released 11 November 2011
New York City pianist Richard Bennett and noted thumri artiste Dhanashree Pandit-Rai met six years ago during Bennett's first tour of India. In addition to having great admiration for the other's musicianship they discovered that they shared the same Taurus traits of commitment and good humor. After doing some informal jams they decided to play together whenever possible. MUMBAI MASALA has performed at the Mumbai and Kalaghoda festivals as well as the Y.B. Chavan Auditorium. They have also concertised several times in Pune. The songs used are Hindustani classical and Thumri compositions as well as several folk melodies. With a focus on the beauty of Dhanashree Pandit-Rai's voice and the plaintiveness of the songs, MUMBAI MASALA explores new paths in Indian music.

The live tracks are from a performance in Mumbai, February 19, 2011

You can see video of MUMBAI MASALA at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjpQdFKEDtc

Here is an article on the "Mumbai Masala" concert at the Y.B. Chavan Auditorium in Mumbai on January 25th 2011
www.mumbaimirror.com/article/135/20110125201101250501582617992e5b/Singing-in-the-right-key.html

Here is a 2012 profile of Richard Bennett from the Indian Express of Pune:

epaper.indianexpress.com/c/94023?fb_comment_id=fbc_10151412549920457_31219975_10151412575305457#f3c7ae49736fbca

DHANASHREE PANDIT-RAI is one of the leading exponents of the Thumri genre of music. Her popularity owes itself to her rare voice quality that emulates the very essence of Thumri...languor, delicacy, sensuousness, earthiness and "pukaar". She holds a Masters degree In Hindustani Classical Music and has trained under the stalwart of the Kirana Gharana Pt. Firoz Dastur and the Thumri legend Shobha Gurtu. She is aspiring to give Thumri its rightful place on the concert stage today.
Dhanashree has c.d. releases on many Indian labels including "Times of India" and "Dreams Entertainment".

Whether exuberant and percussive or lyrical and transcendent, RICHARD BENNETT is a virtuoso at the piano. Bringing an array of world music and jazz influences to his music, he blends together a sound that is all his own. In New York his bands have performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, The Guggenheim Museum, BAMcafe, Brooklyn Museum of Art, and Central Park Summerstage as well as many smaller clubs. Internationally, he has toured over twenty countries as member of various jazz and blues ensembles. His compositions have been used forcefully for movies and dance, most notably "Fragments" for the Ailey II Dance Company and "Slope of Enlightenment" for Elisa Monte.
His album "Raga and Blues" was released by "Mystica Music" in India in 2011. The follow-up c.d. "Rhapsody in Yaman" was released in February 2012. Excerpts from those albums can be heard at:
richardbennett.bandcamp.com/album/raga-blues-rhapsody-in-yaman

"Pianist Richard Bennett has found a way to have instantly catchy tunes- riffs and ostinatos really- transcend jazz expectations while still focusing on improvisation." - Village Voice
"Master Pianist" - Times of India