Johannes Linstead (also records under the name Sevaji) is an award-winning Canadian guitarist and instrumentalist who fuses virtuoso Spanish-style guitar with Afro-Cuban, Middle Eastern, and Latin American percussion and instrumentation. In 2010, Linstead was named "World Artist of the Year" in the T.O.M.A Awards (The Ontario Music Awards), was the recipient of "Best World Album" and "Best Instrumental Album - Acoustic" in the ZMR Awards, and signed an influential artist endorsement deal with the Yamaha Corporation of America. Further accolades include being named "Guitarist of the Year" in the prestigious Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2007), two NAR Lifestyle Music Awards, a nomination for a Juno Award and others.