Performance Bio

The ever-evolving Arunava AKA Shonai enjoys his musical life as a performer, educator, and composer. Born in a musicians' family in Kolkata, Shonai had got introduced to various genres of music in his childhood. He began his training by pursuing the tabla before switching to the piano in 1996. Jazz pianist with classical training, he has passed grade examinations and received a diploma from Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London College of Music and Three Counties School of Music respectively. Shonai studied jazz till the advanced level under the tutelage of two renowned jazz musicians, Mr. Carlton Kitto and Mr. Andrew Gracias.

In his 18 years of performance life he has worked in every possible situation from solo to duet and from bands like trio, quartet and Quintet to Big Bands. Shonai being predominantly a contemporary jazz Pianist has worked with Jazz stalwarts like Mr.Carlton Kitto, Mr.Andrew Gracias, Mr.Lewis Hilt, Mr.Marcus Dengate ( who has performed with the great Dizzy Gillespie, Scott Hamilton and many more ), Mr. Clive Hughes, Gianni Denitto, Mr. Monojit Dutta, Ms. Sofia Hoffman, Mr. Rainer Pusch Mr. Jacob Dinesen to name a few. During the legendary Chick Corea's 2018 tour of India, he had the good fortune to have the opportunity to jam with him.

His performance life started with joining All India Radio as a junior artist in 1997. Where later he became a graded artist and has been continuing recording with many jazz artists along with his solo jazz piano recitals. 

He has also played extensively throughout India in festivals like GIANTS OF JAZZ ( Delhi, Gurgaon ), JAZZMATAZZ ( Mumbai , Pune), Jam Steady BIG SUNDAY ( Kolkata ), Kolkata Jazz Fest (Kolkata ), Open Hands Jazz Festival ( Chandigrah ) and outside India in JAZZMANDU ( Nepal ), Lent Festival ( Slovenia ), Dev9t Festival ( Serbia ), Fest Jazza ( Croatia ) Jaiyede Jazz Festival ( Denmark ) and prestigious venues like Skinny Mos' Jazz Club (Kolkata ). Opus ( Bangalore ), The Humming Tree ( Bangalore ), Blue Frog ( Bangalore ), The Piano Man ( Delhi ), NCPA ( Mumbai ), Anti Social ( Mumbai ), Dhaka Club (Bangladesh), B Flat ( Berlin ), White Cube ( Hamburg ), BlueNote Jazz Club (Poland ), Celica ( Slovenia ), KCM ( Zagreb ), 100cznia ( Poland ), Babel Camp ( Hungary ). In addition to these, he has performed in numerous other locations throughout Northeast India and abroad, like Manipur, Assam, Shillong, Bovec and Kran ( Slovenia ) which helped him to hone his skills and experiences.

Shonai is a versatile musician who has played in a number of bands that play a variety of musical styles, including Blue Mist (pop), Orient Express (Latin), Carlton Kitto Jazz Ensemble (Jazz), Fast Forward (Motown and Funk-Jazz), Big Family (Blues), Bramhakhyapa (Bawl Jazz Fusion), ABHIND (avant-garde), Syncopation (Funk), etc. He collaborates as a session musician with numerous other Delhi based bands and artists in addition to these bands. The Bodhisattwa Trio (an experimental jazz rock fusion group) and The Shonai Collective are the two ensembles in which Shonai is currently performing ( original improvised music ).

He has worked as a music educator in numerous academic institutions, music schools, and jazz conservatories in places like Kolkata, Delhi, Haryana, Goa, and Nepal.