Arun Ramamurthy Trio – New Moon (Greenleaf Music, 2024)
Arun Ramamurthy Trio explores the intersections of American jazz and Indian classical music, reflecting a shared artistic pursuit of spontaneous expression and respect for tradition.
The centerpiece of the album is the “New Moon Suite,” a fabulous four-part work inspired by themes of ancestry, family, and multicultural identity. Created with support from the Chamber Music America (CMA) New Jazz Works grant, the suite draws on virtuoso violinist and composer Arun Ramamurthy’s personal reflections on his grandmother, Aaji. Although not a professional musician, Aaji was an influential figure who instilled in Ramamurthy a deep appreciation for Carnatic music. Aaji’s effect is particularly celebrated in the suite’s second movement, “Aaji.”
The suite begins with “Bangalore to Brooklyn,” chronicling the journey of Ramamurthy’s parents from India to New York. This track presents the Trio’s dazzling dynamic interplay, with bassist Damon Banks and drummer Sameer Gupta joining Ramamurthy’s spellbinding violin in a collective alap, an improvised section of a raga, before transitioning to a rhythmic groove.
New Moon marks a significant step forward for the Arun Ramamurthy Trio, mixing Carnatic music and jazz expertly to create a splendid, cohesive, faultless and spontaneous musical dialog. This album illustrates the Trio’s artistic maturity and their ability to navigate their rich cultural heritage.
Track Descriptions
“Walk As One”
Inspired by the 2020 protests in Brooklyn following George Floyd’s death, this piece captures the collective strength of the marchers.
“Bangalore to Brooklyn”
A tribute to Ramamurthy’s parents’ migration to the United States in 1970, laying the foundation for their family’s future.
“Aaji”
Dedicated to Ramamurthy’s grandmother, Ambuja Dindigal, this movement honors her influence on his personal and musical development.
“Mirrors”
A self-reflective piece that explores balancing cultural upbringing with contemporary life, using the 10-beat palindromic cycle of the Arabic maqam, Jurjina.
“Amavasya”
Named after the Sanskrit term for “new moon,” this movement encourages introspection and reverence for one’s ancestors.
“Sri Valli”
An interpretation of the Carnatic song “Sri Valli Devasenapathe” by composer Papanaasam Shivan, exploring the colors of the raga Natabhairavi.
Musicians: Arun Ramamurthy on violin; Sameer Gupta on drums; and Damon Banks on electric bass.
The album will be available through Greenleaf Music’s Band camp store: glmstore.bandcamp.com.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.