Tarun Balani

The Evolving Sound of Learning: Western Music Education in India

by Karan Khosla
August 18, 2025

In this final article of the series on India's evolving jazz landscape, we examine the growing role of contemporary Western music education in shaping new generations of musicians. For generations, Indian music was handed down through the immersive guru-shishya tradition: students living with, or close to, their teachers, learning by ear, imitation and hours ...

In the Mood for Moody Plus Horace Tapscott and the Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra, New Music from Jasper Hoiby, Jane Ira Bloom and Bela Fleck

by Hobart Taylor
May 22, 2025

Swing with James Moody, engage with Jasper Hoiby, reflect with Amina Claudine Myers and hold onto your hat with Jane Ira Bloom.Playlist Sofi Tukker “Veneno (with Mari Merenda & Sophia Ardessore)" from Butter (Self Produced) 0:00 Tarun Balani “The Laburnum Blooms" from Kadahin Milandaasin (Berthold) 2:24 Rita Donte “Zunzun Baba" from Ritual (Ansonia) 9:22 ...

Mary Halvorson, plus new music from Tarun Balani, Brandee Younger and Eduardo Elia

by Hobart Taylor
April 30, 2025

A preview of Mary Halvorson's latest, plus new music from Tarun Balani, Brandee Younger and Eduardo Elia and an interview with saxophonist Kevin Sun. Playlist Olga Amelchenko “Howling Silence" from Howling Silence (Edition) 0:00 Miles Davis “I See Your Face Before Me" from The Musings of Miles (Remastered) (Craft) 5:07 Changamire" It's April" from ...

Dharma

By Tarun Balani

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2016
Track listing: Brooklyn Bound; Samsara; Dharma; Here We Go; Malala's Dream; Planet Hunter.

Tarun Balani Collective: Dharma

by Dave Wayne
August 19, 2016

Drummer / composer Tarun Balani's previous album, Sacred World (Self Produced, 2013), offered audiences a fresh look at the synthesis and Indian music and jazz. On Dharma, Balani steps back a bit from the music of his homeland. The result is still an invigorating listen. Balani's composing here makes extensive use of hypnotic, propulsive ostinati. Conceptually, ...

Tarun Balani: Sacred World

By Tarun Balani

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2014
Track listing: Belief; The Other Side; Azaan; Pictures; Sacred World; Varsha; Arjuna; Arjuna Reprise.

Alex Pinto & All India Permit: All India Permit

by Dave Wayne
November 9, 2014

The recipient of a Fulbright / Nehru Scholarship, guitarist and composer Alex Pinto chose to study and teach for a year at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM) in Tamil Nadu, India. The Seattle native quickly made his way into the burgeoning Indian jazz scene, gathering New Delhi-based drummer Tarun Balani and bassist Abhinav Khokhar to ...

Tarun Balani: Sacred World

by Dave Wayne
January 31, 2014

Jazz fans of a certain age were most likely introduced to the world of Indian music via the recordings of John McLaughlin who, with the group Shakti, introduced American listeners to the dazzling virtuosity of musicians such as violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist Zakir Hussain. Shakti's music extended the compositional style that characterized his previous group, ...