Ori Dagan is an award-winning jazz singer-songwriter based in Toronto, Canada. He has released three studio albums. On October 24, 2017, he released Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole as the first visual album in the jazz genre; the album was made possible by over 200 contributors on PledgeMusic.,. Dagan has released fifteen music videos, including the twelve videos accompanying Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole as well as "Googleable", "Bad Romance", and "Clap on the 2 and the 4". Ori has played festivals and showcases around the world including SXSW, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Canadian Music Week, Jazz Sudbury Festival and TanJazz.
Early life
Born in Haifa, Israel, Dagan grew up playing classical piano; he moved to Toronto with his family at the age of eight.,. When he gave up classical piano at age sixteen, Dagan turned to writing poetry before he was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald’s scat solos to pursue jazz. He began his singing career by performing at jam sessions around Toronto around 2000, including sessions at The Rex Hotel, The Poor Alex Theatre and regularly at Lisa Particelli’s Girls Night Out jazz jam.
Education
Dagan’s first mentor in jazz was saxophonist Bob Mover, with whom he spent several years studying privately. In 2002, after spending two years at the University of Toronto studying English Literature, he pursued a BFA at York University studying jazz vocals and classical voice, graduating in 2007. He spent two additional years of study at Humber College’s music program, focusing on songwriting and performance study.
Musical collaborations
Dagan’s debut albumS’Cat Got My Tongue featured a total of 15 musicians, including duets with Toronto-based vocalists Heather Bambrick, Terra Hazelton, Julie Michels, and Sophia Perlman. His sophomore album Less Than Three <3 featured guest appearances by multi-instrumentalist Jane Bunnett and the Eric St-Laurent Trio. Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole features Bunnett, as well as duets with Alex Pangman and Sheila Jordan.
Discography
Album
S'Cat Got My Tongue
Less Than Three <3
Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
Singles
"The Christmas Song"
"Clap on the Two and the Four"
Awards
2010- CBC Radio 1- Canada's Next Top Crooner
2013- NOW Magazine Readers' Poll- Best Male Vocalist
2013- Australian Independent Music Video Awards- Best Independent Music Video for "Googleable"
2013- Australian Independent Music Video Awards- Best Independent Music Video – Jazz for "Googleable"
2014- NOW Magazine Readers' Poll- Best Male Vocalist- Runner-Up
2015- Toronto Independent Music Awards- Best Jazz Vocals
2015- Hollywood Songwriting Contest- Best Children's Song for "Clap on the 2 and the 4"
2016- New York City Jazz Film Festival- Best Educational Jazz Short for "Clap on the 2 and the 4"
2016- Polish International Film Festival- Best Jazz Song for "Clap on the 2 and the 4"
2016- Global Music Awards- Best Male Vocalist for "Clap on the 2 and the 4"- Bronze Medal winner
2017- Global Music Awards- Best Album for Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole- Silver Medal winner
2017- Open World Toronto Film Festival- Best Music Video for "Sting of the Cactus"
2017- Nevada Film Festival- Platinum Reel Award for "Sting of the Cactus"
2018- The American Songwriting Award- Best Jazz Song for " Sweetheart"
2018- LA Music Video Awards- Best Animation Music Video for " Sting of the Cactus"
2018- Rincón International Film Festival- Best Music Video for "Sting of the Cactus"
2018- Honolulu Film Awards- Silver Lei for Music Video for "Sting of the Cactus"
2018- South Georgian Bay Film Festival- Silver Award Best Music Video for "Sting of the Cactus"
2018- WorldFest-Houston International Film & Video Festival- Silver Remi Award for Best Jazz Music Video for "Sting of the Cactus
2018- Canadian Diversity Film Festival- Best Music Video for "Sweetheart"
2018- Colorado International Activism Film Festival- Best Actor/Singer for a Non-Animated Short/Music Video for "Complexion"
