Daniel Garbin Group

DANIEL GARBIN is a Romanian-born guitarist, sitarist, composer, and bandleader based in New York City. He draws on jazz, Indian classical, Latin, and Eastern European music to create a sound that is both personal and flexible. He studied jazz, fusion, and Romanian folklore before moving to the U.S., where he expanded his musical palette through work in Latin rock, modern jazz, and experimental improvisation. His interest in Indian classical music led him to the sitar, which he now weaves naturally into his compositions and performances.

Garbin is also a mathematician and college professor, a role that complements his music by shaping how he thinks about structure, pattern, and improvisation. On his album Rising, he “emerges as a compelling new voice in contemporary jazz—one shaped not just by musical influences, but by mathematics, world travel, and the rhythm of daily life,” and “seamlessly integrates the sitar into a jazz quintet setting” (All About Jazz). Featured in Jazz Guitar Today as “a bit of a Renaissance Man” balancing music, math, and photography, he continues to explore connections across his creative interests.

For his concert at DADA Bar, Garbin will present a program of original compositions highlighting the interplay between guitar and sitar, exploring cross-cultural rhythms, melodic improvisation, and the fusion of diverse musical traditions. He will be joined by an extraordinary group of musicians: Varun Das (drums), Nicki Adams (piano), Hashem Assadullahi (saxes), and Trifon Dimitrov (bass).

Varun Das (Yamaha, Remo, and Sabian artist) is a New York–based drummer, composer, and educator whose sound blends the intricate rhythms of Indian classical music with the soul of jazz and the energy of progressive rock. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (BM ’22, MM ’24 in Jazz Performance), he has performed and recorded with leading artists including Joey DeFrancesco, Dayna Stephens, Charles Altura, Luis Perdomo, and Miguel Zenón.

One of the most sought-after South Asian drummers in the U.S., Das is a core member of Brooklyn’s Punjabi brass band Red Baraat and the folk-blues collective Hazmat Modine. His honors include the GRAMMY Jazz Band, National YoungArts Finalist, and multiple DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards for Outstanding Soloist.

Das’s debut EP Solitude (2021) and his new album Childlike showcase his vibrant jazz-rock fusion and deeply personal storytelling.

Nicki Adams is a New York–based composer and pianist who has performed with artists such as Francisco Mela, Jonathon Pinson, Stacey Dillard, and François Moutin, and appeared on NPR’s Soundcheck and at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater. A SteepleChase recording artist, he has released six albums as a leader — three with his band GADADU and three in duo projects with Michael Eaton and his brother, Patrick Adams.

A finalist in the 2022 Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition, Nicki’s music has been featured in film and radio worldwide and nominated for international awards. He has scored several films, most recently A Wonderful Way With Dragons, starring Violet McGraw. His first jazz album with Patrick Adams was released on Sunnyside Records in 2021 to critical acclaim, and his ensembles — the Prism Trio and Adams Quartet — toured nationally in 2024.

Hashem Assadullahi is a saxophonist, composer, and music educator based in New York City. Known for his strong melodic voice and warm, rich tone, he formed his own quintet in 2008, featuring top musicians from the Pacific Northwest and trumpet icon Ron Miles. In 2010, the group expanded to a sextet and released two albums, Strange Neighbor (8bells, 014) and Pieces (OA2 Records, 22097), frequently featured on NPR's Morning Edition and Fresh Air.

Since moving to NYC, Hashem has performed with leading jazz artists including Alan Ferber, Ben Monder, Gary Versace, Mark Ferber, Matt Wilson, Ron Horton, and Rich Perry, and has appeared as a sideman on over a dozen albums.

A dedicated educator, he has held teaching and ensemble directing positions at institutions including Mahidol University in Salaya, Thailand; Boston University; Lane Community College; and the University of Oregon.

Trifon Dimitrov is a Bulgarian-born bassist (upright and electric) based in New York City. A graduate of the National Academy of Music in Sofia, he later continued his studies in Germany before establishing his career in the United States.

He has performed internationally at major jazz clubs, festivals, and broadcast venues, sharing the stage with artists such as Randy Brecker, Nat Adderley Jr., and Earl McIntyre. Dimitrov appears on numerous recordings, including the acclaimed 2020 release Sin Fronteras with saxophonist Russ Nolan, where his bass playing was praised for its precision and depth.

Drawing from classical training, jazz tradition, and modern improvisation, Dimitrov’s style reflects both his diverse musical background and his global artistic journey.

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