Biography
The definition of the true new-old sound: RaghaJazz. Every once in a while, a baby jazz band comes along with globally redefined perspectives of sound, then that baby takes its listeners on a trip to rediscover new musical possibilities and by the end of their journey, they say: “That’s the coolest thing I’ve Ever Heard”. And this is what RaghaJazz is about. How it all began… In Singapore, a city at its mark of multi-cultural renaissance; secretly witnessed the birth of this aced quintet. Featuring Southeast Asia’s finest self-expanding musical cats, Ragha (Bansuri/Singapore), Rachma (Piano/Indonesia), Jase (Bass/Singapore), Jit (DrumKit/Malaysia), Kumaran (Tabla/Malaysia), in one complete harmony. Their dynamic yet humble relationship began during undergraduate jazz music studies at LaSalle College of the Arts, Singapore and some previously long termed music friends. At the request of an invite, Ragha, the lead artist, instinctively called upon his “A-Team”, Rachma, Jase, Kumaranji and Jit Seng, to fire up a Jazz Fusion Band. RaghaJazz made their debut in the year 2009, for the Asian Vibes Festival, held at Esplanade, Singapore. Ever Since then, they have been featured at various Jazz festivals held in Singapore held by the esplanade, such as the Mosaic Festival, Bright Young Things and Jazz in July. RaghaJazz Today… RaghaJazz has been a regular feature at some of Singapore’s Biggest Jazz initiatives organised by the Esplanade Singapore. They include “Mosaic festival of Jazz”, “Bright Young Things” and the “Jazz in July”. The quintet is currently working on their first album, “Idioms of Freedom”, which is due to release on October 2015. “Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant or the future predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings” – SAMUEL JOHNSON
