Jehanbakhsh (John) Jasavala holds music degrees from University of Michigan, (M.M.), York University (B.FA), a Diploma in Jazz Studies from Humber College, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor. Jehanbakhsh has an active life as a performer, teacher, clinician and adjudicator.
He has held the position of Principal Trombone with both the Windsor and Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestras, and has performed as a freelance musician with several orchestras in Ontario and Michigan, including Orchestra London, and The Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Jehanbakhsh is the founding member and leader of The Umbrella Brass Quintet. The Umbrella Brass Quintet has been broadcast by the CBC on “Music Around Us” and “Disc Drive”. Jehanbakhsh can be heard on CD with The University of Western Ontario Convocation Brass and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Amy Beech Symphony).
Jehanbakhsh has also been active as an instructor at Eastern Music Camp in Newfoundland and Interprovincial Music Camp in Ontario. Jehanbakhsh is an active adjudicator in both jazz and instrumental music including the Brandon Jazz Festival, Corner Brook Music Festival, London Music Festival and Grey County Music Festival. Until relocating to Toronto in 2005, he was the Instructor of Trombone at the University of Windsor, taught chamber music courses and was the Director of the University of Windsor Jazz Ensemble.
Jehanbakhsh is currently a lecturer, chamber ensembles coach and instructor of trombone at the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto. Jehanbakhsh is the Director of the University of Toronto 1 ‘O Clock Big Band. Jehanbakhsh was the recipient of the University of Western Ontario Student Society Teaching Award in 2002 and in 2003, the winner of the Meritorious Service Award for Part–time Faculty at the University of Windsor.