Baluji Shrivastav
| Baluji Shrivastav | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dhanonday Shrivastav |
| Born |
21 June 1959 Usmanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Genres | Indian Classical, Rock, Pop, Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, musician |
| Instruments | Sitar, Tabla, dilruba, surbahar, pakhavaj |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | ARC Music (1982) |
| Associated acts | Massive Attack, Stevie Wonder, Guy Barker, Hossam Ramzy, Jah Wobble |
| Website | www.baluji.com [1], www.balujimusicfoundation.org [2] |
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.
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 comprising 14 blind musicians. The Inner Vision Orchestra was part funded by Arts Council England, the principal public funding body for the arts in England
In 2012, Baluji performed at the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Game alongside the British Paraorchestra and Coldplay
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.
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.
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