July 13, 2011 – Red Baraat will make its West Coast premiere on Thursday, July 28, at 8:00 pm at the fifteenth annual Sunset Concerts - the Skirball Cultural Center’s free summer world music series. Led by dholi Sunny Jain, Red Baraat is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band in North America, melding the infectious North Indian rhythms of Bhangra dance and music with brass funk. Comprised of dhol (a double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder), a drumset, percussion, sousaphone, and five horns, this NYC–based group plays fresh originals and Bollywood favorites with an explosive stage presence.
In the three years since their inception in 2008, the group has delivered incendiary performances like those at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, and the India Independence Day Parade.
Yesterday, Tuesday, July 12, Red Baraat released its live CD Bootleg Bhangra, recorded at Brooklyn’s Southpaw on the band’s second anniversary. The group's debut CD, Chaal Baby (Sinj Records) was released in 2010 and the band is currently at work on their second studio album, Shruggy Ji, which should be released in early 2012.
The Skirball Cultural Center’s Sunset Concerts, curated by Skirball Music Director Yatrika Shah-Rais, offers community concerts free of charge representing music from around the globe. The 2011 series opens with Maria de Barros (July 21). After Red Baraat on July 28, the series continues with YemenBlues (August 4), Nuriya (August 11), Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited (August 18), and Mr. Vallenato (August 25).
Red Barrat is comprised of Sunny Jain: dhol, MC, Rohin Khemani: percussion, Tomas Fujiwara: drumset, Arun Luthra: soprano saxophone, Mike Bomwell: baritone saxophone, Sonny Singh: trumpet, vocals, MiWi La Lupa: bass trumpet, Smoota: trombone, and John Altieri: sousaphone, rap.
The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049 / http://www.skirball.org. Doors open at 7 pm, concerts are at 8 pm. Admission is free, no reservations are needed. Limited seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Onsite parking is $10 per car (cash only). Street parking is prohibited.
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