R. Prasanna


Prasanna 'Ramaswamy', is a known for performing Carnatic music on the guitar. He also plays jazz, progressive rock, and world fusion.
WWW guitarprasanna.com

Early life and background

Prasanna grew up in Chennai, India and developed an interest for the guitar at the age of five after hearing his neighbor play. He received his first guitar when he was ten years old and would try to play Tamil and Hindi film songs and imitate the sounds of his sister's Carnatic singing with the instrument. His interest in Western pop music developed when his father's colleague gave him some cassette tapes with songs by the Bee Gees, ABBA, Toto, Peaches and Herb, and the Pointer Sisters.
In high school, he became known as a guitarist with local band XIth Commandment. While studying naval architecture at the Indian institute of Technology, Madras, he toured India with his rock bands, covering songs by Santana, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rush, Steely Dan, Jethro Tull, and the Scorpions and compositions like "Peaceful" and "Blues for Saraswati". Prasanna's musical development led him to blues and jazz. After working as a software consultant, he gave up a career in engineering and IT and moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music where he majored in Jazz and Classical Composition.

Education

Prasanna received a Bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1992. He also graduated magna cum laude from the Berklee College of Music, Boston.

Educator

Influence

Prasanna is the mentor of Maya Neelakantan, a ten-year-old Guitar prodigy who auditioned at the America's Got Talentseason 19 in June 2024, and made a global sensation with her Carnatic rendering of the "Last Resort" by Papa Roach.

Discography

As leader

Guitar Goes Classical Evergreen Melodies on Guitar Evergreen Classicals on Guitar Vibrant Aesthetics Spirit of Youth Guitar Indian Style Roots Echo Apoorva Ragas on Guitar Natabhairavi Shakthi: The Omnipotent Peaceful Ragamorphism – Guitar instructional DVD Be the Change Ra Rama Electric Ganesha Land Live in Sedona DVD Ragabop Trio with Steve Smith, George BrooksTirtha with Vijay Iyer, Nitin MittaAll Terrain Guitar
  • "Apna Ek Kal" feat. Anuradha Palakurthi and Hariharan

Special projects

Summa cum Jazz Lagaan with A.R. RahmanMoon Guitars – Fabrizio Cassol, Prasanna, David GilmoreMillion Dollar Arm
  • ''The Hundred Foot Journey''

As guest

Play by Ear – Deep C, 2002Peace in Progress – Manisha Shahane, 2003Apfelschaun – Ben Schwendener/Uwe Steinmetz Moving – Tony Grey, 2004The Music Messiah – Illayaraja Hidden Mandala – Marc Rossi Inner Duality – David Hines Mantra Revealed – Marc Rossi

Soundtracks

Kochadaiyan – A.R. Rahman, 2014Highway – A.R.Rahman, 2014Essaye Moi – Pierre Van Dormael, 2006Mumbai Express – Illayaraja, 2005Ghajini background score – Harris Jayaraj, 2005Swades – A.R.Rahman, 2004Dil ne Jisa apna kaha – A.R.Rahman, 2004Udhaya – A.R.Rahman, 2003Ramanaa – Illayaraja, 2002Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke – Aravind/Jaishankar, 2002Lagaan film – A.R.Rahman, 2001Grahan film background score – Karthik Raja, 2001Dumm Dumm Dumm – Karthik Raja, 2001Vanchinathan – Karthik Raja, 2001Pukar – A.R.Rahman, 2000Split Wide Open – Karthik Raja, 1999Harischandra – Agosh, 1999Enn Swasa Kaatre – A.R.Rahman, 1998Jeans – A.R.Rahman, 1998Kizhakkum Merkkum – Illayaraja, 1998Zor – Agosh, 1998Nam iruvar namakku iruvar – Karthik Raja, 1998Kadhala Kadhala – Karthik Raja, 1998Ullasam – Karthik Raja, 1996Lovebirds – A.R.Rahman, 1996Muthu – A.R.Rahman, 1995Puthiya Mugam – A.R.Rahman, 1992

Composer

Film

Framed Smile Pinki The Open Frame Vazhakku Enn 18/9 Algorithms
  • ''After My Garden Grows''

Dance Theater

Soliloquy Sanaatana DNA in Dance The Tempest
  • ''A Story and a Song''