His deep gravelly velvet voice wraps itself around sanskrit verses with a love and authority that belies its owners American origin, perhaps it is so because Grammy nominated Krishna Das is more Indian in his work and in his dedication to his Guru than most modern day Indians can fathom to be. "His voice is like gravity," Nichtern says. "You just fall into his
voice. Many people, that don't really know what the context is, pick up
on that. People listen to Krishna Das records when they're having babies, or
while they're dying. It strikes a deep chord. It's a fundamental." Called the “Chant Master of American Yoga” by the New York Times, Krishna Das, born Jeffrey Kagel, this American musician released 14 albums over the past 15 years, has won worldwide recognition for performing kirtan,
a call-and-response chant described as meditation with music. Along
with creating original melodies for traditional chants in Sanskrit,
India’s classical language, he also contributes his own English-language
verses for the first time on his recent album, Heart as Wide as the World.
"Krishna Das is clear that he is first and foremost a devotee, and the sharing of
his practice is a profound act of his faith and his offering to his teacher Neem Karoli Baba. Nevertheless, KD has become
an iconic music presence, drawing in other artists, including Sting,
Madonna, Mike D, jazz bassist Stanley Jordan, and Def Leppard drummer
Rick Allen, some of whom are yoga devotees, while others are simply
moved by the power of the music. "
"When Maharaj-ji died," he recalls, "I quickly fell apart. My shadow
side really surfaced and I got into a lot of self-destructive things.
But if it wasn't for the time with him, I would have never survived what
I had to go through in this life."
Q What message do you hope your music sends to others?
A: I hope that people will recognize it is possible
to be happy in this world, regardless of the amount of suffering going
on around us. And it doesn’t involve putting up walls and barricades and
hiding in fear, in order to try to find some peace, because that’s not
peace. My hope is that people can know there really is a spiritual path
and it’s a truth, it works, and all we have to do is to begin to
understand and help ourselves and other people. From this interview.
Finally, why would one go to a concert to chant? Because it is promises to be an experience, and who knows - maybe even an experience of a lifetime, and for the curious there never was a better reason to do anything :) I have often felt the complete inability of words to express adequately experiences that have impacted me the most deeply. To hear him sing is more about experience than understanding. To see his documentary is to see from the ringside what the love of your teacher can do in your life. Fitting then, to see the tiny "Hanuman" icon on the tab of Krishna Das's documentary "One Track Heart". Now for the good news :)
Good News 1:
3 shows of this documentary will be screened tomorrow, on the 14th of December, Show timings: 3, 4.30 & 6 pm. I used to hear a lot of his music but seeing his documentary made me relate to him so much more. And guess what - The screenings are FREE of charge :)
Venue: Panasonic Experience Centre, Nanak Chambers, Opp Fun Republic Cinema Off New Link Road , Andheri west Mumbai - 53. For details - write to kdmumbaiconcert@gmail.com
BRILLIANT NEWS 2:
For the very 1st time Krishna Das will be coming to Mumbai for a concert. And as we speak the tickets are selling out. Those in Mumbai absolutely grab this chance to hear Krishna Das Live. Those in other cities, quickly book your tickets.
Event details: Jan 3rd 2014, Yogi Sabha Graha, Swami Narayan Temple, Dadar East, Mumbai.
You can buy tickets here: www.kyazoonga.com
And this is the FB page for Krishna Das Concert. If you want to read more here is an excellent post by Rahul Balyan.
Check out the details, spread the word, but before all that listen to the magic that is Krishna Das.
Hear this completely insightful interview where he speaks of 'What it means to be Human'. Isn't he beautiful?
Check out the details, spread the word, but before all that listen to the magic that is Krishna Das.
Hear this completely insightful interview where he speaks of 'What it means to be Human'. Isn't he beautiful?
January 3, 2014, Friday, Time – 7 pm
Yogi Sabha Graha, Swami Narayan Temple, Dadar East, Mumbai
Buy tickets on Kyazoonga.com
Facebook event Page – Link
- See more at: http://www.rahulbalyan.com/2013/12/krishna-das-one-track-heart/#sthash.gIK0e6zb.dpuf
Event details:
January 3, 2014, Friday, Time – 7 pm
Yogi Sabha Graha, Swami Narayan Temple, Dadar East, Mumbai
Buy tickets on Kyazoonga.com
Facebook event Page – Link
- See more at: http://www.rahulbalyan.com/2013/12/krishna-das-one-track-heart/#sthash.gIK0e6zb.dpuf
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