Broto Roy

In the mid-‘80s, India-American composer and tabla percussionist Broto Roy (an EMI-India recording artist) began composing and recording a genre of music he calls “Raga-Jazz”, an amalgam of ancient Indian ragas (melodies), talas (rhythms) and western Jazz. His mastery over the complex, formalized rhythms of his native India combined with his deep appreciation and understanding of the Jazz idiom led the Washington Post to declare his music “spiritual and visceral”. He was Artist in Residence at the Kennedy Center’s inauguration of their Millennium Stage. His CD “Total Immersion” is only the second live recording sanctioned by the Kennedy Center for public release (the first was by Pavarotti). His debut CD “American Raga” was played aboard the International Space Station when Dennis Tito carried it with him as he orbited the earth. His Broto Roy Quartet, consisting of sitar, tabla drums, tenor sax and electric bass, released "All Barriers Fall" (May 2018) and June 2015 released “Ancient Algorithms” - all and more at Amazon and iTunes.

His third CD "Live at the Lowell Festival" (near Boston, USA) was released in 2003 (Buzkhashi) by the Broto Roy Trio featuring the great Indian “sarodist” (Indian bass-lute) Aashish Khan and violinist Shashi Dhar. His Bengali folk ensemble GANGA released their CD "Setting Down Roots" in '08 (Buzkhashi). In 2011 GANGA released “Bringing It Home”, a compilation of live tracks from their concerts at the Library of Congress’ Coolidge auditorium; the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (New York City); Festival of American Folklife (July 4th) and many others. EMI-India re-released "American Raga" with worldwide distribution by Virgin Records in '09.

As a dedicated teacher on the side, Broto also performs with his students. See tabla concerto video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noQx5014RBE. He received the Virginia Master Folk Artist award from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and taught in the DC public schools for three years. His numerous college performances, both for general audiences and music conservatories feature an educational component highlighting the rich history and science of Indian classical music theory and its modern practice. Some college concerts include: Sussex College, New Jersey; Mount Holyoke; Colgate University; Yale University; University of South Carolina at Columbia; State University of New York at Syracuse and Oswego; and eight campuses of Pennsylvania State University from Erie to Pittsburgh. On November 14, 2013 Broto lectured on India and performed at Harrisburg College, Pennsylvania and on January 9, 2014 he delivered a lecture at University College at the University of Maryland. The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded Broto two teaching grants in 1986 and 1993.

Summer festival performances with his jazz fusion ensemble Montpelier Jazz Festival (10/5/12); National Folk Festival, Michigan USA; Festival of India; Festival of American Folklife; Kerrville Festival, Texas and many others.

Guest performances live and on CDs include guitarists Fareed Haque (of Garaj Mahal fame), Sanjay Mishra (Jerry Garcia); renowned jazz guitarist Paul Bollenback; organist Joey DeFrancesco; saxophonist Ron Holloway; sarodist Aashish Khan; sitarists Krishna Bhatt, Subrata Roy Chowdhury, Indrajit Roy Chowdhury, and Grateful Dead member Bob Weir (with the Sanjay Mishra Band) and many more. June 23rd and 25th, 2011 he performed at the Festival Musiques du Monde a Essaouira in the kingdom of Morocco. In 2011 for the 10th anniversary of September 11th, he played at the Washington National Cathedral's "Concert to Heal" in Washington DC.

Broto is particularly proud of composing the song "Let Us Fly" for the Art & Drama Therapy Institute of Washington, DC's disabled and mentally handicapped clients. CNN World News broadcast the premiere of "Let Us Fly" on July 17 and 18, '04 and said his was "a story of amazing determination to be heard & recognized" and called him "Grammy bound". See CNN & NBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsvkKKUdwiA coverage. Broto was nominated in the Instrumental category by his peers for the 2012 WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Awards). Currently Broto is busy recording his 7th CD of original compositions further exploring the fusion between Indian classical music and jazz. The new CD is due in early 2015.

Some of the musicians Broto has performed as accompanist and leader over the past 20 years include: Guitarists: Fareed Haque (of Garaj Mahal); Paul Bollenback (Challenge Records); Sanjay Mishra (Jerry Garcia); T.K. Smith. Keyboards: Joey DeFrancesco; Dan Nimmer (Wynton Marsalis); Harry Appelman, piano. Bass: Scott Ambush (Spyro Gyra); Bill Kemp (Austin City Limits). Horns: Jamal Balbed (Chuck Brown DC); Ron Holloway; Marshall Keys; Carl Grubbs. Drumkit: Jeff "Tain" Watts (Branford Marsalis); Dennis Chambers (Santana); Steve Smith (Mariah Carey), and sitarists Debiprasad Chatterjee; Gaurav Mazumdar and Indrajit Roy Chowdhury and many more.

Awards

WAMMIE nominations. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities' Master Artist grant; NEA grants