CHARU SURI, award-winning pianist and composer, embarks on a sonic journey that bridges sounds of both East and West, as well as introduces listeners to the art of the songbook. Joining her onstage are others (see program below). The event, ‘Charu Suri: The Art of Raga Jazz & American Songbook’ takes place on Friday, April 5, 2024, 8 PM at the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York City.
CHARU SURI treads fearlessly between genres, pulling global influences that range from the mood-anchoring Indian ragas, Sufi music, to the trio. Her ground-breaking albums, ‘The Book of Ragas,’ and its sequel, ‘The Book of Ragas vol. 2’ have often elicited the response, “I’ve never heard this type of sound before.”
One of the few female composers from India to perform work at Carnegie Hall, Charu has lived in four continents, and writes music that reflect her journey as both a traveler and her training as a classical music piano prodigy. She has been playing the piano since the age of five, and performing since the age of nine, and one of her best memories is winning an international piano competition at the age of 15.
Hear Charu play the Verona Waltz – youtu.be/nT74c9rgI5M
Verona Waltz (‘RAGAS & WALTZES’ by Charu Suri), recorded at Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans. Dedicated to the beautiful town of Verona, New Jersey.
What started purely as an experiment with her ‘Book of Ragas’ has turned into a niche that she is now increasingly becoming known for. Her latest album is ‘RAGAS & WALTZES,’ a first collaboration between her and Preservation Hall’s jazz drummer, Joe Lastie. Her previous album, ‘RAGAS & WALTZES’ has received a lot of praise from critics. JAZZIZ Magazine (jazziz.com) has praised its classic reinvention of the European waltz, and Dan McClenaghan’s ‘All About Jazz’ said, “These are all Suri originals, with which she creates a mood that is a mix, tune-by-tune, of longing and solemnity, then of a lilting and uplifting beauty, segueing into tender reverence that shifts gear into a segment of lively swing before drifting back to loving respect. And that swing is surely inspired by New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s drummer, Joe Lastie, Jr., sitting in the recording session’s drummer’s chair.”
Her recent album, ‘RAGS & RAGAS,’ with bassist John Patitucci, drummer Joe Lastie, drummer Steve Gadd, and pianist Kobi Arad was released in September 2023.
Charu has performed at Lincoln Center and other prestigious concert halls around the world, including St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She often performs with her band, and sometimes as a soloist. Her work will be performed by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for the first time on May 13, 2024 at NJPAC.
Learn more about Charu Suri at charusuri.com.
PROGRAM
‘CHARU SURI: THE ART OF RAGA JAZZ & AMERICAN SONGBOOK’
Performers
Charu Suri, Piano
Max ZT, Hammered Dulcimer
Joe Lastie, Drums
J.Brunka, Double Bass
Ri Wolf, Vocals
Cassandra Kubinski, Vocals
Danielle Erin Rhodes, Vocals
Umer Piracha, Sufi Vocals
Kobi Arad, Piano