Dear Friends,

As some of you know I’ve been struggling with a yucky bout of pneumonia. Big time bummer! Thank God, I am getting better! But it has become clear, through doctor’s consultations, oxygen level tests and my own understanding of my body, that to pick up my East Coast tour in Miami, as we had all hoped, would be totally self destructive and dangerous to my future health….

So, with a heavy heart (and heavy lungs) I have to sadly say I won’t be seeing you all in Miami, New York, Boston or Omega. Gosh, some of my absolutely favorite places to sing!!!! We’re rescheduling some of the events and Miami and Omega will continue on. Please visit the events page for updates on all these events.

Once again, I’m just super sorry to disappoint you all…..

Sending love,

So, a couple of months ago I was on the telephone deeply immersed in a long and somewhat boring conversation about business, music, career, choices, options, and plans…. Yes, important things, but, ugh……. My heart was begging me to stop thinking and talking and just start singing and bust down the walls of fear and rigidity…. And I found myself doodling; first a heart, then a banner, and then the word ‘occupy’ and the initial ‘st’…..

Of course we all have been following and supporting the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement, but I found myself thinking how much courage is required to truly occupy our own hearts; to be really vulnerable and real in this crazy and sometimes scary world; to spread love and authenticity in the face of hate and, even worse, indifference. And I looked at the picture I had drawn and was reminded of the banner flying above Arjuna’s chariot, a flag of Lord Hanuman carrying the mountain of healing herbs back to Lanka to save Lakshman; the supreme power of love which can, literally, move mountains and revive the dead. Do you guys know who was Arjuna’s charioteer? Well, I’m sure some of you do… It was none other than Sri Krishna Himself, the divine Lord of Love!

Ok, so I liked my picture so much that I called our friends at Mantralogy and said “hey, do you guys want to make an ‘occupy love street’ tee shirt?” they said “sure, but who’s gonna design the image?” and I said “it’s already done!”

And that’s the story of these lovely blue 100% Organic Alternative Apparel Cotton Crews. They’re available in Men’s (S-XL) and Women’s (S-L scoop neck) for $29.98.

Occupy Love Street!

Occupy Our Own Hearts and let love wash away and heal the wounds of this dark age known as ‘Kali Yuga’.

HARI BOL!!!!

Please help me support the Occupy movement by donating here.

With a bunch of bouncy sing-along kirtans and stories about the elephant god Ganesha, the monkey god Hanuman, Krishna, Govinda, and friends (replete with elephant cries and other fun noises), world music mainstay Jai Uttal creates the perfect gift for the yoga-children generation. An ideal present for kids just beginning to understand the power at their disposal should they open themselves to guidance by the infinite power of love, Kirtan Kids is a real kick. And “Poppa Uttal” is a fun and merry guide, with a rich, raspy voice, who brings in an array of various aged kids (including his own) to sing and chant, adding layers of meaning and resonance while never going overboard on cuteness. In “Dance Shiva Dance,” Uttal explains not to be afraid of Shiva’s more fearsome aspects: “He’s called the Lord of Destruction, but really that destruction just refers to a gigantic river of grace that removes all negativity and replaces it with light and wisdom and compassion. How does Lord Shiva do it? He dances!”

“Gung Gung Gung Ganesha Om” is chanted with children and backed by elephant noises and a chorus-bridge that shifts into a whole other mood and back again with exhilarating results. The music-box gentleness of “Bolo Ram Ram” goes a little farther out into gentle golden horizons with a merry tabla beat and children singing the chorus. The stories are fun: “Gopala Eats the Dirt,” and “Ganesha Walks Around the World,” the former about the birth of the universe and the latter a fable about competition, devotion, and sharing with the mouse rider Ganesha.

Like the best fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen or Disney, the tales of Krishna and company are not only delightful but profoundly applicable for day-to-day growth. The songs and chants are good for breathing and sonorous resonance and the tales of fantastic animal-shaped gods and their cosmic adventures are as wild as fables like The Lion King or The Little Mermaid. A fun booklet is included, with the Sanskrit chants, illustrations, and Uttal’s messages transcribed. All in all, Kirtan Kids is decidedly different and bound to blow the minds of kids that are up for exploring a spiritually mysterious and mythically rich culture. And for a fun guide, no one is better than Poppa Uttal.

Listen and buy Kirtan Kids at http://jaiuttal.com/kirtankids/.

Read the original article here.

Kirtan Kids are here to stay!!!! The new generation of chanters is changing the sound of devotional singing, and all we grownups can do is open our hearts, sing along and let the voices of the Kirtan Kids wash away our sorrows in great waves of joy and FUN!

To celebrate these divine little singers we’ve made Kirtan Kids tee-shirts for the teensy ones, the toddlers and, of course, the rest of the gang….


The artwork on the shirts is by Shilo Shiv Suleman, the wonderful young Indian artist who did all the graphics for Queen Of Hearts, and the manufacturing is once again done by Mantralogy, a company dedicated to Bhakti in many forms, including beautiful CDs by many of my best friends….

So please check out the shirts, check out the Kirtan Kids CD, check out Shilo’s art, and check out Mantralogy!!!

Thanks and lots of love,

When: 1pm
Where: Open Secret Bookstore
923 C St.
San Rafael, CA
Price: 12 and up $10 / 4-11 years old $5 / 3 and under Free
Website: www.opensecretbookstore.com
Details: The world of wide eyed, childlike wonder that is so essential to the path of Bhakti is not always that easily attainable to us highly educated, ‘spiritual’ adults. But as you mommies and daddies know, we can let our kids help us! Come to Open Secret for an afternoon of “Kiddie Kirtan,” heartful and simple Indian chanting for the little ones of all ages. Of course the drums, shakers and front row seats are reserved for the kids, but parents and older brothers and sisters are welcome – as long as they behave! See you there!!

This event is a CD Release “Party” to celebrate Jai’s latest album, Kirtan Kids: The Elephant, the Monkey, and the Little Butter Thief, a wondrous collection of stories, chants and songs sung by, and for, our divine younger generation.

Visit http://jaiuttal.com/kirtankids for more information.

Yoga Journal, January 2012

QUEEN OF HEARTS, by Jai Uttal. Nutone Music; nutonemusic.com 

Kirtan artist Jai Uttal rocks the yoga house (yet again!) with a genre-bending blend of old-school reggae and ska, Brazilian samba, and traditional Bengali kirtan. Dedicated to Radha, the Hindu goddess of devotion, Queen of Hearts is the musical equivalent of a four-course meal–and just as likely to satisfy. Co-produced by Uttal’s longtime friend and collaborator Ben Leinbach (whose album Sangha is also reviewed on this page), Queen of Hearts is a tantalizing mix of sensuality and spirituality performed with stellar musicianship.

Each song is buoyed by soaring vocals from Uttal and a choir of angelic yet earthy female backup singers, including Tina Malia (who has sung with Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and India.Arie) and up-and-coming kirtan divas such as C.C. White and Prajna Vieira. Highlights include the sultry, reggae-centric “Ocean of Milk” and the prayerful, folk-tinged “Vishnu’s Dream.”

Many yogis will use this album as a high-octane accompaniment to a fast-?owing asana practice, and that’s not a bad idea. But Queen of Hearts is not background music; it merits repeated, intent listening in its own right. One spin will get your body moving; the next will put this album at the top of your playlist.
-PHIL CATALFO