Eric Fraser

Bansuri Flutist in the Gayaki-ang (vocal style) and Original Songwriter/Composer/Recordist

Eric Fraser's training in Indian classical music on the bansuri flute occurred in the Guru-Sishya Parampara tradition, meaning that he received training in Indian classical music while living with his teacher (Guru - late Pandit Gopal Roy), in Kolkata, India. Eric has received extensive taleem (oral teachings) and his flute playing conveys a purity of tone, authenticity and tradition. The "sur" (tone and tune) of Eric's flute lineage has a unique sound in the landscape of Indian music, telling the story of an old world Kolkata vibe through a gayaki ang or "singing style" of bansuri flute.
Eric is also a multi-instrumentalist, composer and recording artist.  Eric's original music expresses the contours of a true cross cultural blending of Indian classical music, psychedelic long form instrumental music, and indie songwriting. He is a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT). Eric is a co-founder of the Brooklyn Raga Massive and a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar for Indian classical music. Eric is the founder and director of Sound and Nature, a licensed mental health practice in Hudson, NY.

My indian lineage

The Bengal flute lineage, or "Gayaki Flute Parampara", whose founder was the legendary Pannalal Ghosh, is purely from the Maihar Gharana in it's origins. This lineage has a distinctive sound that is rarely heard today, a style of Bansuri playing that incorporates a Gayaki Khyal structure (the structure and style of Khyal Vocal music). The rich confluence of traditional approaches in our lineage has evolved as a unique sound on Bansuri that conveys depth and grandeur.As Indian classical music is an oral tradition that can only be transmitted in person from gurus to disciples, it is important to mention the sources of taleem (oral teaching) that have converged in our gharana (lineage). The legendary founder of the bansuri in classical Indian music, Pannalal Ghosh, was a disciple of Ustad Allaudin Khan, the founder of the Maihar Gharana. Pandit Gour Goswami was a disciple of Pannalal Ghosh, and he became the guru of my guru, Pandit Gopal Roy, and Steve Gorn.

Eric Fraser learned the art of bansuri playing from the late Pandit Gopal Roy - June 5th, 1955 - May 13th, 2020. He was a master of the unique Gayaki (vocal) style of North Indian classical flute.

Pt. Gopal Roy began his musical journey in March, 1968 as a student of the legendary Kolkata flutist Pt. Gour Goswami. Pt Gour Goswami was a leading disciple of Padmabhushan Pannalal Ghosh. With full blessings to take the flute deeply into the heritage of Gayaki Ang (vocal style), Pt. Gopal Roy learned concurrently and in depth from Pt. Srikant Bakre, a leading disciple of the great Ustad Amir Khan Sahib, from Dr. G.N. Goswami (violin), a legend in the adaptation of Gayaki Ang to an instrument, and lastly from Pt. Ajoy Sinha Roy (famous as Jentu Baba), a disciple of the founder of the Maihar gharana, Ustad Allaudin Khan.

Pt. Gopal Roy's music is both unique and profound, integrating the style and soul of some of India's most accomplished masters of music into his flute. A distinct "old world" sound resounds in his flute, capturing an era of unique depth and artistry.

Residing in Baidyabati (WB), Pt. Gopal Roy recently retired from All India Radio in Kolkata, where he had been resident flute artist since 1990.