Rakesh Chaurasia

Rakesh Chaurasia
Rakesh Chaurasia at Pune
Background information
Born	(1971-01-13) January 13, 1971 (age 54) Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
Genres	Hindustani classical music
Occupation	Flautist
Instrument	Bansuri
Website	www.rakeshchaurasia.com

Rakesh Chaurasia (born 10 January 1971) is an Indian flutist, who plays the bansuri, an Indian bamboo flute. ^{[1] [2]} He is the nephew of flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia. ^{[3] [4]}

He was awarded 'Indian of the Year 2017.' ^[5]

Chaurasia has played and toured extensively with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain (musician), and was featured on Fleck's album As We Speak, which was nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Instrumental Composition category, but instead won for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2024. The track "Pashto" from the album also won in the category Best Global Music Performance. ^[6]

He helped Dhafer Youssef arrange Street of Minarets, released in 2023, from material recorded a decade earlier at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, adding performances on several tracks including "Ondes of Chakras". ^[7]

He also performs frequently in SPIC MACAY Concerts throughout India.^{[ citation needed ]}

Discography

• Call of Krishna – 2003
• Call of Krishna 2 – 2005
• Dor – 2006
• Call of Shiva – 2007
• Call of the Divine – 2013
• Finesse on flute – 2019 (with Mukundraj Deo on tabla)
• ZaRa – 2022 (with Zakir Hussain)
• Rupak Kulkarni and Rakesh Chaurasia – Raga Kirwani
• Talvin Singh and Rakesh Chaurasia – Vira (2002), Sona Rupa UK/Navras Records ^[8]
• Abhijit Pohankar and Rakesh Chaurasia – Tranquility (2001), Sona Rupa Records

Awards

• Indian Music Academy Award – 2007 ^[9]
• Aditya Birla Kalakiran Purasakar – 2008 ^[9]
• Guru Shishya Award – 2011 ^[9]
• IWAP-Pandir Jasraj Sangeet Ratna Award – 2013 ^[9]
• Pannala Ghosh Puraskar – 2013 ^[9]
• Grammy Award in the category of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Pashto in the year 2024. ^[6]
• Grammy Awards in the category of Best Global Music Performance for As we speak in the year 2024. ^[6]

References

1. "Renowned musicians at Pune's event". The Times of India . 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013.
2. "Teen Prahar, classical music festival for peace Published: Wednesday". Daily News and Analysis . 24 December 2008.
3. "Striking the right note". The Hindu . 3 April 2003. Archived from the original on 4 July 2003.
4. "Tuneful tips: Rakesh Chaurasia". The Hindu . 17 August 2004. Archived from the original on 29 August 2004.
5. "Brands Academy Organized Mega Event "Indian of the Year" – New Delhi".
6. "Shakti of Indian music shines at Grammys as five win honours". The Times of India. 6 February 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 20 February 2025.
7. Spry, Graham (16 January 2023). "Dhafer Youssef - 'Streets of Minarets'". UK Jazz News.
8. "Talvin Singh & Rakesh Chaurasia – Vira". Discogs. 2002.
9. "Visiting Artists: Rakesh Chaurasia". cso.org. Retrieved 15 June 2021.

External links

• "Transcend to a higher space". MiD DAY. 9 July 2009.
• Official website
• Interview on Hariprasad Chaurasia