SPOTLIGHT
TAKE A DIP IN AN OCEAN OF LOVE
Jai Uttal has emerged as a leading influence in the Bhakti tradition and considers bhakti to be the core of his musical and spiritual life.
Jai Uttal is a Grammy nominee, kirtan artiste, multi-instrumentalist, and ecstatic vocalist. He is considered a pioneer in the world music community with his combined influences from India and American rock and jazz.
Uttal grew up in New York City and lived in a home filled with music. He began studying classical piano at the age of seven, and later learned to play old-time banjo, harmonica, and guitar.
At age 17, he heard Indian music for the first time, and two years later moved to California and studied under the famous sarod player, Ali Akbar Khan. He began taking regular pilgrimages to India, living among the wandering street musicians of Bengal, and singing with the kirtan wallahs in the temple of his guru, Neem Karoli Baba.
He has emerged as a leading influence in the Bhakti tradition and considers bhakti to be the core of his musical and spiritual life.
Uttal has been leading, teaching, and performing World Music and kirtan – the ancient yoga of chanting or singing to God – around the world for close to 50 years, creating a safe environment for people to open their hearts and voices.
He shares an experience that led to the creation of his melody, Holy Madman.
“When I reflect upon the beautiful and very dear friends who have passed beyond this temporal plane of material existence, several names regularly float to the top of my vast and churning inner ocean.
“Invariably, one name in particular seems to most often make its way to the top of this ancient list of loss and tears.
“The first time I met Shyam Das he knocked on the door of my little cottage in West Berkeley, California, introduced himself, came in and asked for chai and said he wouldn’t leave until we sang kirtan together. I’d never met or heard of him before! As you might guess, I was a little taken aback, but I made chai and we talked for a while and then I took him to my little garage turned temple and we sang for what felt like hours. And, from that moment, Shyam became one of my closest friends. When he relocated to the Woodstock area we stayed in constant touch, sending each other spontaneous devotional poems in the style of the medieval Indian lovelorn mystics who wept burning tears calling for their beloved.
“When Shyam Das died in India in 2013 my heart broke. A friend called me to tell me the news and I immediately broke into deep and wracking tears. All the spiritual texts give us beautiful hints of what happens after death, but I haven’t read or seen anything that prepares us for the horrible sense of loss that we experience when a loved one dies, especially when that death is sudden and unexpected.
“But, to this day, Shyam Das so often calls me to remember him. ‘Sing with me right now, Jai Gopal’, he says! Of course, I heed that call. And with that remembrance comes pain as well as sweetness – the two sides of Bhakti. The longing and the presence.
“I wrote this melody for the Maha Mantra several years ago purely as a dedication to my dear brother, and named it Holy Madman: In Remembrance of Shyam Das. India has an ancient tradition of honouring and revering what they call ‘Holy Madmen’, individuals who are filled to the brim with the ecstasy of divine presence. Often these men and women will sing, dance and recite spontaneous poetry.
“Considered ‘crazy’ by the mainstream, they are a living treasure to those with eyes that can see past the surface. My dear friend Shyamdas (1953-2013) was a holy madman, an inspiration to all and a brother to me. This song is a love letter to him. We released it with no fanfare or promotion, thinking that whoever was meant to hear it would indeed hear it.
“The song was so precious to me that I never performed it live. Not once! Until April 13 this year at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley when I had a very strong inner call to share it. I performed it with the most lovely and gentle band of my dreams. Brianna Prajna Vieira sang and played harmonium; Jahnavi Harrison sang and played violin; Jason ‘JJ’ Jones played upright bass and sang; and I pulled out my fretless banjo and sang. The vibe was simply heavenly, blissful. And I felt Shyam Das sitting beside me, singing along.
“I don’t often release live recordings, but, after JJ mixed the track, we all felt that it was important to offer it to you all.
“Our world is in such a time of chaos and suffering. Let’s share our love, prayers and songs far and wide.
“We all know how easy it is to lose touch with that precious jewel within, but through the practices of Bhakti, particularly the singing and recitation of mantras, we can nurture the return path home.”
Album cover of Jai Uttal’s Roots Rock Rama!
Aug. 30-Sept. 2: Voices Together Ecstatic Chant, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY. With Krishna Das, Nina Rao, Jai Uttal, Radhika Das, Gaura Vani, Visvambhar Sheth, Steve Gorn, and Vishal Vaid. Explore the universal language of love and beauty through the practice of kirtan during this Ecstatic Chant weekend.
Sept. 2-6: Awakening Bhakti Workshop. Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY. With Jai Uttal and guest teacher Visvambhar Sheth. Explore the path of personal relationship to the Divine through the art of kirtan.
Starts Sept. 15: Online Kirtan Camp with Jai Uttal – The Ocean of Bhakti. This course helps attendees nurture a more regular practice of kirtan, developing both the craft and devotion of wholeheartedly singing the names.
