All One

Krishna Das

Over three days in November 2004, in the renowned Avatar Studios in New York, a choir of 70 and an orchestra of 20, came together to create All One. Featuring Krishna Das (Vocals and Harmonium), Walter Becker (Bass; Co-producer), Def Lepard’s Rick Allen (drums), Ty Burhoe (tabla) and David Nichtern (Guitar; Co-producer and well known composer “Midnight at the Oasis”) the songs were all recorded live in one take with the exception of some additional overdubs added later). The music that flowed was an amalgum of sounds- Violin and Cello with Bansuri Flute- Sarod and Esraj with Piano and Drums- Electric Guitar and Bass with Tabla – Gryphon Guitar with Trumpet and African Percussion… But throughout was the thread of Krishna Das’ deep emotive voice and the voices of the choir and the hypnotic mantric names spun from the living spirit in the room.

Pilgrim Heart

Krishna Das

It's hard to say whether hindsight is an effective tool or not when it comes to music. To look with a critical eye back over the span of an artist's career may not be exactly fair, but it seems quite useful to a listener trying to make a selection of, say, a greatest-hits collection versus individual releases. The work of Krishna Das is a great example. If you examine his albums closely, you will begin to notice a few trends in the track listings. More than once has he done "Hanuman Chaleesa," "Devi Puja," and "Hara Hara Mahadeva," though the former makes nary an appearance on this particular record. However, Sting does. He chirps his way through "Mountain Hare Krishna" with that ever-entrancing Sting voice of his. Of course, the song "Mountain Hare Krishna" was reincarnated on Das' Live on Earth release in 1999. What to do? If you're a hardcore kirtan lover, then you'll want this on your shelf. If you're only looking for a Das sampler, you'd do better to pick up his Live on Earth. That way you throw a wider net capturing his work, and as a bonus you get to avoid the very odd, slightly disconcerting, calypso-style "The Ring Song."

Door of Faith

Krishna Das

Krishna Das continues his spiritual albums, mixing Indian inflections with a Western base (which comes in the way the songs are constructed, often owing a lot to folk music). Produced by Rick Rubin, this has a wonderful, full sound with some excellent touches, like the emotional cello on "Sita's Prayer." It's a very slow album -- the pieces blooming gradually like flowers -- intended to give its pleasure over time rather than in a single play. While this is obviously a commercial venture, it's also a labor of love and devotion. And make no mistake, it is a truly lovely disc, accessible in its structures (in fact, "Shri Hanuman Chaleesa" would be a rock song if it had a drum kit) and its style, thanks in part to Rubin and his experience. This would be excellent as a meditation aid, but it also transcends that to become a fascinating listening experience throughout. Das sounds like Tom Waits without the voice cracks, which is no bad thing -- his voice is somewhat hypnotic, as befits the music he's making. The underlying sample (a processed voice?) on the last track adds texture to what's really a country song in disguise, altering it completely. A record that's an experience in every possible way.

Greatest Hits Of The Kali Yuga

Krishna Das

GREATEST HITS OF THE KALI YUGA collects the highlights from five of spiritual leader/singer Krishna Das's albums (plus one new track and a remix). A disciple of devotional yoga and kirtan (chanting the names of God), Krishna Das creates a remarkably effective combination of traditional Indian chanting and Western pop structures and melodies. Harmonium and tabla blend with guitar, bass, violin, and auxiliary percussion in ways that bridge East and West, giving rise to a stirring spiritual music that is both catchy and meditative. GREATEST HITS also includes a full-length DVD, a documentary on Krishna Das entitled ONE LIFE AT A TIME. In addition to illustrating Das's dedication to bringing the wisdom of Eastern spirituality to the ears of Western music fans (the DVD includes some fine concert footage), the documentary also charts Das's long path of discovery, including his experiences in India and his enduring friendship with Ram Dass (a.k.a. Dr. Richard Alpert). It is a fascinating document, and complements the music nicely, making this a highly worthwhile package.

Live On Earth

Krishna Das

Considered the leading Western proponent of kirtan chanting, Krishna Das shows his stuff on the double-disc Live on Earth. The live setting is where Das really shines, with posse in tow generally singing in the traditional call-and-response fashion. Devotion flows through his husky baritone voice and enthusiasm abounds in the claps of the group. This is how these mantras are meant to be sung, their blessings showering down on every chanter. The explosive "Radhe Shyam" and "Samadhi Sita Ram" open the session with a bang while praising the glory of Govinda and Ram along with their consorts, Radha and Sita. Then, a hush falls and stillness overwhelms when Das and bansuri flutist Steve Gorn offer themselves at the feet of the guru with "Shri Guru Charanam." Going on like this, balancing the ecstatic and the solemn while holding the sacred, Das makes his offerings to all of the major Hindu deities -- Krishna, Hanuman, Kali, Lakshmi, Rama, and Shiva. Particularly enchanting is the ancient hymn "Hanuman Chaleesa." Das sings it to please his own guru, though it was composed in honor of the monkey god Hanuman, noble hero of the great Indian epic Ramayana. One of the most well-known nama sankirtanas in the West repeats the names of Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Das includes two different renditions, "Three Rivers Hare Krishna" and "Mountain Hare Krishna," perhaps signifying his own fondness for the simple beauty of this chant. For the most part, Das sticks with the tried and true Indian instrumentation of harmonium and percussion to create his sound, though he does add a bit of keyboard, cello, and bass to smooth out the edges and truly make it his own. That's fair, and the result is splendid.

One Track Heart

Krishna Das

Hardcore followers of Indian religious philosophy may find much to recommended in these modernizations of traditional Bhakti Yoga chants. But the yogi rock created by Das along with Jai Uttal and Jim Wilson may strike nonbelievers as too guileless to survive the electrification process. Ethnic Indian experimentation with external forms are one thing, since they usually redistribute the weight of sufficient cultural baggage to yield interesting results. But this disc begins with a feeling of secondhandedness and from there borrows yet again, leaving the listener decidedly shortchanged.

Breath Of The Heart

Krishna Das

According to ancient Indian scriptures and saints, the traditional practice of chanting God's name -- be it Krishna, Rama, Ganesh, or another of the numerous deities -- is a tried and true path leading to union with the divine. Kirtan is one of the main forms of this practice, wherein a leader sings out the call and a group echoes with a response. Breath of the Heart is a live recording of Krishna Das in such a setting. Of course, being a westerner, he rounds out the sound with a little more than the customary harmonium and drum of the "motherland," adding Rob McDonald's solid electric bass, Lili Haydn's exquisite though underused violin, and Steve Gorn's mystical bansuri flute, along with various percussion and such. A single kirtan can go on for as long as the leader feels appropriate, although here Krishna Das limits the pieces to not more than 15 minutes or so. That's just enough to get you going before he moves on to the next, which is good for newcomers but perhaps frustrating for true practitioners. For the result is a quick build that doesn't allow you to so much linger in the melody, but rather pulls you along with the rhythm. It's a forgivable consequence when taking his audience into consideration. Nevertheless, with Rick Rubin at the production helm and topnotch musicianship supporting Das' instantly recognizable voice, the combination is a truly enjoyable, and possibly enlightening, offering.

Heart Full Of Soul Disc 1

Krishna Das

Renowned for making kirtan chant more accessible to Westerners, it was Krishna Das’s desire to create a record that would allow people to immerse themselves in a night of kirtan. Heart Full of Soul transports audiences into that space and features the gospel hymn “Jesus on the Main Line”, beloved by audiences and available for the first time.

As the best selling chant artist of all time, Krishna Das has sold more than 300,000 records, and continues to engage enthusiastic audiences around the world.

Heart Full Of Soul Disc 2

Krishna Das

Renowned for making kirtan chant more accessible to Westerners, it was Krishna Das’s desire to create a record that would allow people to immerse themselves in a night of kirtan. Heart Full of Soul transports audiences into that space and features the gospel hymn “Jesus on the Main Line”, beloved by audiences and available for the first time.

As the best selling chant artist of all time, Krishna Das has sold more than 300,000 records, and continues to engage enthusiastic audiences around the world.