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The music of Voice of the Esraj unites the central themes of ancient sacred texts with Indian ragas that support their essential nature. Benjy is masterfully accompanied by Steve Gorn (bamboo flute), Jami Sieber (cello), Heather Wertheimer (vocals and guitar) and David Michael (Celtic harp and zither). The long-awaited successor to the popular Soul of the Esraj, Voice of the Esraj came into being when Benjy performed and composed music for yoga workshops taught by master yoga teacher John Friend. For the deep relaxations at the end of the classes, Benjy would play the esraj (a 19-stringed instrument from North India that resembles a bowed sitar) and sing pieces for Savasana combining Indian ragas with sacred texts that mirrored the spiritual themes that John had masterfully woven into the flow of his teachings.

Musicians

benjy wertheimer : vocals, esraj,tabla tarang, keyboards, sound design

steve gorn : bansuri flute

jami sieber : cello, electric cello

heather wertheimer : vocals, guitar

david michael : zither, harp

jeff leonard : bass

michael stirling, abby lyons : tambouras Artist Bio: An award-winning musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist (playing tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards), Benjy Wertheimer has toured the US, Canada, Europe, Central America and Japan, and has opened for such artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter, and Narada Michael Walden. A founding member of the groundbreaking Ancient Future World Fusion Music Ensemble, he now tours and records regularly with such artists as Krishna Das and Deva Premal. He studied Indian classical music for over 25 years with some of the greatest masters of that tradition (including Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Ali Akbar Khan and Z. M. Dagar). Review: Voice of the Esraj Terry Riley, internationally renowned composer, singer and pianist "Sitting here on a peaceful morning listening to your CD ... I had to put it on again because the mood was so beautiful I did not want to leave it. The voices sound heavenly!Thanks for sharing this with me..."

Product SKU: AH-03242-VOICEOF