at The Piano Man last night. Shonai with his trio had made people swing to their tune last night...The show was pretty good.. Shonai was a hit last night"

-Amuze Records review

" We’re introduced to Kolkata trio Shonai a bit late in the album, but their groovy piano-led tunes add a funky touch to Foxtrot Project V2 with ‘Walking on Air’ and a tribute to... legend Carlton Kitto with the sombre but gratitude-filled ‘An Ode to Mr. Kitto’.  "   

- The Hindu

"....impressive Jazz trio which features you playing jazz Piano, along with upright bass and drums, displays your fine musicianship, your command and technical piano keyboard skills, the rhythmic stability and your musical imagination, which all combined, allows the other fine musicians to combine and perform to a high and professional standard throughout all of the recorded/live performances. These improvisatory /arrangements and compositions are always very well scored, highly musically effective, whether they consist of exciting and upbeat pieces, or indeed pieces which require a much slower tempo and perhaps more reflective in style. The rich and effective jazz harmonic and dissonant textures and tonality, the form, structure and rhythmic interest /drive that you consistently display are always interesting to listen to and are musically very pleasing too. The melodies are always prominently and effectively placed within the harmonic textures within these impressive arrangements, plus the musical ensemble and balance are always excellent and very tight between the musicians and their instruments in these fine performances. " 

 - Dr. Ian Higginson (Principal: Three Counties School of Music)

"Arunava 'Shonai' Chatterjee's collective played tunes from its forthcoming album, Epiphany, which unspooled itself as an introspective journey mapped with care and finesse by Shifumi Saito's definitive phrasings on the double bass, and the contemplative, instinctively low-key stick work by Shantanu Sudarshan on his drum kit — particularly the cymbals. The Shonai Collective (he has since moved from Kolkata to Delhi) is a devoted messenger of straight-ahead classic jazz yet unafraid to explore and purposefully stray into territory it can then call its own. We will be looking forward to Epiphany."

- The Telegraph Online