ROOPA IN FLUX
As Roopa In Flux, Roopa Mahadevan leans into the rich tradition of Carnatic (South Indian classical) music to share her authentic and versatile voice, creating new melodic worlds that oscillate between the sublime and the absurd. Collaborating and improvising with virtuosic musicians in jazz, R&B/Soul and free improv, Roopa and her co-artists flux with sincerity, emotional depth, some humor, and an intense desire to create joy through the familiar, the new, and the radically original.
Roopa Mahadevan
Hailed a “stirring voice” by the New York Times, Roopa Mahadevan is a leading second-generation Indian classical and crossover vocalist in the American diaspora, known for her powerful, emotive voice, versatility, and collaborative spirit. She leads the crossover ensemble Roopa in Flux, where she works with musicians in jazz, soul/R&B, and various global traditions, directs the innovative choir Navatman Music Collective, and sings for leading Bharathanatyam and modern dancers around the world. .
Roopa trained in Carnatic vocal under Asha Ramesh and further under Suguna Varadachari in India under the Fulbright scholarship; she is also a senior student of Bharathanatyam dancer Indumathy Ganesh. Roopa has performed in diverse venues such as Chennai's Music Academy during the December festival and Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, which awarded her the title "Kala Ratna." Further, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, SFJazz, Joe's Pub, MET Museum, Kennedy Millenium Stage, and many more. She is a soloist on Christopher Tin’s Grammy Award-winning Calling All Dawns, and a sought-after vocalist for new music and crossover ensembles around the country, including Brooklyn Raga Massive. She has been selected for residencies at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Hedgebrook, and Ryder Farm, among others. When she is not performing, Roopa is a composer for dance/theater and a passionate teacher, sharing her love for the Carnatic music tradition and the liberatory power of improvisation. In a previous avatar, Roopa worked in public health policy, following degrees from Stanford University.
Chris McCarthy
Known for his “high skill and sensitivity,” (NYTimes) Chris McCarthy is one of the most in demand pianists in New York City. McCarthy has developed a reputation as “one of the most imaginative and impressive voices on the New York jazz scene” (Hot House Jazz Magazine). Early accolades included the 2012 Gerald Wilson Award for big band composition at the Monterey Jazz Festival. After playing with Jerry Bergonzi and Jason Palmer’s working bands in Boston for several years, he moved to New York in 2016 and has been collaborating with artists from around the world in NYC ever since. He released his debut for Ropeadope Records Still Time To Quit in 2020.
The album received widespread critical praise, including the #3 slot in Paul Rauch’s “Best Local Jazz Albums of 2020” for Seattle Times. McCarthy is known for his sensitive accompanying of vocalists, working with many of New York’s finest. McCarthy is also active in the world music scenes, touring with Carnatic vocalist Roopa Mahadevan and Gnawa musician Samir Langus. His playing is featured on albums by rising stars such as vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, (Azalea 2019) and saxophonist Eden Bareket (Day Dream, 2021). In 2021 his playing was featured on BBC Radio 1 and drummer Questlove’s social media. He currently plays in legendary tap dancer Dormeshia’s new show “Rhythm is Life,” a New York Times Critic’s pick. He also tours with the Mark Morris Dance Company’s newest production, “The Look of Love.” McCarthy released his piano trio project Priorities (Fresh Sound Records) in May 2022, featuring Chris Tordini on bass and Steven Crammer on drums. In 2024, his duo album with vocalist Vanisha Gould Life’s a Gig received a 4.5/5 review from Downbeat magazine, calling the record an “instant classic.” His newest ensemble is a quintet featuring Takuya Kuroda, Eden Bareket, Sam Minaie and Steven Crammer, with plans to record in the summer of 2024 after an extensive west coast tour.
Sruti Sarathy is a leading Carnatic violinist, singer, and composer. A rare artist who possesses both mastery in the rigorous classical form and a boundary-pushing musical vision, she animates the stage in diverse contexts across the globe, from the sabhas of Chennai to music festivals in San Francisco.
Sruti's musical training began at a young age under the eminent violinist, Guru Smt. Anuradha Sridhar of the Lalgudi family of musicians.
Sruti Sarathy
Sruti regularly performs with top Carnatic musicians, and has received awards three years in a row for her performances at the prestigious Madras Music Academy. In 2023, she was awarded the Mysore T. Chowdiah Memorial Award for excellence in violin from the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana.
A Bay Area native and Stanford University alumnus, Sruti is also a versatile composer for Carnatic, crossover, dance/film/theater, and experimental new music contexts. She is part of the Carnatic trio Unfretted, and leads the Songs for Many Lives: A Carnatic Diaspora Songbook project. She is a Fulbright scholar. Sruti’s soulful sound brings out the voice of the Indian violin in a contemporary and imaginative way.
Steven Crammer
Steven Crammer is an indemand drummer and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. His uniquely flexible musicianship has led to a rising stature on the jazz and improvised music scene, since moving to NYC in 2018. Developing his distinctive but multifaceted voice on the instrument stems from a deep love and study of various musical traditions ranging from straight-ahead to free improvisation, metal to Indian classical.
In 2021, Steven released his debut album (co-led) 'Nortonk' on Biophilia Records. The album received praise in multiple publications including Pop Matters, Jazz Trail, and Jazzwise. He is also a highly active sideman performing and recording in NYC and elsewhere.
Steven has earned degrees from two prestigious jazz programs: William Paterson University (BM) and Manhattan School of Music (MM).
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