Jigmee Dorjee Sherpa

Guitarist | Bassist | Composer-Educator

Jigmee Dorjee Sherpa is a guitarist, bassist, and educator/composer who has been active in the music scenes of Darjeeling, Kathmandu, and Delhi since the late 1990s. After starting his career in Darjeeling, he moved to Kathmandu, where he became a founding member and faculty at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC). During his time in Nepal, he performed with the Afro-funk group Cadenza Collective and led the JCS Trio, which was featured on allaboutjazz.com in 2004. 

Jigmee has collaborated with a diverse range of international artists, including a 2005 performance with Sting (The Police) and projects with musicians such as Sachal Vasandani (US)2006 and Rainer Pusch (Germany). Since 2012, he has been based in Delhi, where he continues to teach and perform with ensembles as Trios/Duos of his own including The Shonai Collective, Bollyjazz, The Free Radicals, and his own group,(Groove-eclectic)4OnTheFloor. 

Teaching & Academic Experience

• Faculty (Guitar/Bass): Currently teaching at Eastwind Academy (Gurugram), One World College of Music (Gurugram), and BlueNotes (Delhi).

• Founding Member & Guitar Faculty: Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC), Nepal.

• Big Band Soloist: Founding member of the KJC Big Band, conducted by Dr. Gene Aitkins.

• Teacher Training: Completed the Teachers Training Program under Dr. Gene Aitkins at KJC in 2008.

Selected Performance Credits

• International Collaborations: 

• Sting (UK): Live performance at Jazz Upstairs, Kathmandu (2005).

• Sachal Vasandani (US): Collaboration for Jazz Appreciation Month April-2006 at the US Embassy, Kathmandu.

• Rainer Pusch (Germany): Indo-jazz fusion tour with Karuna Kashtra (2012).

• Additional Collaborators Featured along side: Hanna Vashant Trio (UK), Ralph Thomas (US),Jesse Van Ruller Trio(Holland),Greg Lyon Trio(Australia),Catia 

Werneck(Brazil), Urban Connection (Norway), Matthieu Donarier (France), Max Lolo (Benin), AfroDizziAct (Australia),Samuel Stroke (France), and Shiela Costa (Brazil).

zil). 

• Festivals: Featured artist at Jazzmandu (2001–2009) and the Nepal Jazz Fest.

• Groups: Member of Cadenza Collective and leader of the JCS Trio/Collective (2003–2010).

Recognition

• All About Jazz: Featured in 2004 as an upcoming jazz-funk fusion group with the JCS Trio.

• Award: 2nd Prize at IIT Kharagpur Spring-fest (1995) with the group Requim.