New Orleans Meets Indian Classical on Charu Suri’s New Album ‘Rags & Ragas’

After crafting ragas that one can waltz to with her 2022 album Ragas & Waltzes, Madurai-born, Chennai-raised pianist-composer Charu Suri turns to the NOLA jazz sound on her upcoming album Rags & Ragas, releasing on September 8th.

The spark for the album came after the artist’s regular visits to New Orleans to see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. It prominently features the likes of veteran bassist John Patitucci, drummer Joe Lastie (who was also on Ragas & Waltzes), drummer Steve Gadd, pianist Kobi Arad, composer Brent Fischer, oud artist Charlie Sabach and saxophonist Berta Moreno, among others.

Vibrant rhythms abound across the album, with Suri’s renditions of Indian classical on piano at the center of it, although the artist readily clears the space for other instrumentalists to take over. There are a total of eight tracks including an acoustic version of “Raga Rag No. 1.” With the two lead singles “Parade” and “Raga Rag No. 1,” Suri gets into raag Bhupali and Bhimpalas/Kirwani, respectively. On “Parade,” the lilt of the piano coupled with solid rhythms and swelling string sections can keep any jazz fan guessing, while “Raga Rag No. 1” heaps on the dexterous rhythms, at one point sounding like each player was throwing open challenges to the other in an energetic jam that peaks beautifully.

Rags & Ragas starts out very differently though, on the pleasantly flowing “Bourbon Street Stroll,” which infuses an interpretation of raag Hemant with Moreno’s sax adding a strong personality, as does Patitucci’s bass work. “Bhairavi Blues,” as the name suggests, adds a tint of club-friendly blues jams to raag Bhairavi, although it stays within a certain framework.

The melancholy “French Quarter” brings back Moreno for a rendition of raag Charukesi, intended to invoke a late morning feel. With its easygoing pace that occasionally ventures out, the song unravels majestically. “Jackson Square Waltz” adds another element of fusion with Sabach’s oud complementing Suri’s piano melodies, making for a pensive listen while still keeping in line with the Indian classical sound. The album closes on what is perhaps the brightest note, on “Spring in New Orleans,” offered as an ode to jazz pioneer Miles Davis. Suri chooses to create a rendition of raag Bagesri, making for a shimmering tune that would fit right into a club setting on a serene night.

Rags & Ragas sees Suri take on fusion adventures like few other artists out there in terms of arrangements and styles, making it an exciting listen each time because you never know what might leap out at you among its intricate compositions.

‘Rags & Ragas’ releases on September 8th. Pre-order here.