The Brown Indian Band led by bassplayer Colin D'Cruz, features accomplished Indian classical musicians in concert with jazz virtuosos. Indian classical music can be compared to jazz as both are forms of improvised music. Indian classical music is linear and uses just one scale (raga) to improvise within a composition whereas jazz has a much broader palette for improvisation where multiple scales can be used to improvise through harmonic changes. Indian classical music however, has some of the world's most complex rhythm structures and subtle quarter tones that add an exciting new dimension to jazz. The Brown Indian Band uses the best of both forms of improvisation to create India's contribution to world music.
From the time the band was formed in 1994, the band's lineup has included various combinations of north and south Indian classical musicians jamming with local as well as international jazz musicians.