"Moment of pride for India," says Bansuri virtuoso Rakesh Chaurasia on Grammy 2024 win

Los Angeles [US], February 5 : Veteran flautist and composer Rakesh Chaurasia, the nephew of legendary maestro Hariparasad Chaurasia, who notched two Grammy Awards on Monday, said he was overjoyed to bring back the award to India and hoped to continue making the country proud with his work.

Speaking toafter the 66th Grammy Awards 2024 ceremony in Los Angeles, Chaurasia said, "Winning two Grammy Awards has been a moment of pride for me and my country. I would like to express my gratitude to Zakir bhai who gave me a chance to collaborate with Edgar Meyer and Bela Fleck to work on 'As We Speak'."

"It was a unique and difficult experience to work on a different genre especially coming from a classical scenario. I am extremely happy that I am bringing Grammy to my country. Hope I continue making India proud with my work," said the 53-year-old musician who plays the bansuri (bamboo flute).

Chaurasia has featured in the album 'As We Speak' - a collaborative effort with American banjo legend Bela Fleck, double bassist Edgar Meyer and Padma Vibushan table player Zakir Hussain.

Nominated for the Grammys in three categories -Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Global Music Performance 'As we Speak' won in the Best Contemporary Instrumental and Best Global Music Performance categories.

While Hussain, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer have won multiple Grammys previously, this is Chaurasia's debut win.

Mewnwhile, in the album 'As we Speak,' the four musicians have over 12 songs negotiated Indian and Western classical music, jazz and bluegrass genres of music. The album according to Bela Fleck weaves a "sonic tapestry of banjo, tabla, double bass, and bansuri."

Zakir Hussain had said in a press release ahead of the album's release, "When we are performing on stage, in composing mode or creating mode, we are basically having a conversation." "So the music emerges as we speak," he said about the collaborative album of the quartet.

Chaurasia, who studied under his iconic uncle, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, follows the illustrious lineage of the Maihar gharana.

Chaurasia and Zakir Hussain's double CD 'ZaRa' comprising "two classical ragas and Kashi dhun" was released on the latter's label Moment Records in September 2022. Hussain has described the flautist as "India's brilliant and popular bansuri virtuoso."

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