10/05/2022
New flyer for Oaktown Jazz!
Music and conversation with George Brooks and Prasanna
American Saxophonist George Brooks and South Indian guitarist Prasanna come together for an evening of musical exploration and conversation.
Prasanna, born and raised in Chennai, South India, began his musical education with Carnatic gurus, vocalist Tiruvarur Balasubramaniam and violinist, A. Kanyakumari, but his musical vision quickly grew to encompass a global perspective ranging from Charlie Parker, to Jimi Hendrix and Bela Bartok, eventually bringing him to the Berklee College of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Lauda. Brooks’ musical journey began in New York City where he would sneak, underage, into the Village Vanguard to listen to the likes of Betty Carter, McCoy Tyner and Sonny Rollins. This led to Brooks’ studies with Count Basie saxophonist, Frank Foster and eventually receiving a degree in Jazz performance from the New England Conservatory music where he first encountered Indian classical music.
Decades later, these seemingly diverse beginnings would bring these two artists together with renowned drummer, Steve Smith (Journey, Vital Information) to form the ground-breaking Raga Bop Trio.
On October 15th Brooks and Prasanna will come together at the Oaktown Jazz Workshop to perform as a duo and discuss their unique musical journeys from India and the US to a realm where jazz and Indian classical music intertwine and create a new dynamic form of expression.
