George Brooks: podcast appearances and interviews

George Brooks, born in 1956, is an American saxophonist recognized for blending jazz and Indian classical music. He has founded several musical groups including Summit, Aspada, Bombay Jazz, the Raga Bop Trio, and Elements, which showcase his innovative approach to jazz fusion. Brooks was introduced to Indian classical music by the Kirana vocal guru Pandit Pran Nath, whose influence extends to the works of composers such as Terry Riley and La Monte Young. As a long-time associate of Terry Riley, Brooks has performed extensively with Riley across the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe. His collaborations include duo performances, trio settings with sitarist Krishna Bhatt and percussionist Talvin Singh, and being a founding member of Riley's Khayal Ensemble. Brooks has appeared as a soloist on Riley's works, notably June Buddhas with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and has performed with the Kronos Quartet during Riley's 80th birthday celebrations. In his professional career outside of music, Brooks served as a former global leader at Ernst & Young and is currently affiliated with Simpatico Advisory.