Bhajans with Radha Botofasina
Saturday, April 9th 2005 • 8pm
$10
at the Laughing Lotus Yoga Center
59 W. 19th St., 3rd Floor
NYC, NY
(212) 414-2903
www.laughinglotus.com

"Join us for a special evening of ecstatic singing with world music artist Radha Botofasina. Radha's music is a blend of ancient Sanskrit mantras featuring the sounds of Indian musicians, Jazz artists and Cuban Players. Through her music, Radha seeks to share her personal commitment to the upliftment of humanity through well-crafted joyful music."

The performances Shaila Music presents are empowered by the sound of the human voice chanting in Sanskrit and English . We were so honored to participate in the 2002 World Festival of Sacred Music (WFSM) in Los Angeles. This concert date was held at the Agape International Center of Truth and we have a live album titled 'The Ashram Community Singers'. Players for the WFSM concert included Vibhav Pathak, a tabla player whose credits include his work with Lakshmi Shankar. Brian Auger, a keyboardist of considerable note and the leader of the legendary Oblivion Express, brought an energetic contribution to the performance. Surya Botofasina and John Panduranga played on additional keyboards.
Shyam Reyes, Lorena Bennett, Mirabai Henderson and John Panduranga were talented lead and background singers.

Rounding out the program were the Trilokyum Dancers performing Bharata Natyam, a style of Indian dance. The performers were Krishni Myers, Ayodhya Jones and Gopika Womack Freeman. Gopika Womack Freeman, a graduate in dance of Mills College, was also the choreographer for the modern Afro-India dance pieces the group has in its repertoire. Ayodhya Jones and Krishni Myers have just completed two tours with the Paul McCartney Band

Performers change from venue to venue, depending on musician availability. The policy is an open one—that is, whenever a musician may be visiting from another country or city and may want to join in a live performance, they are most welcome to do so. This is in the tradition of avant-garde/indigenous music. Throughout the decades, the music was passed from one musician to another, in a very multifaceted way. That way was: orally, written and through apprenticeship. Young aspiring musicians could accompany the older established musician of their choice, to any venue that the musician was performing at. The young musician would only sit and listen, absorbed in a musically osmotic way; inspired by the live music being played.

In the 21st century, there are colleges and universities that emulate this avant-garde tradition. Shaila Music events are keeping the tradition alive and well by giving young artists a chance to hone their craft in concert performances.