The career of Sunny Jain is a celebration of cultural diaspora: deep-rooted tradition that ripples outward, changing – and being changed by – the cultures that it touches. He is a composer, drummer, dhol player and community engager. Called the “Hendrix of dhol” by Manchester Salon (UK), Jain is also known for founding the band Red Baraat, a frenzied fusion of bhangra, hip-hop, jazz, rock, and sheer, unbridled energy that NPR has called “the best party band in years.” Since 2012, Jain has been curating Red Baraat Festival of Colors, a multi-city annual festival showcasing artists of the South Asian diaspora.

In 2014, NPR commissioned Jain to premiere a piece for “Make Music New York” day. Jain’s “100+ BPM” convened more than 350 musicians on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library, including drum lines from the New York Jets, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

In 2019, Jain became musical director for the OBIE award-winning theatrical show, The Jungle. That same year, he also music directed the massive celebration for Lincoln Center’s 60th Anniversary and St. Ann’s Warehouse gala.

On February 21, 2020, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings released Jain’s Wild Wild East. Jon Pareles of The New York Times called the title track “furiously propulsive” and many have acclaimed it as Jain’s best work yet.

On May 21, 2021, Jain released Phoenix Rise, a collaborative effort featuring over 50 artists, such as Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), Endea Owens (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and Joe Russo (jam band darling). Accompanied by a book that combines music, art, photography and plant-based recipes, all in the name of social justice. As executive producer and music producer, Jain partnered with Center for Constitutional Rights to fundraise and advocate for the work they do. 2021 also saw Jain receiving the MAP Fund, supporting the development of his first musical theater work, Love Force.

Adam O'Farrill is a trumpet player and composer from Brooklyn, NY. As a trumpeter, he has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Rudresh Mahanthappa, Mary Halvorson, Arturo O'Farrill, Mulatu Astatke, Brasstracks, Stephan Crump, Onyx Collective, Anna Webber, and Samora Pinderhughes. As a composer and bandleader, he has led the quartet, Stranger Days, comprised of Xavier Del Castillo, Walter Stinson, and Zack O'Farrill. In 2018 and 2019, Adam performed with his electro-acoustic nonet, Bird Blown Out of Latitude, at National Sawdust, The Jazz Gallery, and Threes Brewing. In 2019, O’Farrill joined guitarist and composer Mary Halvorson’s band, Code Girl, and was featured on her critically acclaimed 2020 album, Artlessly Falling. O’Farrill will be featured on upcoming albums by artists including Anna Webber, Arturo O’Farrill, Ross McHenry, Almog Sharvit, and Thomas Champagne.

Yamini Kalluri is a world-class Kuchipudi dancer (disciple of legendary Dr. Sobha Naidu) based in NYC where she teaches, performs, and choreographs full-time. An artist who is at once deeply traditional, but also flirts with the avant-garde, Kalluri is a performer/choreographer not to be missed as Indian classical dance continues to conquer new stages abroad. Kalluri is known for her grace, lines, agility, and uncompromising quest for perfection as she works to re-frame & highlight Kuchipudi in a global context.

Eva Lawitts is a musician and bass player and songwriter/composer born and bred in Brooklyn, NY.