Did you say raga jazz? Now, what’s that?
Discover over Raga Jazz & American Songbook: An Evening at Carnegie Hall with Charu & friends
The sense of calmness is almost surreal, eerie, too, if I may. Mostly, when you walk out of a concert, your energy levels are at another level, almost adrenaline-rushing. If you’re driving back home, you instantly search (on Spotify and YouTube) for the numbers you’ve just heard and begin to sing along aloud and energetically. But this time around, ‘attending a concert’ has not had the same effect on me, and how. I am in a beautiful, meditative state of mind.
It’s a pinch-me-believe moment, as I am at Carnegie Hall, New York. How often do you get that chance now? For the uninitiated, Carnegie Hall opened its doors in 1891 and is located on the corner of 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. It is a national historic landmark that comprises three venues: Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Zankel Hall, and Weill Recital Hall.
While that was enough to add to the charm of sitting in Weill Recital Hall, we also witnessed a performance by Charu Suri & Friends: The Art of Raga Jazz & American Songbook (April 2024). It may have been our first time, but it was Charu’s fourth time at the historic venue! Charu, a multi-award-winning pianist and composer, is the first Indian jazz artist to return to the venue for the fourth time. She was joined by her talented friends — Max ZT, Hammered Dulcimer; Joe Lastie, Drums; J. Brunka, Double Bass; Ri Wolf, Vocals; Cassandra Kubinski, Vocalist; Danielle Erin Rhodes, Vocalist; Umer Piracha, Sufi Vocalist; and Kobi Arad, Soloist. And what they put together was an evening of what we’d like to call edutainment and humbleness for multiple reasons.
But I digress, back to the calmness I spoke about. As Charu’s fingers moved on the piano, the ambiance in the hall transformed into a serene spa as we sat in rapt attention and awe. Did I close my eyes to soak in Charu’s talent and renditions? Yes, I did. Here’s an artist who makes ragas relevant and relatable, and how?
She presented her latest album, RAGS & RAGAS, uniquely with the troupe. Their little introductions between each performance were simple, and we were soon breathing in Cinnamon Morning, Aint’ No Sunshine When She’s Gone Backporch Blues, Burn it Down, and more. The evening also marked the world premiere of Charu's new song, Lately, co-produced with singer Cassandra Kubinski. Cassandra’s energy and charm were almost infectious. Why Don’t You Go Down to New Orleans, featuring Joe Lastie, made us want to leave behind our seats and break into a dance — especially as Joe, a much loved senior artiste, spoke about the days of his early career. He took over the stage in the most unassuming stature, standing casually as if performing for his family on Christmas Eve in the living room. No airs. No drama. The fun and content on his face were enigmatic. Umer Piracha, with his powerful vocals, transported us to another space. What was also beautiful to witness was how, while one of them performed, the others looked smitten with the talent on display.
After the concert, everyone who was at the concert was invited to join the talent on stage for an afterparty at Trattoria Dell’Arte (right opposite the hall, a few minutes walk away), and I, for one (and others too), were not going to miss a chance to see that stars off stage; little did we know that they would leave us impressed with their after-party spirits as well.
As we waited for them to reach the after-party venue, my mind rushed to how the evening had piqued my interest in ragas — I’ll confess, in our growing up years, we all wanted to be associated with only the ‘so-called’ cool stuff — especially when it came to music — hence ragas never featured on our playlists. Yes, a few of us Indians were fortunate to learn them at school or grew up in environments where it was part of our lives — but many of us did live under the faulty impression that ragas are for the old, for the boring, and labeled them as ‘traditional’ — but one evening of watching Charu in action, and all the presumptions seemed baseless. Sitting at the restaurant, I was googling (and curiously enough) about Bourbon Street Stroll (Raga Hemant), Jackson Square Waltz (Raga Kalyani), French Quarter (Charukesi raga), Bhairavi Blues (Raga Bhairavi), Raga No.1 (Bhimpalas/Kirwani) and Raga Kalyani. And just like that, I knew my playlist had been enhanced by a notch at the Carnegie level, courtesy of Charu Suri & Friends.
When Charu walked into the after-party, I wanted to congratulate and thank her for this ‘lesson’ and share how excited I was to see her adorn an Indian outfit for the concert. As a fellow Indian, I am biased toward our fashion, of course. Before I could do that, she instead remarked on how she loved my choice of a ‘desi’ nosering, and from there on, the conversation flowed like we’d known one another for a while. She was humble enough to speak of her journey, one that encompasses taking ragas to one and all.
Charu does have the Middle East on her mind, so hopefully, we will welcome her to the UAE soon. So, what do I know about ragas post-show? I know they calm me down as much as they lift my spirits. I know that ragas are now part of my playlist. Also, since we attended the post-concert party, we learned that serious, passionate music practitioners are humble and fun people to hang out with over a beverage. The world of ragas will keep shining brighter, for Charu and her talented associates are at work, and I can’t wait to taste what they do next.
P.S.: I couldn’t leave without posing with Charu for a picture.
Authored by Purva Grover
Purva Grover is an author, journalist, and creative entrepreneur. She is the founder-editor of storiesoverart.com, a sanctuary for all who find solace, inspiration, and purpose in art. In a world that often overlooks the significance of art, she stands firm in her belief that it is essential, more so than anything else.
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