Red Baraat

Red Baraat

Red Baraat is a United States-based group active since 2008, led by dhol player Sunny Jain. The lineup includes John Altieri, Mike Bomwell, Rohin Khemani and MiWi La Lupa, alongside Jain. The group centres on dhol, drum kit, percussion, sousaphone and five horns, and combines bhangra with jazz fusion, funk, go-go and Latin music.

Style and sound

The band builds its sound around the dhol, a double-sided North Indian barrel drum worn over one shoulder. Its music blends North Indian bhangra rhythms with jazz and other dance-oriented styles, and the group is known for its forceful live performances.

Releases and activity

Red Baraat’s debut release is Chaal Baby on Sinj Records. It attracts strong critical notice and is voted by several critics as a top world and jazz release of 2010. The group later records the theme song over the closing credits for The Yes Men Fix the World.

Performances and recognition

Since forming in October 2008, Red Baraat appears at globalFEST, Montreal Jazz Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Madison World Music Festival, Concert of Colors in Detroit, Droma Gypsy Festival, Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, Molde Jazz Festival in Norway and Chicago Folks & Roots Festival, among other events. After its performance at globalFEST in 2011, the group is highlighted by PRI’s The World, NPR’s All Songs Considered, The New York Times, The Village Voice and Mother Jones. It is also featured in National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Relix and Songlines, and appears on John Schaefer’s Soundcheck on WNYC-FM 93.9, where it is selected as a top live radio performance of 2009. The group also performs at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York for Ports 1961 runway models.