Juno-nominated saxophonist/vocalist/composer Dr. SUNDAR VISWANATHAN has performed extensively in Europe (including with Grammy-nominated Charles Tolliver Big Band), Japan, South Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, and the USA. Musical associations have included Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Wheeler, Jaffa Road, Kiran Ahluwalia, Rez Abbasi, Luciana Souza, John Abercrombie, Terry Clarke, George Cables, Joe Lovano, John Hicks, Cecil McBee, Dave Holland, Billy Hart, and Jim McNeely.
Sundar’s critically-acclaimed quartet CD ‘What a Dream I Had’, presents imaginative interpretations of vocal jazz standards, bossa novas and popular tunes, and features Dave Restivo, Adrean Farrugia, Larnell Lewis, and George Koller. The Toronto Star’s Ashante Infantry described Sundar’s voice as “a cross between Kurt Elling and Chet Baker”. Sundar’s latest CD (Petal), with his indo-jazz group Avataar has been critically acclaimed in leading publications including Downbeat, JAZZIZ, worldmusiccentral.com, allaboutjazz.com, and several other print and e-media sources.
Viswanathan has also has been commissioned to compose and perform with dance companies in Canada and the USA, including Sampradaya Dance Creations, Arzoo Dance Theater, MOSAIC, and Trilok Fusion.
His most recent project includes an emphasis on the music of Jobim and Duke Ellington, two master composers/musicians who have been a major influence on Sundar’s writing and playing style. Tonight’s evening of ‘Ballads & Bossas: The Music of Duke and Jobim” features SUNDAR VISWANATHAN (saxophone, flute, vocals), ROY PATTERSON on guitar, LOUIS SIMAO on bass, and DANIEL BARNES on drums, entertaining in the up-close-and-personal ambience of The Home Smith Bar.