(le) poisson rouge

Led by dholi Sunny Jain, Red Baraat is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band of its kind in the States, melding the infectious Punjabi rhythm Bhangra with brass funk and expressing the human spirit through improvisation. Comprised of dhol (double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder), sousaphone, drumset, percussion and horns, this NYC-based group plays fresh originals, as well as popular baraat songs and Bollywood numbers with an explosive stage performance and presence. In the short time since their inception, the group has delivered blistering performances at the Chicago World Music Festival, Madison World Music Festival, Lincoln Center, DJ Rekha's Basement Bhangra, 4th Annual Droma Gypsy Festival, Chile Pepper Fiesta, Joe's Pub, The Kitchen performance art space, India Independence Day Parade, Barbes, as well as a live radio broadcast on John Schaefer's Soundcheck WNYC-FM 93.9, an NPR affiliate. Red Baraat also recorded the credit roll theme song for the movie, The Yes Men Fix the World and performed for Ports 1961 at the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (NYC).

Music Connection Magazine :: "...a raucous, blaring, clashing celebration of a multitude of cultures come together as one joyous explosion." - Henry Lewis

The Philadelphia Inquirer :: "An irrestible "dhol 'n' brass" nine-piece from New York City. He [Sunny Jain] invented "dhol 'n' brass" - and this record proves that Red Baraat rules it.

Chicago Reader :: "The band artfully hybridizes Indian bhangra and something akin to New Orleans second-line funk. Plus it's fun as hell." - Peter Margasak