Jazz Inspired By India

Like many boys growing up in Boulder, Colo., Rudresh Mahanthappa liked sports and played in the school band. Lucky for us, Rudresh's brother convinced him to take up the saxophone so he could tour with the school jazz band.

Rudresh's passion for jazz led him to Boston’s Berklee School of Music. There he joined a group that toured India. Rudresh was captivated by the carnatic music of south India, and began to compose works integrating ancient and new world traditions with a distinctive tone and fluid originality.

Rudresh is a rising star in the jazz press, he’s been awarded a Guggenheim fellowship and made eight albums as a leader or principal. His newest is called Kinsmen.