Red Baraat at Clearwater! by Monique Avakian

Wow, am I tired. Dancing with tons of other people in the mud to Red Baraat at Clearwater was so much fun! This could seriously be my new workout.

I am so happy Clearwater is expanding the programming this way. Red Baraat's music is a melding of jazz, North Indian traditional folk Bhangra rhythms, Go-Go, Funk, Hip-Hop, Sufi poetry and brass big-band feel (with Sousaphone taking the bass line and tearing it up!). The group embodies progressive political consciousness raising in a very subliminal and authentic way. This fits my take on the Zeitgeist of Clearwater -- a River-based institution charged as protector of Folk and encourager of joy and unity. By the people. Of the people and for the people.

Click for a one minute flavor slice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36FI_K2xYBE&feature=share&list=PLA442F1BA9D8C260C

Red Baraat is from Brooklyn and comprised of the following:

Sunny Jain – Dhol/MC

Rohin Khemani – percussion

Tomas Fujiwara – drum kit

Arun Luthra – soprano sax

Mike Bomwell – baritone sax

Sonny Singh – trumpet/vocals

MiWi La Lupa – bass trumpet

Earnest Stuart/Smoota – trombone

John Altieri – Sousaphone/vocals

Their new album, Shruggy Ji, debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music Charts and has received praise from NPR, the Wall Street Journal and more.

Their next near~by show will be:

Central Park Summer Stage

July 14, 2013

(with two other bands – all ages show)

3-7pm

FREE

http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/calendar/fanfare-ciocarlia-red-baraat-dj-sets-by-joro-boro/

NPR World Café Interview Link: 

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/29/187039290/red-baraat-on-world-cafe