We are safe and sound here in Ottawa, Ontario. We made the 11 hour drive from Washington DC yesterday, but ended up getting here at around 11:30 PM. We left at 9:15 AM. Long drive. It was a very entertaining drive complete with stand-up comedy on Krishan’s iPod, jokes about how NOT to get through the Canadian border, and lots of one liners from GuruGanesha. Everything is going well so far. We just finished the first concert at Adi Shakti Yoga in Orleans, Ontario, and it was a good one. I’m learning the sound system and doing loading and unloading every day. I caught a cold yesterday, so my head is congested. Luckily, our gracious host Siri Bandhu had some zinc and remedies, so I’m feeling a little better. I made it through the first real day and emotionally feel great. Being on the roadie crew is hard work, but I’m staying really positive and keeping spirits light. I’ve introduced my many accents to the group, and have a nickname of “Yuri”.
I am also doing daily vocal warm ups and guitar stuff with GuruGanesha. It’s definitely one of the high points of the day. Tomorrow we’re playing at Canada’s Peace Prayer Day at Ottawa’s city hall (really close to parliament) and we have a concert at night nearby.
Totally packed!
Tour: Day 2, Ottawa
October 20, 2006 at 9:08 pm (Music, Tour)
The Tour, Part 1: The Prologue
October 17, 2006 at 4:46 pm (Music, Tour)
I am now safe and sound in Herndon, Virginia, a town about 30 minutes from Washington, DC. I took JetBlue from Oakland to Washington/Dulles Airport. Normally I would watch the in-flight DirecTV, but I barely slept last night, so I spent most of the time in dreamland 36000 feet in the air. The east coast is incredibly beautiful. I would go outside and take pictures, but it’s too dark. I’ll end up doing that tomorrow. It feels like a typical bay area winter evening here. The ground is damp from the rain, and the clouds are still thick overhead. It’s not particularly cold. There is a pleasant chilly breeze though, and it feels wonderful.
I’m staying with Krishan, the band’s drummer and jack of all trades. His house is very comfortable, has a fridge with good food, and a great recording studio in the basement. I believe we’re going to try and mess around with the studio a little tonight. While some guys get excited when they see nice cars, I get excited when I see nice instruments and recording equipment.
I’m not really sure what the schedule is for tomorrow, but I believe I’m helping with inventory for the tour. We leave for Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday.
The Concert
October 10, 2006 at 10:30 pm (Music)
The concert at the Ford with Joseph Jarman and Roscoe Mitchell was amazing. It is so liberating to be able to play anything at all. I am so grateful that I was able to play on the same stage as these jazz masters. Here are some pictures from the concert:
Joseph Jarman and myself playing.
Free Improv
Roscoe circular breathing.
All of these pictures come from the website of LeRoy Downs at TheJazzCat Blog.
Yogi Bhajan
October 7, 2006 at 3:52 am (Family, Music, Religion, Sikh, Yogi Bhajan)
Today, October 6th, is the two year anniversary of my spiritual teacher, Yogi Bhajan’s passing. I remember the day very well. I remember where I was when I found out that he had passed on, and I remember my interactions with him very well. I was sitting in front of my computer at home, working on an essay for an AP English class, wondering why I wasn’t doing something more fun. My mother walked in and told me that the Siri Singh Sahib had left the earth. My reaction was of course sadness, for we all wished that the loving man that we knew could live forever. And for all we knew, he could. It seemed to me that he had done many things far more amazing than living forever. I still think that is true. My reaction, however, was not just sadness. I was truly happy for him. For about a year prior to his death, I had heard quotes of his saying that we (his students) “were the only things keeping him on the earth” and that he was ready to go. It saddened me that he was so bound to the earth because of other peoples’ needs. I felt anger at those who were clinging— even though I had a little of that in me. But I felt a deep appreciation and empathy just for the act of not dying. Here was a man that was so committed to his students; so loving and so devoted to service that he could not die. I will revisit this idea later on…
My interactions with the Siri Singh Sahib/Yogi Bhajan were a good plenty and each one meaningful. Of course there is the competition within 3ho— a “I knew him better” type game that has always gone on. Everyone has stories and each one one-ups the last. I find it amusing, but very telling of how great a man he was. I sent him a few emails when he got sick… I asked him for advice about this and that, telling him how much I appreciated him, etc. etc. I think a huge part of me just wanted to have contact with him since I hadn’t in so long. I have gone back and read every email that he sent back. The thing that I love is that it seemed he caught on to the fact that I really already did know what I was doing. I asked him once if I should pursue a career in music. He said “weigh the pros and cons and make the wisest choice.” Of course. More important to me is that fact that he named me. Of course every name comes with a story and mine is no exception. I was born C-section in St. Louis. The story goes that shortly after I was born, my dad went home quickly to get something and as soon as he walked in the door, the phone rang. It was the Siri Singh Sahib. Normally, phone calls from Yogi Bhajan came from a secretary, but this one came direct. He said “let his name be Ram Dass. With two S’s. Let him walk the path.” If my dad’s reading this, he can correct me if I’m wrong. I’m sure I don’t have something quite right here, but this is what I remember being told. Soon (in the month to 6 months range?) after birth, I got to meet the Siri Singh Sahib in person. When he saw me he yelled “THERE YOU ARE!” and of course, I freaked out. And that was the beginning.
Ram Dass means “servant of God”. I had always wondered what having the extra ’s’ in my name was for and I have always tried to help myself define what a servant of God does. As Sikhs, we believe that our names are our destinies. Every detail of our names is important because it’s the direction we’re bound to go in— might as well try to help ourselves out. To me, Yogi Bhajan was the epitome of a servant of God. Selfless, loving, brave, tender, sweet, and the most important thing— HUMAN. I asked him what the extra ’s’ is in my name. He said that Ram Dass with two Ss is very special. That’s all.
He always told his students to become ten times greater than he. I think that a lot of times there was a him and us… some sort of hierarchy or barrier. We forget sometimes that we are all each other. That includes him. And Buddha. And Jesus… We’re all everyone else and we are everything (and on the flipside nothing too). For me, the reminder is in my name. I am Ram Dass Singh khalsa. He’s in me and he is in all of us. I miss him dearly and often forget that he’s not around physically anymore. The greatest honor anyone can do him is just to be who we are. Because that is already as great as he was and is. Snatam reminded me this year how amazing it is that I had a direct relationship with the Siri Singh Sahib. It is nothing to disregard. And it is something I will always cherish.
October 5, 2006 at 12:06 pm (Religion)
Today is mostly a day for packing. I’m leaving on Monday for the Bay, and to be honest, I haven’t considered that I really AM leaving on Monday. I do this a lot. I know that something is going to happen, but either because I’m so sure that everything will be fine, or just that I don’t consider that something is required of me for it to happen successfully, I don’t realize that anything is happening. The good news is that everything always is fine.
When I left for college last year, I took practically all of my posessions with me. I don’t think I used everything— I don’t think I even remembered that I had some of the things that I had. It was when I had to pack everything to move back home that I realized just how much stuff I had. This time, I didn’t really bring much. I have my necessities. I brought clothes, (and because it’s LA, I didn’t need heavy clothes) my acoustic guitar, my saxophone and clarinets, sheet music, and my computer. I am very happy that I didn’t bring much. I’m having a “Ram Dass, you’re a genius” moment. It rocks.
“A graceful person is one who remains graceful even through all ungraceful times. A happy person is one who remains happy through all unhappy times.”- Yogi Bhajan
“The mind is hard to check. It is swift and wanders at will. To control it is good. A controlled mind is conducive to happiness.”-Gautama Buddha
Going Home
October 3, 2006 at 3:32 pm (Family, Tour)
It’s my last week here in lovely Castaic, California. This weekend is the big gig at the Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood, and then I head home for a week before the tour. I’m looking forward to both the gig and going home. Time seems to move very slowly in Southern California except when you are trying to get somewhere in a hurry. It will be nice to relax in the Bay Area, visit some of my past teachers, and cool off by the bay. One of my favorite things to do back home is to climb on top of my house and look down on the water. On the fourth of July, I can see every fireworks show in the area. If I look left I can see the shows at Jack London Square in Oakland, the Berkeley Marina, and the KFOG Kaboom across the Bay in San Francisco. If I look right I can see the Sausolito show and the Marin County Fair. Of course this is all dependant upon whether or not there is fog. There is almost always fog. I really love the fog though. It makes late nights mystical and magical.
The thing I have realized over the past year of being away at college is that I really appreciate my home. It’s a cushion of love and support. It’s the smell of fresh pesto. It’s hearing our birds chirping and our dog panting. It’s really home. Here in LA or when I was in Oregon, I would say that I was going home, but it was temporary and just a place to sleep and eat. My home has memories, family, friends, and a pot of yogi tea brewing at all times. It will be the perfect place to go before I’m on the road for a month and a half.
LA, Islam, Iraq, and Terrorism
September 29, 2006 at 12:50 am (Religion)
I spend a lot of time in my car. LA traffic is absolutely miserable, and because of the fact that the city is 30 miles away, driving time can be anywhere from 35 minutes to two hours. No joke. I drive a reliable 1990 Volvo GL with 176 thousand miles on it. While the interior may have disintegrated when the odometer was all ones, the engine will carry on hopefully until the odometer is all threes. The other reliable part is the radio. As long as no one steals it. There’s one good classic rock/oldies station that fades whenever I go over the mountain, but I think they play the exact same songs every day. I swear I’ve heard Roy Orbison during the 2PM hour at least three times in the past two weeks. My real point is that I use the radio to take my mind off of the monotony of the heavy traffic. Because of the almost equally bad music on the radio and the fact that I haven’t charged my iPod since I moved down here, I’ve been listening to 640 AM: Southern California’s Stimulating Talk Radio. Most of the time the commentators are ultra moderates who have equally bad things to say about both Democrats and Republicans. I don’t have many issues with these guys because I respect the fact that they have fairly legitimate evidence to support their arguments. I often agree with what they have to say and they do hold everyone accountable for their past actions no matter what political party they’re from. They recognize that there are good ideas in either party— it is when the ideas are taken to an extreme that they become issues. I sense a theme coming…
Tonight I was on my way back home from Burbank (different story) when this guy came on the radio with absolutely NOTHING positive to say about ANYTHING. It just seemed like he was totally unhappy about life. He started out with the story about the new tape supposedly coming from the new leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. The announcer started out by saying that the liberal media has been saying that there is no Al Qaeda in Iraq. I believe the actual fact is that the Iraq war had nothing to do with September 11. We know this for a fact and the president has admitted it. The “liberal media” has been very good at…forgetting that fact. I believe Mr. Announcer has missed the boat. Secondly, the group known as Al Qaeda in Iraq didn’t exist under that name until after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in October, 2001. Previously the organization was called Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad which means the Monotheism and Holy War Group. They were al Qaeda sypmpathisers who gained notoriety by calling themselves al Qaeda. The name also directly addresses their views on Christianity. They consider the holy trinity polytheism and in direct violation of Islam. The announcer then said that we have been led to believe that Muslims have nothing to do with terrorism and that, in fact, Muslims have everything to do with terrorism.
What we are dealing with (if you can call what we’re doing dealing) is fanatacism. And sadly, we are combatting the Islamic fanaticism with our own fanatacism. The government has incorporated distorted views of Christianity. It should be understood that no extreme can be faught with an opposite extreme. The only thing that can lead to is total elimination of both sides, which I’m frankly not ok with. The majority of Iraq has nothing to do with the so-called insurgents and a whole lot of the United States does not support the current war. Unfortunately, the views of non-violence are not easily expressed in a world of gunpowder, explosions, kidnappings, and Iraq’s Scariest Home Videos. George Carlin pointed out the fact that the people that get assassinated— JFK, Mahatma Gandhi, MLK, Lincoln, John Lennon— have all been the ones that have preached love and equality. Arent those the real martyrs here? Muslim extremists may call this Jihad and the western world can call it a Holy War, but nothing is ever holy when people are killed out of hate.
“The world never mourned Gandhi’s death. It mourned for that symbolic peace he was living in. Nobody mourns for anybody; all we mourn for is that cavity which happens.”-Yogi Bhajan
“No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind ; No forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touchables or objects of mind ; No sight-organ element, and so forth, until we come to :
No mind-consciousness element ; There is no ignorance, no extinction of ignorance, and so forth, until we come to : There is no decay and death, no extinction of decay and death. There is no suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path.”- Heart Sutra (Prajñāpāramitā Hridaya Sūtra)
Just Added: Now Playing
September 28, 2006 at 3:06 pm (Music)
I have added a “Now Playing” page to my blog so that you can see what I have been listening to recently and recommend. The music will vary from classical to world, spiritual, rock, or whatever seems important to me at the time.
You can view that page by clicking here, or by clicking on the “Now Playing” link under the “Pages” section of the sidebar.
Musicians with Turbans!
September 27, 2006 at 6:37 pm (Music, Pick of the Week)
It’s a big deal to me when someone who identifies with Sikhism hits the mainstream music scene. I’m not sure if this is truly the case with the guy I’m about to rave about or not, but he certainly looks Sikh. Dr. Lonnie Smith is a world renowned Hammond B3 player. He is very well known in the jazz world and is considered the “Godfather of the B3″. He was born to an African American family in Buffalo, NY. No interviews that I’ve read talk about when he started wearing a turban, but he shares some of the same sentiment about the turban that I have often felt.
“Personally, I’m looking forward to a time when my local racist assholes decide to yell “Lonnie Smith” at me as they drive by, rather than “Osama” or “Saddam” or “Raghead” or “Diaperhead” or “Sand N—er” whatever the f- – - floats into their minds at that moment. Then I’ll know that turbans have really made it. Until such a time, I’ll have to content myself with the fact that Lonnie Smith is one damn fine looking man with his turban and beard, and that the racists here hate me (in part) because I’m beautiful.”
I feel a need to educate people about Sikhism (or even something about Islam!) because the ignorance I have faced is overwhelming. Last week, I was walking down the 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica, when a guy who I think was homeless yelled “Hey towelhead!” Generally I let comments like that go. I understand that people are ignorant as to what Sikhism is and say these things out of fear, but this time I was rather disappointed. Most of the homeless people that I encounter are really respectful of the fact that I wear a turban. It’s usually someone in the general populus who calls me something derogatory. When this man called out to me, I had already passed him on the street. So I turned around a shot him a “do you REALLY mean that?” look. I hope he got the message. You can never be sure who you’re dealing with. The person who stops you on the street just might be a person who could change your life. Even Guru Ram Das pretended to be poor at night to test his disciples. One of my favorite— and I say favorite in a sardonic way— of the encounters was actually in Asheville, North Carolina. I was with Sukhmani Singh, Siri Dattar Singh, and Karta Purkh Kaur from Knoxville, Tennessee at the time. We were walking down the street when a lady (who was probably drunk) came up to us and asked “Are you American?!” Our response, of course was “Yes. We are.” To which she said “I thought so…” and she walked away angrily. I have also been asked “Are you a terrorist?” Of course not homes, but if I had been, I don’t think it was smart of you to ask me. The turban acts like a mirror— just by walking into a room I can view how scared people are, how accepting they are, or just how curious the are (this is of course assuming that it’s my turban talking and not some other cause such as body odor). The problem is that most of the time, I’m the only one looking. Anyway, Dr. Lonnie Smith. He rocks. Check out his album Jungle Soul. The title track almost sounds like classical Indian music with a funky jazz backbeat. 
The second musician with a turban is a personal favorite of mine and was actually a Nubian Muslim who played the Oud. His name was Hamza el Din, and he was truly a beautiful man and musician. He was an inspiration to The Grateful Dead as well as the Kronos Quartet. He actually played with the Dead in 1978 at Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza and then joined them back in San Francisco at Winterland. I had the great honor of meeting him when I was in the 8th grade. A friend of mine named Ahmed Ali Bob was from Sudan and was friends with Hamza el Din through their Mosque. My middle school was very big on the arts and liked to have guests, so Ahmed got Hamza to come in and play for us. Hamza had radiant dark black skin and the most kind, gentle voice. The usually rowdy 300 students were absolutely silent for probably an hour and a half while he played and taught us about Nubian and Arab music. He explained that his music contained complex compound rhythms (which he got everyone to understand) and also that his scales contained quarter tones. He said “on your pianos you have white keys and black keys. To make our scale, you need to cut each key in half. Between every black and white key, there would be another note.” 6 years later, I remember those words verbatum. When he spoke or performed, it was like time stopped and this warm music filled the hall.
That leads me to my PICK OF THE WEEK.
This week’s pick is Hamza el Din’s “A Wish“. This is an absolute masterpiece of an album. Hamza el Din shows that he is a master storyteller— even though all of the lyrics are in Arabic and Nubian languages. The recording is so intimate and pure it lulls you into a trance. Everything from the melodies to the drums to the flutes and harmonies sucks you in. It is an album that I love listening to in the dark with headphones. It’s simply magical and will take you to a distant land.
Favorite tracks: Greetings, Griffin
Recent Event
September 27, 2006 at 7:06 am (Music, Tour)
I recently attended the release party for Snatam’s new CD, Anand. The music was wonderful, as was the setting at Golden Bridge Yoga in Hollywood. Here are some pictures from the event.
Clicking on thumbnails will link to larger pictures.
