In Chicago, at age five, Tani Tabbal began playing and exploring drums, and by age fourteen he was a professional, playing and performing with Oscar Brown Jr. By the time age seventeen rolled around, Tani had already played with Phil Coran and was about to head out on tour with Sun Ra and his Arkestra.

Tani Tabbal became known for his fluidity with odd and mixed meters. His passion for the avant-garde and in pushing the jazz medium along with blending world rhythms, brought him in professional contact with jazz legends Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Muhal Richard Abrams, Henry Threadgill, and Richard Davis among others. He also played with the Detroit avante garde group Griot Galaxy. Tabbal has recorded, performed and toured with Roscoe Mitchell, David Murray, James Carter, Geri Allen, and Casandra Wilson, to name a few. Tabbal is also in the percussion ensemble ‘Pieces of Time’ along with Andrew Cyrille, Famadou Don Moye, and Obo Addy.

Along with being a jazz drummer, Tani also plays percussion instruments of West Africa (djembe and doundoun), North India (tablas), and North Africa (doumbec).