DEJÀN is a soul family of world jazz. “De” – meaning ‘of’ or ‘from’ in Spanish. “Jan” – Azerbaijani for ‘soul’ or ‘family’. The group’s ethnic rhythms, the strong Latin roots, and Middle Eastern improvisation takes audiences on a musical journey around the world.
DEJÀN is a young world jazz project lead by Swiss / Argentinian vocalist Joana Obieta that consists of the masterful Azerbaijani / Ukrainian bassist Han Beyli, renowned Cuban drummer Keisel Jimenez (has played at the Jazz Gallery before with Dayramir Gonzalez and David Virelles, currently drummer of Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance), the Japanese percussionist Kan Yanabe Cuban pianist and composer Aníbal Cruz.
The group members became close friends and musical companions while studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where they discovered their passion for each other’s music and heritage.
DEJÀN’s music sounds familiar and yet new at the same time. The sounds of various cultures are presented in an innovative and authentic way. Through the platform of their music, they create cross-cultural awareness, dialogue, empathy and respect for each other’s traditions and cultures.
After multiple successful tours through Europe in 2018, 2019 as well as 2022, where we could be heard at venues such as b-flat in Berlin, Jazzclub Vogler and Unterfahrt Jazz Club in Munich, Gambrinus Jazz Plus in Switzerland, they were programmed to perform at the legendary Birdland Jazz club in New York City in May 2020, but unfortunately this was prevented by the pandemic.
In addition, they have repeatedly been in the finals of the renowned DCJazzFest Competition, as well as in the Bucharest International Jazz Competition.
At the recent Grammy Awards in February, to their delight, drummer Keisel Jiménez was honored with a grammy for «Best Latin Jazz Album».
Among other things, they also visited a Youth Summer Camp in Switzerland that creates a platform for intercultural exchange for young adults from all over Europe. By playing music together, DEJÀN wants to bring people of different backgrounds together and show how the universal language of music creates empathy and unity.
During their tour, DEJÀN was also featured in several newspapers and the National Public Radio Station in Switzerland.
Their repertoire consists of originals, as well as rearrangements of songs, that showcase the variety of traditions represented in the group.