Musical inclination is normal in Ani Chakravarthy’s family. His father plays the Mridangam; his mom plays the saxophone and flute; his older brother is a composer and violinist and his younger brother is a singer.
Like his family, Chakravarthy is no stranger to facing the music. In kindergarten, he started learning classical piano. After a few years, Chakravarthy was ready for a change. “I wasn’t able to put myself into music as much as I could in jazz if I was improvising,” he said.
He eventually transitioned to learning the saxophone and became a tenor saxophonist at Newark Academy. “I found that the jazz atmosphere was a lot more supportive and that I could really put my individuality to it,” he said.
Since picking up the saxophone, Chakravarthy hasn’t put the instrument down. Recently, he played with his school at the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2024 Essentially Ellington competition. The annual competition invites high schools throughout the country to compete at a jazz festival. The festival highlights musicians such as Duke Ellington and other jazz artists.
Newark Academy won first place this year, and the judges recognized Chakravarthy for his solo performance. He performed the solo of Paul Gonsalves, a tenor saxophonist, “Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue.” Chakravarthy took the 27-chorus solo piece and made it his own by combining signature sounds from other saxophonists he admires into his solo. Chakravarthy worked on the piece for months with his teacher before his performance.
“It was a long process because it’s a very iconic solo. If it’s going to hit the crowd right, you’ve got to make sure it’s authentic,” he said.
Ani Chakravarthy is a Montclair Made Musician
Though he attended Newark Academy for middle school and high school, Chakravarthy calls Montclair home. He went to Montclair Community Pre-K and attended Montclair Kimberley Academy before going to Newark Academy for middle school.
He joined Jazz House Kids in 2016 and credited the program for honing his saxophone skills. “I got to improve my technique, and I was in a community of people who allowed me to try new things and improvise,” he said.
He’s participated in their summer jazz workshop for the last eight years. The program gave him his first taste of performing for a large crowd before the Essentially Ellington competition.
“What’s crazy is that Jazz House Kids is so renowned for its amazing faculty and its commitment to its students that we’re allowed to play at the Montclair Jazz Festival and Dizzy’s Club in New York City,” he said.
When the time came to perform at the competition, Chakravarthy was nervous despite his experience at the jazz festival. Yet, when the time came he picked up his saxophone all his fears went away.
“I just sort of close my eyes and stop worrying about that,” he said.
Jazz in the City
Now, Chakravarthy is taking his talents to New York City as he starts college at Columbia University. Though he’s not majoring in jazz studies, he’s excited to be in a city where jazz has such strong roots. He’s excited to submerge himself in the various jazz clubs like the acclaimed Dizzy’s.
“There’s so many jazz locations where all these great people got started in New York City because there’s just so many places to show that you can show up and listen to jazz,” he said.
Before he starts college in the fall, he’ll be working at a jazz camp, teaching other students how to find their own sound. He will also be working at Montclair Learning Center.
As for his ultimate goal as a musician, the answer for Chakravarthy is simple.
“I just want to make sure I stay on my horn and in connection with whatever community I’m around on my instrument. As long as I keep practicing, keep listening to jazz, and keep enjoying the music, I’ll find myself in a community of other people who like it too.”
