Arun Ramamurthy Trio with Pawan Benjamin

Arun Ramamurthy Trio (ART) brings together South Indian classical Carnatic music and contemporary jazz. Boundaries are blurred in this organic and seamless integration of styles as the group expands on traditional forms in explosive, improvisational flights of fancy. The trio freely explores the kindred spirit of raga music and jazz, resulting in a deeply invigorating and spiritual experience. ART's collaborative sound is driven by the dynamic rhythm section of drummer Sameer Gupta & and electric bassist Damon Banks. Arun’s original work tells stories of migration and cultural connection. His commissioned work from CMA's New Jazz Works, "New Moon Suite" shines a light on the teachings and wisdom of our ancestors, and the lessons we take on our own personal journeys. The 4-movement work premiered in late 2022 in NYC, and will be released as a studio recording in 2024.

Featured performance venues have include Jazz at Lincoln Center, Bimhuis (Amsterdam), LantarenVenster (Rotterdam), Joe’s Pub, The Jazz Gallery, Ragas Live Festival at Pioneer Works, Kennedy Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Cornelia Street Cafe, Brooklyn Raga Massive and more.

“…..a captivating and inspirational listening experience, worthy of the highest recommendation for multicultural music collections.”  (Midwest Book Review)

​"...Ramamurthy's violin more than anything makes the connection between India and America clear." (SomethingElse)

Pawan Benjamin has made a global name for himself as an artist over the last decade and a half. From venues such as Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art to festivals around the world such as the Newport Festival, the Mondriaan Jazz Festival, and many others, Pawan’s credits have spanned across genres and settings.  A veteran for many years of the New York music scene, Pawan has performed in traditional and modern settings as both an in demand saxophonist, bansuri flutist and composer. In 2018, Pawan was awarded the prestigious Van Lier Foundation Award for Asian American artists in New York City, and recorded his first record, “Tinte Baja” as a homage to both traditions. 

Pawan has had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Reggie Workman, Roscoe Mitchell, Marc Cary, Sameer Gupta, Rez Abassi, Shyam Nepali, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, the Temptations / Four Tops, and dancer and choreographer Bill T Jones among many notable others. 

Pawan stands as a unique voice as a woodwind player. Equally at home in Jazz and Black American Music, as well South Asian traditional music, few others in the world have taken on both traditions with as much study and depth. 

As a saxophone student Pawan has spent time with Hanah Jon Taylor, Roscoe Mitchell, Bob Mintzer, Steve Wilson, Steve Slagle, Donny McCaslin and Dan Blake. As a bansuri player Pawan learned under Steve Gorn, Prem Rana Autari, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and Sri Jay Gandhi as well as learning Hindustani vocals under Samarth Nagarkar. www.pawanbenjamin.com

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