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,

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.

“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.

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.

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

Can you believe it’s already December??? Here’s a little help with your holiday shopping: everything from my online store is 20% off through December 15. That includes t-shirts, CDs, and downloads (I’m sure you can find a way to gift those too) … even my latest album, Kirtan Kids! Go over to the The Bhakti Bazaar and take a look.

Speaking of giving, Jan Lundy at Buddha Chick Life is giving away two copies of Kirtan Kids! Just leave a comment on her site here before December 15 to enter.

Happy holidays!!!

Lots of love,

Today is “International Sing Like A Kid Day”!!!!!

What? You haven’t heard of this? Oh, wow! This is the day that we’re all supposed to lose our inhibitions and self consciousness and let our voices soar and sing and scream in praise and joy! Just like kids….

Oh no! Don’t tell me that the forces of grown-up oppression have combined to hide this special day from all of us very adult non-singers. We must act now before it’s too late!!!! Sing! Sing! Sing!

Ok, ok…. Get serious, Jai!

Well, I am serious, sort of. The reason I’m writing this is that today is the official release date of my new CD: Kirtan Kids: The Elephant, The Monkey and the Little Butter Thief, a TOTALLY ADORABLE collection of songs, kirtans and stories sung mostly by kids, for kids….

Ben Leinbach and I had so much fun making this CD. A whole bunch of kids helped. Kindergarteners, first graders, second graders… All the way up to one wonderful sixteen-year-old…

Plus a farm load of animals, and an entire jungle of wild beasts.

I’m not telling you any more… you’ll just have to see for yourself! There’s a special Kirtan Kids page where you can listen, see adorable behind-the-scenes videos, and download the Kirtan Kids book … Check it out today!!!!

Lots of love,

This time the master San Anselmo musician-singer-composer takes traditional call-and-response kirtan and Brazilian samba and throws reggae and ska into the mix.

It’s a joyous concoction that announces itself with the very opening track, “Thief of Hearts” (Govinda, Govinda, Gopala). Who can resist devotional music with a horn arrangements, by Uttal and Jeff Cressman, worthy of Tower of Power?

A reggae fan since he was a teenager, Uttal expressed that influence in some of the groundbreaking music he made in the ’90s with his Pagan Love Orchestra, one of the first world music groups to introduce an East-meets-West sound to American audiences.

He’s been wanting to revisit reggae ever since, and says the eight tunes on “Queen of Hearts,” recorded at Old Bull studio in San Anselmo with co-producer by longtime collaborator Ben Leinbach, have been percolating inside him for years.

You can literally hear that percolation in the techno opening of “Ocean of Milk,” which breaks into an irresistible reggae groove as Uttal trades lines in Sanskrit with a breathy all-female backup chorus.

On the ethereal “Vishnu’s Dream,” he wraps his soulful voice in the warm harmony vocals of the exotic Tina Malia, a veteran of his Pagan Love Orchestra. Uttal studied under the great Ali Akbar Khan, which gives him hard-earned credibility. And if listeners notice an authenticity in the always excellent musicianship on “Queen of Hearts,” it’s no accident.

On the smooth Brazilian “Hari’s Rapture,” for example, Uttal had the good sense to anchor the track with the rhythmic nylon-string guitar work of Brazilian-born Jose Neto, one of Marin’s finest players. It’s one of many bright spots on a CD full of light.

Listen and Buy: “Queen of Hearts,” Jai Uttal, Nutone Music, www.jaiuttal.com/queenofhearts/; $14.98

Read the original article here.

It’s been a while since I’ve written a newsletter. So sorry if any of you have felt
neglected. Wow, three CDs in a year! I think I must be crazy. But I’m really happy with
all of them, and they’re all so different. First there was Bhakti Bazaar with Ben
Leinbach, then Queen of Hearts, and coming in October, Kirtan Kids!

Have you guys heard Queen? It’s often difficult for me to listen to my own music till
many months later but I’ve been listening to Queen Of Hearts almost everyday and it’s
a total joy. The reggae and ska grooves just wake me up and make me want to dance in
my car, which can be a bit dangerous… Anyway, I haven’t done a CD release party for
any of my CDs for quite a long time but I’ve decided to do one for the Queen! But what
should it be? After so many years of interactive Kirtan, the idea of a ‘concert’, where
there are ‘listeners’ and ‘musicians’ and no meeting between the two, is kind of boring.
So for at least one gig, on September 14th, I’ve created ‘the Queen Of Hearts
Orchestra,’ an ecstatic Reggae-Samba-Kirtan band, for your listening, singing and
dancing pleasure. And most of all, to glorify the true Queen Of Hearts, Srimati
Radharani, the bestower of Divine Love.

So come join us for a Bhakti Dance Party at Yoshi’s in San Francisco. The band will be big and loud, kind of a first cousin to the late, great Pagan Love Orchestra, and, Goddess-willing, we’ll be granted a few moments of grace in the heavenly abode of RADHE SHYAM!!!!!

Come one come all!!!!!!

Here’s the band:

Jai Uttal – harmonium, guitar, vocals
Jose Neto – electric nylon string guitar
Ben Leinbach – keys and percussion
Vishwambhar Sheth – Mridanga
Krsna Kishore – kartals and flute
Daniel Paul – tablas, vocals, harmonica
Prajna Vieira – vocals
Sandy Cressman – vocals
Tina Malia – vocals
Mark Gorman – bass
Peter Apfelbaum – drums and sax

Sounds like super fun, doesn’t it?

Lots of love,