Music, worship & transcendence

I have committed my life to creating performances that ignite the heart of the listener and lift our consciousness into the transcendent communal experience. By definition this work, must engage our own reality on two levels. First, we must realize our horizontal inter-dependence (our sense of belonging & equality with the the whole human race) and secondly we dwell in our vertical dependence (as we discover an intimate relationship with the creator). From a place of open hearted vulnerability and risk, we explore new sonic territory through collective improvisation, cultivating in-spir-ation (in allowing the spirit to work within us). As we may find ourselves in alignment with God's present purposes, we know and feel the truth of this relationship. The result is a confirmation of a direct powerful outpouring of love and grace accompanied by a feeling of deep connection and purpose in freedom, joy and peace.

As individuals I believe we all our endowed with the capacity to be original in whatever we do, whether we are considered 'creative artists' or not. In India, shakti, 'creative power' is the divine force which is given through the work of humanity in the world. I believe this is analogous to the Holy Spirit working in us, providing we are open, present and empty vessels for God's voice in both an inner and an outer direction. As well allow our open hearts, minds and hands to be engaged, we may just become the instrument through which the eternal song is sung. This singing, of the spirit infused in us, is known (also in India) as prana, or breath. The same breath, known as the nooma in Greek and the rua in Hebrew is synonymous with spirit. This prana, (breath/spirit) is what is poured into us as open creative individuals and groups through the music and work we engage in. In a communal experience the line between performer and audience should be blurred as we feel the music has its existence beyond any one individual but reflects a fully participatory experience. In this sense, an open hearted and sensitive audience is as important as an artist who is dis-engaged from their ego bound creative 'ownership'. I do believe that through this experience a powerful outpouring of love and the devotion may be felt by anyone involved, whether they believe in divine realities or not.

Personal background & experience

I am a musician, composer and a music educator with an eclectic and consistent curiosity in way we express faith through the practice of our artistry. I seek to know how artists of different faith traditions bring the experience of God into their work and how that process becomes real for themselves and the audience. From the age of 15 when I first traveled and lived in India, I studied sitar and tabla religiously which gave me a sense of peace, fulfillment and joy. I also took an active curiosity in the faith traditions of India, learning about the myriad paths of the Hindu tradition, Buddhism, Sikhism & Jainism which has been a lifelong pursuit along with the development & growth of my personal faith in Jesus Christ and the Judeo/Christian/Islamic (Abrahamic) faiths of the Middle East & West.

Sanctity & meaning in music making

Although most music does reflect onto (sometimes more or less directly) aspects of the divine experience I do feel that Indian classical music does play a unique role in this perennial search. Music reflects that wordless search for truth, beauty and meaning in a manner, which cannot be explained, but must be felt from the heart. Perhaps Indian music takes this search one step further by systemizing this very intention in a format, which puts the artist into a position of creativity through a complete and powerful rigorous training.

It is from this context that we are able to approach this music with a high degree of sanctity. For it is into a great stream of solid tradition that we step into every time we reach the stage and play with the intention of breathing our own spirit into this living classical art form.

At the risk of sounding cliche... I seek to express a music that, without need for label, is in its essence, a pure expression of the divine through us, and can be organized into a collaborative or group dynamic as an improvisational expression (like jazz) through a global vision that is only possible in our contemporary age. With a vision of unity in our diversity, it is truly the work the gives me purpose, inspiration and meaning.

Ultimately, this openness precipitates a deepening connection to a relationship we must discover within our own selves engaged in a true spirit of love. In a relentless struggle to be a more fully in touch with the spirit, dwelling in the kingdom of God, we reveal more and more our infinite indebtedness to the grace of the Almighty. This relationship deepens as we scape off the crusty layers of our rotten thoughts, judgments, selfishness and ego driven mania. Only in the present, we are affected to live, walk and play in the anointing light of the Jesus. Allowing our true selves (not our earthly nature) to lead, we become empowered as artists to be vessels for something which is much greater than ourselves.

Through an in depth study of world music including North & South Indian, Persian, African, Brazilian, Javanese, Balkan, Jazz & popular music styles and the direct experience with artists of the highest standard of excellence I have continually found one thing to be true. The honest open heart of a well skilled artist is what touches the audience on the deepest level of their being.The opening of ourselves to vulnerability in performance takes a great deal of trust and strength.

Through creative work, the intimate connection of community between the stage and the audience is born. I envision this connection as a sacred space or bridge that removes a conceived obstacle 'the perception of separateness'. In the communal experience of art, the individual is temporarily nullified as we are removed from our 'normal' state of being, allowing the listener (and ideally the performer also) to leave their ego behind and join the experience. Before I step on the stage I become silent and ask God to work through me so that the Holy Spirit would be present and work through me as an instrument.I believe that as any person is able to move their ego-self out of the way, the opportunity for God to use them as instruments is possible in the same the way we use our physical bodies to play our musical instruments. When this intimate connection is made there is no us & them, no separate artist & listener, the space between performer and audience disappears and there is only the sense of unity and a feeling of profoundly beautiful connectedness.

On the larger scale what this shows us is that even in the world we need not view any human beings as others, because they are not from our religion, nationality or race. Is there any native and foreigner in God's eyes? Why talk about us & them? Politically motivated divisions melt away when you realize the absurdity of being 'for us or against us'. As artists we can and should believe in & have pride in our cultural heritage but nationalism is too often a divider of people who beneath their skin are all the same. To me this heresy, a distortion of truth. As artists we can stand against divisive language, and concealed xenophobia, which has run so rampant in our own country and abroad.

Coming back to artistic experience as we look deeply within and experience this space of connectedness in our work, we realize the interconnected nature of all humans, the world and it's resources, which belongs to us all. Through this we realize every step we take and every choice, has an effect in the world around us. This lesson becomes more profound when we experience art across cultures. Though the diversity of traditions brings infinite patterns of variation, change, even stark, radical juxtapositions and possibilities of expression, the result regardless of subject matter can always be a great sense of humanity as one. Acknowledged, as so or not, this result is more than just a symbolic gesture of peace & unity but a dynamic force, which is cause for positive change, and the transformation of the world.

By bringing artists of different traditions and backgrounds together the truth of our unity becomes even more apparent to ourselves-- and as we work and continually strive to push ourselves beyond the limits of our perceived creative boundaries this truth is reflected to the world around us as connection, inspiration and love.