Artist Profile

Navin Chettri is a percussionist, vocalist, composer and music educator.

He is the founder and artistic director of the Kathmandu Jazz Festival (popularly called Jazzmandu), and the artistic director of the World Music Celebration at the Lionel Hampton School of Music of the University of Idaho, where he is also an instructor.

He is considered a pioneer of jazz in Nepal, and a driving force behind its growth. His influences take in jazz, Nepali folk tunes, Indian classical music, as well as West African, Afro -Cuban and Brazilian rhythms—all of them apparent in his award-winning band, Cadenza Collective.

He has performed around the world, and has collaborated with international jazz artists including the flautist Jamie Baum and ensembles such as Goonj and NepaMali.