"Sunny Jain is the Hendrix of dhol." Manchester Salon (UK)
A product of the evolving tastes and worldviews of a globalized generation, Sunny Jain has proven to be a trailblazer. He founded and plays dhol in the band, Red Baraat, the most successful Indian-American band in North America with performances at the White House, TED Talks, London Paralympics Closing Ceremony, Bonnaroo Music Festival and Austin City Limits. The band was named "Favorite Live Shows of 2011" by NPR and the bands last record, Shruggy Ji, debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music Charts.
"Jain's compositions are unique and stake out singular turf in this 21st Century world of cross-pollinating musical traditions." Signal to Noise
July 2014, Jain was commissioned by NPR Music to write a composition for a capstone event on Make Music New York day. In 2013, Phillip Glass was asked to do the same. Over 350 musicians, including drumlines of the New York Jets and Knicks, prominent brass bands from NYC and talented high school band students, arrived on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library to premiere Jains 100+ BPM. The meaning of the tune refers to the location and instrumentation of the performance (Brooklyn Public Music, Brass-Percussion Music), while the 100+ refers to the beats per minute of the song and the anticipated number of musicians for the performance. In past years, Jain has been a recipient of composition and performance grants from the Aaron Copland Music Fund, Chamber Music America, Meet the Composer, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, globalFEST and received the Arts International Award in both 2005 and 2003. In 2010, Jains song, Chaal Baby, was featured for 6 months in the hit FXX show, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Sunny Jain is at the tip of the cultural spear.
He has been an invited participant at the White House's AAPI event in 2012, and more recently was invited to speak at Harvard and the New Haven Arts and Ideas Festival. Sunny has been featured and profiled in the Wall Street Journal, on NPR's Weekend Edition, in the India Times, and in countless other important media outlets across the globe. Hes also the author of 2 instructional drum books for Alfred Publishing (The Total Jazz Drummer and Drum Atlas: India). Jains goal in music has always focused on innovation and community. Taking risks is necessary as an artist, in order to hit upon new ways of understanding and relating to the world. At the same time, we are simple creatures that desire community. If we can unite people of all backgrounds to partake in the exuberance of life through the universal language of music, regardless of any differences, then life is that much sweeter. Unity through diversity.
"Rising Star Percussionist." Downbeat Critics Poll (2011-2015)
Sunny Jain first made a name for himself as a rising star in the jazz world awarded the designation of Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and the Kennedy Center, and appearing regularly in Downbeat magazine critics polls as he helmed his own bands and also worked with Norah Jones, Kenny Wollesen, and Kyle Eastwood. For several years, he traveled the world as a kit drummer and dhol player with the Sufi rock band, Junoon the biggest rock band to emerge from South Asia. In 2011, Junoon recorded the single "Open Your Eyes," featuring Peter Gabriel, to raise awareness and funds for Pakistani flood victims. In 2010, Junoon delivered a Concert for Pakistan at the United Nations in NYC, for the displaced refugees in the Swat Valley. The band closed out 2007 with a milestone performance at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway, playing for Nobel Laureates Al Gore and Rajendra Paucharia.
Jain played dhol/percussion in the first ever Indian Broadway show, Bombay Dreams (2004) and made his Hollywood debut playing dhol in the movie, Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman and Colin Firth.
Jain has performed or recorded with Kiran Ahluwalia, Asphalt Orchestra, Joey Baron, Kenny Barron, Marc Cary, Samir Chatterjee, DJ Rekha, Kyle Eastwood, Peter Gabriel, Grupo Fantasma, Norah Jones, Junoon, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Pedrito Martinez, Ozomotli, Q-Tip, Soul Rebels, Martha Wainwright, Kenny Wollesen, and many others.
Sunny Jain Albums
Parallel - Tongues in Trees (Sinj Records 2015)
Gaadi of Truth Red Baraat (Sinj Records 2015)
Big Talk Red Baraat (Sinj Records 2013)
Shruggy Ji Red Baraat (Sinj Records 2013)
Bootleg Bhangra Red Baraat (Sinj Records 2011)
Chaal Baby Red Baraat (Sinj Records 2010)
Taboo Sunny Jain (BJUR/Sinj Records 2010)
Avaaz Sunny Jain Collective (Sinj Records 2006)
Mango Festival Sunny Jain Collective (ZoHo Music 2004)
As Is Sunny Jain Collective (NCM East 2002)
