Ori Dagan

Born in Haifa, Israel, Dagan grew up playing classical piano; he moved to Toronto with his family at the age of eight.,.[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

Dagan’s first mentor in jazz was saxophonist Bob Mover, with whom he spent several years studying privately.[9] 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.[10]

Dagan’s debut album S’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. Together with JUNO-winning Canadian Dance Vocalist Simone Denny, Ori Dagan recorded a jazz version of The Buggles' classic, "Video Killed the Radio Star," a bonus track on his 2022 album "Click Right Here."