Arun Luthra (Punjabi language: ਅਰੁਣ ਲੂਥਰਾ) is a Saxophone, Konnakol, composer, and bandleader based in New York City.
Early life
Arun was born in the
United States into a multicultural family. His father was of
Punjabis descent, and his mother was of
English people,
Scottish people, and
Germans descent. Both of his parents spent their formative years in
British Kenya, where they met. The family later moved to the
United Kingdom, and eventually the United States, where Arun was born. The family eventually moved to
Belgium when Arun was a toddler, where he learned to play a wide range of instruments. His family eventually moved back to the United States when he was a teenager.
Career
He has worked with
Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson,
Kenny Garrett,
Dennis Irwin,
Joe Chambers,
Charli Persip, Portinho, Zé Renato,
The Temptations, The Four Tops,
Frankie Valli,
Bobby Short,
Lew Soloff,
Bernard Purdie and Ray Vega.
Luthra has also performed or studied with the Hindustani and Carnatic music musicians Selvaganesh Vinayakram, Pandit Trichy Sankaran, Pandit Samir Chatterjee, Krishnan Lalgudi & Vijayalakshmi Lalgudi, Pandit Karaikudi Subramaniam, Steve Gorn, Kiran Ahluwalia, Sufi singer Zila Khan, and Asha Puthli.
Luthra was interviewed by Linus Wyrsch on The Jazz Hole for Breakthruradio.
Luthra was named the 2017–2018 composer-in-residence at Flushing Town Hall by Exploring the Metropolis.
Discography
As leader
-
Tangibility (SaReGaMa, 2003)
-
Louder Than Words with Rachel Eckroth (SaReGaMa, 2009)
-
Live in New York (SaReGaMa, 2019)
As sideman
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David Rozenblatt, Dirty Wire (Mishigas Music)
-
Red Baraat, Bootleg Bhangra (Sinj 2011)
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Red Baraat, Chaal Baby (Sinj, 2010)
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Red Baraat, Shruggy Ji (Sinj, 2013)
-
Björkestra, Enjoy (Koch, 2008)
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Billy Fox The Uncle Wiggly Suite (Clean Feed, 2007)
-
Mosaïc Orchestra, The Journey (Blue Lemon)
-
New York Funk Exchange, Funkonomic Stimulus Plan (Funk In Da Trunk)
-
Quimbombó, Conga Eléctrica (Testa Dura)
-
David Rozenblatt, Music for Dwight Rhoden's Ballet Othello (Mishigas Music)
-
Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra, Transplants (Ruzztone Music)
-
Russ Spiegel Sextet, Chimera (Steeplechase)
-
Doug Lawrence & His Orchestra, Big Band Swing
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New York Funk Exchange, Funkanomic Stimulus Plan
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Karl Wenninger's Wake Up Call, Wake Up Call (Bancroft)
-
Broadway's Greatest Gift: Carols For A Cure, Vol. 9
-
Charlie Porter Septet E.P.
-
Dan Brodsky, Up In the Air E.P.
External links
