Charu Suri

Charu Suri, is an Indian-American female jazz composer. Charu has been playing the piano since the age of five, and performing since the age of nine. She won an international piano competition at the age of 15. She has a Piano Performance certificate from Princeton University, where she received her undergraduate degree, and a Master’s in Music from the Manhattan School of Music.

Charu has been a composer since she was six years old. Her piece for chamber orchestra, “The Shield of Achilles” was performed by the Princeton University Chamber Ensemble. As part of an atelier workshop with Toni Morrison at Princeton, two of her original pieces were performed by a chamber ensemble, along with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and double bass player Edgar Meyer.

The trio consists of Charu Suri on the piano, J. Brunka on the double bass, and Jay O’Brien on the drums. Formed in the spring of 2018, the ensemble has received praise for its renditions of standards and original music. Their debut album, “Lollipops for Breakfast," launched in November, with original music composed by Suri, and won a Global Music Award.

Charu has always loved the music of her Indian culture, and strives to bring that rich and diverse sound into the jazz world by blending traditional ragas with jazz standards. Her compositions have been performed worldwide and won several awards, and in December 2019 she made her debut as one of the first Indian-born women to perform jazz at Carnegie Hall. You can hear a sneak peek of some of her music on YouTube here.

I’m so excited for you guys to connect with Charu, check out her work and music, and follow along as she continues to inspire the next wave of of women-of-color composers and musicians.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

I am a South Indian born pianist and composer (and also journalist). My life balances between traveling and writing articles, as well as composing and performing. I got into music at a very early age (at five) and performed in South India before coming to the United States. Currently I'm working on releasing two new albums at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 20th that are inspired by both my Indian and American upbringing.

How did you get started?

I started learning the piano in Africa, where my dad had a job (the house we lived in had a piano). I couldn't stop playing the piano and my mother decided to get me lessons and it was pretty much non-stop from then: it led to a whirlwind of concerts, performances and compositions when we returned to India and then, more performances from there.

What inspired the work that you're doing?

"The Book of Ragas" was written for a jazz trio and a Sufi singer because I wanted to do something different and really change the way jazz is viewed. The New American Songbook is more traditional in nature, filled with original songs that continue the Songbook genre.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

My biggest passion is creating something that brings joy--to both myself and others. I feel like I am truly living and doing what I was meant to do!

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

I love to see works that are inspired and created for the sake of creation--not anything else. We live in a generation that is so full of "strings attached" that it is important to create and inspire people just because that's the right thing to do. I love people who motivate me to do the same.

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

I try to find beauty and the positive in everything. There are two ways to look at negative outcomes: one, as a dead end; the other, as an opportunity. It's really important to drop the "I feel victimized" attitude and be a force for good and positive change in this world. That's the way I like to look at life.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

I think she'd be very proud because I've achieved pretty much everything I set out to do. It's been difficult with a lot of obstacles and negative attitudes from some people, but the fact that I persisted and overcame all of that makes me happy.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

Yes. I've been a big fan of Georgia O'Keefe, who said, "To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage." That has been one of my inspirations.

What is your biggest dream?

To create music that will move and uplift people for generations to come.

To learn more about Charu and her work visit her on Instagram @CharuSuriMusic and Twitter @CharuSuriMusic and on Facebook @CharuSuriTrio and her next two albums premier at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 20th!

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Charu Suri - Pianist, Composer, Journalist and the First Indian-American Woman Composer to Play Jazz at Carnegie Hall