Pianist and composer Kavyesh Kaviraj tells his own story on his debut album, Fables.

Fables is the debut album from pianist and composer Kavyesh Kaviraj. The bandleader arrives in full force, after years accompanying the likes of Wynton Marsalis, David Sanchez, Justin Robinson, Roosevelt Collier, Steve Cole, and many others. Over eight original compositions, Kaviraj is riveting, playing with astonishing virtuosity and spirit. He is matched by a stellar band, anchored by bassist Jeff Bailey, drummer Kevin Washington, saxophonist Pete Whitman, and trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim. The group has performed together for years in various arrangements, and the camaraderie shows.

On Fables, Kaviraj presents music that is intense, beautiful, and reaching. The project, more than seven years in the making, is rooted in a longstanding desire to tell stories through music. “When I was a child, my mother gave me as many storybooks as she could find — Russian children’s books, old Indian parables, and of course, Aesop’s Fables,” Kaviraj says. “I developed a love for the allegory and imagery of the hero’s journey, and that influence is at the heart of this project.”

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Kavyesh Kaviraj imbues his life and stories into his music, carefully weaving his influences into a boundary-breaking modern jazz outfit. Kavy has garnered acclaim in many musical climates, and currently calls St. Paul, MN, home. Primarily a jazz pianist, he has performed with internationally renowned artists such as Wynton Marsalis, David Sanchez, Justin Robinson, Roosevelt Collier, and Steve Cole. Further, has worked with local jazz legends Debbie Duncan, Bruce Henry, Babatunde Lea, Kevin Washington, and LA Buckner. He is also active in the hip-hop, gospel, R&B, and funk scenes and many crossover acts.