Sacred Love » free

Multi-Part Video Series – Recording “Sacred Love” With Will Ackerman at Imaginary Road Studios

shambhu — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:00:54 +0000

This past April and May I’ve been recording my new CD, “Sacred Love”, with producer Will Ackerman and recording engineer Corin Nelsen, at Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont.

The entire process has also been documented in an eight part video series you can subscribe to and watch at YouTube

For anyone thinking about recording, you’ll get deep insights into my process and see some great musicians who have collaborated with me on the project:

Tony Levin – bass
George Brooks – sax
Ravichandra Kulur – flute
Eugene Friesen – cello
Jill Haley – english horn
Jeff Haynes – percussion

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Video: Recording Session with Eugene Friesen

shambhu — Sat, 08 May 2010 21:04:20 +0000

On Friday I had the opportunity to record at Imaginary Road Studio with cellist and composer Eugene Friesen.

Eugene Friesen is a 3-time Grammy Award winner for his work with the Paul Winter Consort. He’s a graduate of the Yale School of Music and currently teaches at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.

With Eugene, every note is a rich symphony of sound-perfection – deeply soulful and nuanced – from the attack to the release.

Enjoy for yourself…

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Video – Recording Session with Tony Levin

shambhu — Thu, 06 May 2010 05:01:34 +0000

I had a great time in the studio on May 4th with Tony Levin who tracked his sweet bass playing on five songs from my upcoming CD, “Sacred Love.” All I can say is, “Wow!!” Lovely guy and a pleasure to work with. See some moments from the session in the video below with producer Will Ackerman and recording engineer Corin Nelsen at Imaginary Road Studio in Vermont.

Tony Levin’s bio reads like a who’s who in music. From John Lennon and Paul Simon to King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, Tony Levin’s signature bass sound has defined rock/pop/jazz music. I always appreciated the brilliance and nuance of Paul Simon’s songs and the musicianship of his sidemen. If you listen to “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul, you’ll hear the signature bass playing of Tony Levin. He just came off a tour with guitarist Alan Holdsworth.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Video – Session with Ravichandra Kulur and George Brooks

shambhu — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:46:27 +0000

Last week I had the incredible opportunity to record world flutist Ravichandra Kulur on my CD while he was in town performing with Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Ravi Shankar. Ravi played on two tunes – Call to Spirit and an improv that I recorded at Imaginary Road two weeks ago. My good friend and east/west fusion saxist George Brooks helped arrange a studio for me at the last minute at Studio D in Sausalito. At the end of the session, Ravi, George and I recorded a jam that will likely be a bonus track on the CD.

Here’s a video that captures some sweet moments from that session….

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Download: Jam with Paul Strom “Sunrise Sanctuary”

shambhu — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:32:18 +0000

Played in my studio on Sunday with my old friend Paul Strom, a terrific composer and guitarist. Here is Paul on rhythm guitar and myself on lead enjoying the beautiful melody of a tune he composed, “Sunrise Sanctuary.” Click through the songs on this embedded player to find Sunrise Sanctuary and download.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The 52nd Grammy Awards

shambhu — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:32:28 +0000

I attended the biggest event in music, The Grammys in Los Angeles, which took place on Jan 31st.

The Grammys brings together some of the greatest artists of our time, from all styles and musical genres. It’s a big affair that celebrates the most popular and upcoming music in all forms. The televised portion on CBS-TV took place at the Staples Center which seated 20,000 people and the place looked full to me from floor to ceiling. The afternoon pre-show where 100 Grammys were awarded, and after party for 5,000+ guests, took place at the adjacent LA Convention Center.

How do you win a Grammy? Well, you have to be nominated. Any member of NARAS (National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences) can nominate you. There is one round of voting that brings the nominations to 5, and then members vote for the winner.

Many friends and musicians I’ve known and played with were there too: the great Narada Michael Walden (a triple Grammy winner) performed with Jeff Beck. Narada is touring with Jeff this year. Carlos Santana attended (played together often in earlier days). The brilliant New Age pianist and composer Peter Kater was nominated for Best New Age album for the sixth time and cellist David Darling took the honor. The #1 guitarist John McLaughlin and Chick Corea won Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Five Peace Band. Guitarist Mike Stern was nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Joe Zawinul won. Seated in front of me at the awards was Native American artist Bill Miller who won his 3rd Grammy Best Native American Music Album. Cool story: I sat behind Bill because I could feel some really soulful energy. A few minutes after sitting down, Bill went out to pray and connect with the cosmic Spirit who guides us. He returned and soon was announced as the winner.

As far as the telecast went, it was a monumental stage set, large enough to blow away 20,000 people. How the crew managed to pull off these incredible multi-media driven performances – with 20 screens surrounding the stage – and state of the art lighting and stage designs around so many spectactular performances by Elton and Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Bon Jovi, Jeff Beck and others, I’ll never know. The production was really breathtaking, and forget the nay sayers — this was an incredibly well produced show. The icing on the cake was hearing Sam Cooke at the after show doing tunes like “Soul Man.”

I met so many terrific artists, including Bill Miller, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett, Kitaro, Peter Kater, and friends Kit Thomas, Alex Theory, Greg Gordon, and so many other great souls, on truly a night to remember. So big Congrats to all!!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Free download: “Together” (demo)

shambhu — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:13:26 +0000

This is one of several songs I composed on New Year’s eve. I had decided that instead of going out, I was going to pay homage to my musical life and record. And so I did. For about two hours the cosmic energy flowed and several wonderful compositions emerged, including this one titled Together.

Click through the titles on the embedded player to find the Together demo. Next week I’m meeting with a brilliant record producer to talk about the upcoming CD recording. I’ll fill you in on who that is and when we’re going into the studio.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Download: Guitar Jam Xmas Eve

shambhu — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:30:40 +0000

Lots of friends have asked me to feature some lead guitar jams. Click through the titles on the player to download the XMAS Eve Jam.

Here’s a jam produced on December 24, 2009, XMas eve, right before I went to Grace Cathedral for Xmas Eve Mass. Welcome to Shambhu’s High Guitar Mass…hope you enjoy. It’s about 17 minutes of free explorations over a beat and bass that I put together.

My guitar influences are John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Johnny Smith, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass and so many other great players.

Feel free to share comments.

Please share this song with friends but please include this copyright info with the song:

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Download: Natural Moment

shambhu — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:04:24 +0000

Natural Moment was composed on December 22 2009. It’s a beautiful love groove with the relaxing flows of the most beautiful places on earth shared with your beloved partner, friend or Spirit. However you connect with your highest you might find a pathway to that cosmic connection between the notes of this piece. If you do find it and feel it, please leave me a comment here and tell me more about it.

Please share this song with friends but please include this copyright info with the song:

Bookmark It

Hide Sites