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In Sanskrit, 'Anjali' refers to an offering made from the heart, which flows forth into expression.  This music is offered to support the practice of yoga in its full expression of devotion, power, beauty, dynamic stillness and deep relaxation.  

This first collaboration CD from acoustic guitarist Michael Mandrell and multi-instrumentalist Benjy Wertheimer is a mythic instrumental journey.   Most of the music was created in the moment and recorded live.  Its quiet beauty will permeate every cell of your being.

'Benjy Wertheimer and Michael Mandrell are world-class musicians who will rock your heart and move your soul'. - John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga

Artist Bio:

Benjy Wertheimer

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). Michael Mandrell

As Public Radio International's "Echoes" host John Diliberto put it in a recent interview, "Michael Mandrell is the acoustic guitar player infusing his original melodies with Indian scales and a Celtic lilt." Michael honed his open-tuning guitar chops in the early 80's on the Texas folk circuit, performing with and opening for many prominent and upcoming artists such as Nancy Griffith, Lyle Lovett and John Gorka to name just a few. Moving to Taos, NM in 1991, Michael performed with the world fusion group "Taos" co-producing their CD, "The Deepening Edge", released nationally on Blix Street Records. His self produced CD, "The Great Spiral Dance" continues in the world fusion tradition with all original guitar compositions, adding flutes, East Indian percussion, Uillean pipes and other ethnic instruments. Lyrical, haunting, melodic, Michael Mandrell's "The Great Spiral Dance" contains music from the film Stone Reader by Mark Moskowitz (www.stonereader.net). Tracks from this self-produced album weave in and out of Moskowitz's film, helping to create the movie's unique, narrative feel. The film features the tracks "Ancient Art of Soul Travel" and "Ambrosius". More recently Mandrell colaborated with Benjy Wertheimer to produce "Anjali" a mystical yoga/meditation CD. "Anjali" features an improvisational mix of Michael's guitar work with the Benjy's stellar Tabla and Esraj playing. Michael tours regionally and nationally, playing solo as well as with many of the acoustic warrior road tribe, including Jenny Bird (www.jennybird.com), Lynn Wedekind (www.lynnwedekind.com)and Benjy Wertheimer (www.benjymusic.com). As "Echoes" executive producer Kimberly Hass observes, "Michael's hybrid guitar style reveals a guitarist of eclectic sensibilities and delicate technique. His music circles the globe in imagistic compositions." www.michaelmandrell.com Review: Anjali Sheer Delight Meant to accompany yoga (per the liner notes), Anjali is a soulful and beautiful collection of East Indian fusion music, featuring the talents of acoustic guitarist Michael Mandrell (on 6 and 12 string versions of the instrument) and multi-instrumentalist Benjy Wertheimer (playing tabla, esraj, tamboura, keyboards, and other percussion).  This is sublime music, ideal for either coloring the environment in an unostentatious manner or for drinking in as one would a fragrant scent on the air.  Mandrell plays with the proper restraint, regardless of tempo, so that the guitar never overpowers the gentle grace of the music.  Wertheimer is, of course, a superb percussionist, and he displays his skills throughout the recording on not just tabla/hand drums, but also the esraj (a stringed sitar-like instrument that is played with a bow).   Sometimes, the music takes on a "golden age of Windham Hill" sound, such as on Priya (Beloved) which opens with a long stretch of solo guitar by Mandrell, and eventually becomes a guitar/esraj duet. Satya (Truthfulness), the next track, ratchets up the tempo to a relaxed yet lively pace, featuring shakers, hand drums (later in the cut) and Wertheimer's esraj alongside Mandrell's adroit picking and strumming.  Once again, I was put in mind of great acoustic instrumental albums from the mid to late ྌs - the music back then had a gentility of spirit and a subtle way of expressing beauty with minimal "glitz" that Anjali displays throughout its ten selections.   Don't think this album is a snoozefest just because of my use of "subdued."  The two principal artists each have ample opportunity to showcase their respective talents.  Surya Namaskar features opening snaky tabla rhythms and seductive esraj but soon involves some semi-jazzy guitar which dances lightly and playfully above the bowed instrument, flitting over the underlying drone of the tamboura.  The track is about nine-minutes long and is a highlight of this fine album.   The Breath Inside the Breath paints a beautiful yet somewhat sad picture with its delicate guitar and mournful esraj.  Chandrika (Moonlight) is a graceful improvisatory-feel piece where the guitar goes it solo with the tamboura.  The track is another highlight and showcases that Mandrell's control of nuance.   The album ends with the eight-and-a-half minute Santosa, yet another strong number.  Opening with the twinkling of bells, the mystical sound of the esraj, and drones from the tamboura, this is also one the more "traditional" East Indian tracks on the CD, even when the acoustic guitar gingerly enters the picture.  A contemplative tone is maintained for the duration of the song - no beats or rhythms intrude, just the sultry sigh of the esraj, the gentle notes plucked on the guitar, and the steadying influence of the tamboura.   Coming after the explosive fire of Wertheimer's Circle of Fire, Anjali is a great change of pace, and also a sheer delight in and of itself.  Where Circle of Fire incited you to get up and dance, Anjali extends a sincere invitation to sit and just "be."  With music like this as accompaniment, "being" is more than enough for a rewarding experience.  Highly recommended.   - Bill Binkelman, Wind & Wire

Product SKU: AH-30012-ANJALI