Red Baraat and the Chile Pepper Festival - Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens hosted their annual Chile Pepper Festival this past Saturday, October 3rd. There were a series of musical artists featured at the festival, but the headliners took the cake....or should I say the Jalebi?

Apart from a rain soaked event, these cats, called the Red Baraat drew everyone that was left of a dwindling crowd. Folks couldn't resist the Baraat flavor infused with Bangin' Bhangra 'n' Brass Funk, as they say on their Twitter account.

Mind you, the Bhangra beats are not for those with heart problems, try 200 beats per minute which makes the "screw in the light bulb" move in Bhangra dancing, insane! Regardless the ethnically, mixed crowd was definitely  entertained and getting down. Even the staff at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens couldn't resist.

The leader of this crew was Sunny Jain, who stated that this group was inspired by his wedding four years ago. For anyone that has been in a Baraat, it is hell of a party were you will see that grumpy old auntie or uncle get down to the beat of a Dhol. One of my favorite Dhol masters are the Dhol Foundation.

I purchased their CD, which they just released, but nothing beats these guys live. I doubt that these guys would do a wedding? If you are considering a Baraat with some flavor and these guys don't do weddings, then buy their CD and drop it in the system. The Baraat procession won't know what hit them and I mean this in a good way. I wish I had known about these guys for my Brother's wedding.

The Crew:

Sunny Jain - dhol / drumset / percussion / MC
Rohin Khemani - tavil / doumbek / percussion

Tomas Fujiwara - drumset / percussion
Arun Luthra - soprano sax
Mike Bomwell - baritone sax
Sonny Singh - trumpet / vocals
MiWi La Lupa - bass trumpet
Dave Smith - trombone
John Altieri - sousaphone / rap

From their site:

Red Baraat is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band of its kind in the States, melding the infectious North Indian rhythm Bhangra with brass funk and expressing the human spirit through improvisation and a powerful live sound. Comprised of dhol (double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder), percussion and horns, this NYC-based group plays fresh originals, as well as traditional Punjabi songs and Bollywood numbers with a dramatic stage performance and presence.

We see that they are going to be doing t-shirts, maybe we could help out?