Baluji Shrivastav

Dhanonday Shrivastav OBE (born 21 June 1959), known professionally as Baluji Shrivastav, is an Indian/British musician and instrumentalist who plays a variety of traditional Indian instruments including the sitar, dilruba, surbahar, pakhavaj and tabla.

Born in Usmanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Baluji Shrivastav began first studied music when he was sent away as a child to live and study at Ajmer Blind School after being blinded as a baby.

Shrivastav went on to graduate from University of Lucknow with a B.A. in Vocal Studies and Sitar. This was shortly followed by a further B.A. in Tabla ad an M.A. in Sitar from Alahabad University.

Musical career

Shrivastav performs and records with a number of different ensembles including his own Jazz ensemble called Jazz Orient/Re-Orient which has released 7 albums to date.

In 2012, Shrivastav founded the Inner Vision Orchestra^[1] comprising 14 blind musicians.^[2] The Inner Vision Orchestra was part funded by Arts Council England, the principal public funding body for the arts in England^[3]

In 2012, Baluji performed at the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Game alongside the British Paraorchestra and Coldplay^[4][5]

Shrivastav has performed and taught all over the world and has recorded a number of albums with a wide range of contemporary artists including doves, Stevie Wonder, Massive Attack, Annie Lennox, Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs, Guy Barker and Andy Sheppard.

Shrivastav was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to music.^[6]

The Baluji Music Foundation

In 2008, Baluji established the Baluji Music Foundation; a London-based charity which, as stated on their website, aims to promote "the understanding and enjoyment of music and performing arts from the Indian Sub-Continent in all its traditional and evolving forms". The Charity particularly welcomes the participation of disabled people in music, and has thus founded the Inner Vision Orchestra of blind and visually impaired musicians.

The Baluji Music Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales, number 1130985.

Discography

• Classical Indian Sitar & Surbahar Ragas, ARC Music 1999
• Classical Indian Ragas: Shadow of the Lotus, ARC Music 2007
• Indian in London – Colomna Musica, 2008
• Goddess – ARC Music, 2010
• The Art of the Indian Dilruba, ARC Music 2013
• Re-Orient
• Undiscovered Time – ARC Music, 1997
• Seven Steps to the Sun – ARC Music 1999
• Re-Orient – ARC Music, 2006
• Indian World Music Fusion, ARC Music 2010
• Jazz Orient
• Jazz Orient – Dangerous Ground – TRG Music 1991
• Jazz Orient – Live at the South Bank
• Jazz Orient – Bird Dancer – Guild Music 1998

Other credits

• Sea of Love, The Mission – Carved in Sand – Mercury Records, 1990
• Nasa – Insha-Allah! – Sire, Warner Bros Records, 1990
• Capercaillie – Miracle of Being – Arista, 1994
• Mizo To Abura (as Balugi) – Ken Morioka – Questions, XEO Invitation, 1994
• Soul II Soul – Volume V, Believe, Virgin Records America Inc, 1995
• Face With Corn (Subsurfing – Frozen Ants) – Apollo, 1995
• Let There Be Light (Hardfloor Dub) (as Belugi Shrivastav) Reprise Records 1995
• Oi Muistatko, Viela Sen Virren, Piirpauke – Ave Maria, Rockadillo Records, 1996
• Aikakone – Keltainen – RCA, 1996

References