SURYA BOTOFASINA Surya Botofasina by Dr. Joan Cartwright I If sitting at the foot of greatness produces prodigies, then, Surya Botofasina got his musical prowess from two prolific women in music. His mother, Radha Botofasina, studied harp with the infamous Swamini Turiyasangitananda or simply Turiya, better known as Alice Coltrane to the world. Surya’s earliest musical memories were from three years old, listening to mantras on his mother’s lap. His musical training began at eight with pianist Aunt Ellen, his mother’s dear friend. Much later, he embraced music theory at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, founded by bassist Reggie Workman, in Manhattan, New York, in 1986. Needless to say, the young pianist chosen to accompany André 3000 on his New Blue Sun Tour found his universal flavor at the knee of Radha, Alice, Reggie, and other profound musicians from the U.S. and India. Throughout his life, he traveled with his mother to Delhi, Bangalore, and other provinces in India to visit the avatar Sai Baba at various ashrams. He in California, where he ran track and played basketball in high school. But music was the calling that led him to his residence in New York City. I asked why he loved working with his mother so much. He said, “I know that being able to work with my parents may not be possible every day of my life. So, I want to take advantage of the time that we still have the ability, agility, and mobility to work, be in contact, and collaborate with each other. That’s what I’m going to hold on to and that’s what my children will be able to hold on to. I’d like to know that for one day, one hour, one week, one concert, or one album we did that together.”
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