Of course you become a figure in the jazz scene if your first big performance is on the horn line with the Dave Matthews Band at the Grammy Awards -- however, it’s not easy getting there! Dahi Divine burst onto the scene upon being selected, over hundreds of auditions to perform at the 52nd annual Grammys with Matthews and industry events that week with James Moody, Kenny Burrell and Hubert Laws. Over the years Divine performed with many other notable jazz artists including, but not limited to; Donald Harrison, Alturo and Adam O'Farrill & five-time Grammy nominee Ira Sullivan, guitarist Monnette Sudler, trumpeter Sean Jones, pianist David Budway, and bassist Charles Famborough.
Divine’s musical education began with some of Philadelphia’s most distinguished jazz programs and musicians: Terrell Stafford with the All-City Jazz Band, Settlement Music School, the Kimmel Center, Mt. Airy Cultural Center, the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz, and renowned saxophonist Larry McKenna. Since the age of fifteen creating opportunities for himself led Divine to form his own bands, create unique arrangements of standards and compose originals. His groups have been featured at regional festivals, venues and clubs throughout New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Now at twenty-two, his education is culminating with the completion of his formal studies at the New School of Jazz & Contemporary Music (New York). There he studied with many great musicians including Jaleel Shaw, Myron Walden and Joel Frahm. Improvisation and ensemble directors: Bobby Sanabria’s Afro-Cuban, Reggie Workman’s Coltrane, David Glasser’s Bebop Harmony and Yosvany Terry’s West African.
Now Divine is making an impressive next step — the introduction of his debut album, “The Element”. On this album he explores unique Afro-Cuban influences, along with more advanced and complicated rhythms, with jazz melodies and harmonies that he likes woven throughout the songs. Six soulful, modern jazz arrangements that showcase his skills on tenor sax and as a composer that takes people of all ages on a funky and swingin’ musical voyage. Divine characterizes his music as “soul music” that rhythmically respects the tradition of swing — while exploring new and different musical concepts and styles”. Divine is undeniably developing into a prolific composer and an emerging musician that delights audiences with his energetic performances and distinctive, melodic arrangements.
His moral compass directs him to give back, and reach out to young people to help foster and maintain a vital jazz culture. So in his spare time you can find Divine conducting master classes at Settlement Music School, or working with inner-city music programs in Philadelphia and Camden, like the IDEA Performing Arts Center where music provides a refreshing distraction from the violence and social problems that plague their communities.
Divine’s aspiration is to obtain a musical proficiency and knowledge enabling him to work with some of the greatest musicians in the world and flourish in today’s music industry as a performer and composer. www.dahidivine.com/ 267-342-9378