Sunny Jain is a composer, drummer and dhol player. On February 2020, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings released his debut album for the label entitled, “Wild Wild East.” Pitchfork raved “many of these composition are intellectually thrilling to unravel.” Called the “Hendrix of dhol” by Manchester Salon (UK), Jain deftly blends the modern and the traditional, the personal and the communal, the inventive and the festive. He’s most 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.” As a drummer, Jain has worked with the likes of Norah Jones, Marc Cary, Kenny Wollesen and Kyle Eastwood. He toured the world with the acclaimed Sufi rock band Junoon, recording the single “Open Your Eyes” with Peter Gabriel. He’s also collaborated with rapper Himanshu Suri (Das Racist/Swet Shop Boys), tabla player/producer Karsh Kale, pianist/composer Vijay Iyer, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, producer Andres Levin and NYC bhangra pioneer, DJ Rekha, among countless others. NPR commissioned Jain to write for “Make Music New York” day in 2014. Jain’s piece, “100+ BPM” convened more than 350 musicians on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library. He served as musical director to Lincoln Center’s 60th anniversary celebration in 2019 and has also been musical director for the OBIE award-winning theatrical London-based show, The Jungle.