Reimagine's Art Responders: Arun Ramamurthy & Trina Basu
Art Responders is a weekly series hosted by Reimagine, featuring a mix of musicians, artists, comics, and writers who are each processing what it means to be human in this moment, grappling with themes of loss, grief, and death, reflecting and sharing new work born during this time of uncertainty, fear, and tragedy.
Arun Ramamurthy and Trina Basu join us this week to discuss the concept of meditation and surrender in music and how vulnerability and empathy can lead to a greater understanding. "Music activates our spirit and connects us to each other, and the world around us. It is with us from beginning to end of life, giving us hope, comfort, healing and introspection in times of struggle, transformation and celebration." This will be followed by an improvised violin duet inspired by styles ranging from South Indian classical to jazz and chamber music.
Trina and Arun have been playing music together since 2007. Their music reimagines the potential of string chamber music for our global times. They perform original compositions that explore the common beauty of South Indian classical, western chamber music, jazz and creative improvisation. Arun and Trina are married and live in Brooklyn with their two sons.
Arun is a multifaceted violinist, composer and educator based in Brooklyn, NY, and is a disciple of the celebrated Carnatic violinist brothers, Sri Mysore Nagaraj & Dr. Mysore Manjunath and the esteemed violinist Sri Ananthakrishnan. He has distinguished himself as a versatile artist, performing internationally in both traditional Carnatic and Hindustani settings as well as bridging genres with his own innovative projects like the acclaimed Arun Ramamurthy Trio. He has shared the stage with artists like Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Sudha Ragunathan, Reggie Workman, Amir ElSaffar, Marc Cary among others. Arun's music has brought him prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Celebrate Brooklyn and more. Arun is co-founder of Brooklyn Raga Massive, a globally recognized collective of musicians rooted-in and inspired-by the classical music of India. Arun has curated and performed in a multitude of concerts bringing together musicians from all over the world. (www.arunramamurthy.com)
Trina is a Miami native, a violinist, improviser and teacher now based in Brooklyn, NY. As a band leader, she has released two albums with her ensemble Karavika, praised by All About Jazz as "a dynamic sonic blend of uncommon mesmeric beauty.” Her other projects include Nakshatra and her performance work with Brooklyn Raga Massive. She frequently collaborates with dancers, poets and artists in various multidisciplinary projects, and has performed on stages with notable artists such as Urban Bush Women, Mos Def Imani Uzuri, Taylor Mac, Parul Shah, Reggie Workman and Adam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orchestra. She is a founder and curator of the Women's Raga Massive Annual March Music Festival featuring women-led projects and community based activism. Trina passionately believes in empowering youth through the arts and creative expression. For over fifteen years she has worked as a teaching artist for non-profit arts organizations in NYC including City Lore, Harlem School of the Arts and Noel Pointer Foundation. She also teaches privately out of her home studio, the Brooklyn Violin House. Trina has a Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy, is a Suzuki certified teacher and recipient of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Artist Fellowship. She is the mother of two boys and finds her greatest inspiration in the infinite beauties of nature and this place we call home. www.trinabasu.com
