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SHIMMERING city kaleidoscope BOUNCING with Fela’s beats, BUBBLING up boom box blasting Led Zeppelin on skateboarder’s shoulders, as solo saxophone soars into sky from 3rd floor window. In line at Punjabi Deli, behind cabbies, chai spills into the tang of HOT asphalt street. Bhangra sounds take hold of my body. I am home in New York City, birth of Red Baraat.
Bangin' Bhangra 'n' Brass Funk
Led by drummer Sunny Jain, Red Baraat is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band of its kind in the States, melding the infectious North Indian rhythm Bhangra with brass funk and expressing the human spirit through improvisation and a powerful live sound. Comprised of dhol (double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder), percussion and horns, this NYC-based group plays fresh originals, as well as traditional Punjabi songs and Bollywood numbers with a dramatic stage performance and presence.
In the short time since their inception, Red Baraat has delivered blistering performances at the 4th Annual Droma Gypsy Festival, The Kitchen performance art space, the underground loft party series Brooklyn Wonderland, India Independence Day Parade, Barbes, Joe’s Pub, Santos Party House, as well as a live radio broadcast for WFMU-FM 91.1 and WKCR-FM 89.9. They recently recorded the credit roll theme song for the movie, The Yes Men Fix the World, performed at the 43rd Annual War Resistors League Peace Award ceremony, alongside folk legends Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, and performed for Ports 1961 at the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (NYC).
Red Baraat's debut CD is in the works.
Baraat is Hindi for a marriage procession. In North India, it is a tradition on the day of the wedding for the groom to travel to his bride’s home on a magnificently decorated horse, surrounded by an entourage of family and friends. Led by a dholi and/or a marching band, this joyous celebration naturally induces dancing and singing and is inseparable from the energy and excitement of the musical festivities.
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