Home / Arts and Entertainment / Grammy Nominee Charu Suri Fuses Ancient Ragas with Jazz
Grammy Nominee Charu Suri Fuses Ancient Ragas with Jazz
4 Jan
Summary
- Charu Suri merges 7,000-year-old ragas with contemporary jazz.
- Her latest album, Shayan, features evening ragas for relaxation.
- Suri recently composed music for a short film by an award-winning filmmaker.
Indian-American composer and pianist Charu Suri is gaining international recognition for her innovative "raga jazz" style, which fuses ancient Indian musical traditions with contemporary jazz. Having overcome initial skepticism, Suri's Grammy nomination validates her persistent efforts to break down musical barriers and create a new global sound. Her approach involves adapting 7,000-year-old ragas into accessible jazz compositions.
Suri's artistic journey is deeply rooted in her Indian heritage, influencing not only her music but also her philosophical outlook on tolerance and preservation. Her recent album, Shayan, is a testament to this, built entirely around soothing evening ragas intended to promote relaxation and sleep. She masterfully draws from both Hindustani and Carnatic musical traditions, offering a sound that feels both timeless and current.
Beyond her album work, Suri is actively exploring new creative avenues, including film scoring. She recently collaborated with award-winning filmmaker Hemal Trivedi on a short film, marking a significant step into the cinematic world. Looking forward, she plans to explore monsoon ragas and develop a new project called Bossa Raga, further expanding her unique genre-bending repertoire.
