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BirsaChatterjee

@birsachatterjee

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Saxophonist • Composer
Juilliard MM ’21 • Oberlin ’19
@daddariowoodwinds Artist

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Been chasing this sound since I was a kid…

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my relationship with music. It’s been full of ups and downs, but in the past several weeks I’ve finally ritualized my practice and found a level of consistency I’ve never had before. That consistency has completely transformed the way I feel with my instrument. I sit down to play and I’m flooded with gratitude.

Gratitude for the fact that I even get to do this. Gratitude knowing how many people don’t have access to music, or instruments, or never had the chance to chase the dream of being an artist.

Growing up as an Indian boy in this country had its own challenges, but jazz has always encouraged me to lean into my roots. This morning, after listening to the incredible Hindustani singer Ajoy Chakraborty, I felt deeply inspired to begin today’s practice by reaching into that heritage, trying to weave the sound of ragas together with Coltrane’s ethereal playing.

At the end of the day, I just want to follow the sound that’s been in my head since I was a kid… and hopefully make that little boy proud.

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#jazz #indianclassical #hindustanimusic #saxophone #coltrane #ajaychakraborty #musicianlife #practice #consistency #gratitude #artistjourney #jazzsaxophone #fusionmusic #ragas #jazzcommunity #musicpractice by @birsachatterjee

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a year ago

This is a clip from my original tune Eternal Thread…I wrote it after losing someone really close to our family, Peggy.

The melody loops through different keys and eventually circles back in this kind of infinity shape. It made me think about how love doesn’t really end when someone passes, it just shifts. That thread stays connected, always.

Miss you, Peggy.

@domobranch
@estebanmcastro_
@dan_finn_

Big thanks to @thejazzgallery

#EternalThread #JazzOriginal #Saxophone #JazzComposer #ModernJazz #JazzReels #NYCJazz #GriefAndLove #IndianJazz #BirsaChatterjee #JazzFusion #EmotionalMusic #LoopingMelody #LiveJazz #JazzMusiciansOfInstagram #independentartist by @birsachatterjee

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a year ago

We do not want to hide anymore. We will not conform anymore. They tried to steal our culture from us, but through acts of sheer human will, all of our people endured incredibly difficult times. The culture survived, the art survived, the MUSIC survived. All I want is to honor the ancestors and spread the feelings of love and joy with all. @aapijazzfest @domobranch @dan_finn_ @estebanmcastro_ @yardbirdentertainment taken in AAPI Jazz Fest by @birsachatterjee

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4 years ago

x @_bigmir_ “latency” (feat. @birsachatterjee)

FULL SONG IN BIO

#latency #zoharandadam #jazz #algo #jazzrap by @birsachatterjee

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a month ago

x @_bigmir_

big things coming soon…

#newmusic #algo #jazzraps #rap #bigmir by @birsachatterjee

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a month ago

So grateful I got to sit in with the incredible @renemariesings and her amazing band at Dizzy’s last night.

This one was really special for a lot of reasons. René’s husband Jesse recently gifted me his father’s Selmer Mark VII, a horn his dad bought straight from the Selmer factory in Paris. It’s hard to even put into words what that means to me. Getting to play this horn, learn its story, and carry a little piece of that history forward has been an honor and a dream.

Truly the greatest gift I’ve ever received in my life. Huge shoutout to @jazz_house_kids and @melissawalkjazzhouse for making this possible.

Setup:
@henriselmerparis saxophone
@tedklummpc mouthpiece
@daddariowoodwinds reeds
@bostonsax neck strap

#jazzsaxophone #tenorsaxophone #jazzsaxophone #livemusicnyc #jazz taken in Manhattan, New York by @birsachatterjee

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3 months ago

A moment to remember for a lifetime! We could feel the whole city’s energy reverberate through the air. Not even a Knicks fan but the energy was palpable!!! Happy for @jalenbrunson1 and @karltowns as NJ natives ✊🏾Sports is beautiful. This team has taught us all to never give up and that it’s always worth it to keep fighting. #knicks #basketball #nbafinals #nba #knicksbasketball taken in Manhattan, New York by @birsachatterjee

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3 months ago

Can you guess who my favorite tenor player is?

Comment your guesses below 🎷
@henriselmerparis saxophone
@daddariowoodwinds reeds
@tedklummpc mouthpiece

#jazzsaxophone #tenorsax #jazzmusic #saxophone #livemusic taken in New York, New York by @birsachatterjee

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4 months ago

Throwback to a few years ago transcribing one of my heroes, @kennygarrettofficial .

Crazy how time flies. Watching this back has honestly been inspiring me to get my alto back out again. I rarely play it these days, but the alto has always had a special place in my heart.

I’ve always loved transcribing because it lets you walk in the footsteps of your heroes. And even more than just learning the notes, you get a peek into their world: how they articulate, how they place rhythm, how they phrase, how they shape their sound, and how they make the instrument speak.

The alto I’m playing here is my good old @yanagisawa_sax A-901, a horn I love very dearly.

Solo is Kenny Garrett on “I’ll Remember April” from a YouTube video that I used to obsess over.

Time to dust off the alto again… #kennygarrett #jazz #transcribe #transcription by @birsachatterjee

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4 months ago

“Stardust”
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish

#selmersaxophone #tenorsaxophone #jazz #smoothjazz #sax taken in Manhattan, New York by @birsachatterjee

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4 months ago

Dizzy’s with the Next Wave Jazz Orchestra.

“Morning With Willows” by @alexlaurenzimusic 🎶 taken in Dizzy's Club by @birsachatterjee

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5 months ago

Been digging this new mouthpiece from @tedklummpc so much! Who can name the tune? Playing with some of my best friends and favorite musicians in New York tonight at @dizzysjazzclub @jazzdotorg The Next Wave Jazz Orchestra led by @caelan_cardello and Johnny Gittings. Sets at 7pm and 9pm. #musicianlife #saxophone #jazz #livejazz #nycmusic taken in Jazz at Lincoln Center by @birsachatterjee

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5 months ago