To perceive his philisophy, just read this interview about his new album Magic&Grace

1. What is Magic & Grace?

For many years in my life as I have explored the path of an artist and a yogi I often had the sense of being protected and guided by a benevolent spiritual presence , and so I would tell people who asked me what I did and how I survived , that I lived by Magic and Grace . That was my way of describing the arc of my life , and thus the name of this new album . I had planned this album and dreamed of it for several years . For me Magic describes the mysterious , wondrous movement and creation of life , sometimes by natural laws , and sometimes by super natural forces we don't yet understand . And I believe Grace is the experience of loving sweet and powerful energy that just comes from the giving , abundant nature of the Divine ..... unexplainable and unearned.

2. What was your intent in creating it?

I wanted to create music that would be a doorway for others to enter into meditation , healing energy , a sense of the sublime ... perhaps to accompany yoga practice or comfort someone who felt out of balance . It seems to be good for going to sleep also , and that is actually helpful for many people who are stressed ! I also wanted to express a sense of gratitude and wonder, openness.

3. How is this CD different from your other music projects?

I wrote many of these melodies in a meditative state and they were composed with slower tempos and musical movements that facilitate relaxation and calming the mind . The simplicity of some of the melodies is almost childlike , which I believe allows access to deeper parts of our being .Also these pieces are informed by my studies of Nada Yoga (the yoga of sound ) which uses specific kinds of sounds , tones and intervals to create harmonious effects in the nervous system and open us to higher states of consciousness.

4. Describe your other music projects?

I am very active in the developing genre that blends yoga and music . I play with a wonderful improvisational group in Los Angeles called Shaman's Dream . We play for yoga classes and retreats which also include healing rituals and dance . This is actually an ancient use of music which is now being revived with modern elements .

I tour frequently with the chant/ kirtan artists David and Mira Newman and these sanskrit mantras we do , along with some English lyrics are also beautiful, joyful and very healing. Again a traditional form that is enjoying an amazing resurgence as people reach for a deeper sense of community and meaning and connection to the sacred .

Coming from our own culture in the west , I love blues and gospel music and have a great band that plays mostly original and spiritually informed music in that genre as well ! I guess my love of music spans many cultures , ages and genres . I can't help it !

Ok ..a story...

Many years ago when I was living in a somewhat confusing spiritual household in Northern California,I was taken by a young man who had befriended us on a hike and then we went into a long tunnel which led to a cave .

I did not know this guy well and was not fully trusting him at first , or what he said he had to show me . We had to get on our bellies to squeeze through a couple places and then we came to an opening deep in the hillside where there was no light and no sound whatsoever from outside , only our own breathing and blood circulating .

The air was cool and we settled into our own spaces in the cave . After some time in this dark silence I became more aware of the sounds of my body ; my thoughts even seemed to have frequencies which I could "hear" inside . Then I began to hear some music coming from somewhere ; I could not understand , but it got louder and richer and more compelling! Then I realized it was coming from inside me, and a feeling of elation and beauty arose in me as I listed to amazingly intricate , flowing symphonies of music .

I heard sounds like violins and horns and flutes and drums and sitars and other instruments I could not put names to , but somehow all the sounds were so familiar ! My mind was drawn into this sublime music and I found my normal thoughts almost unable to be formulated . I remember thinking , "Oh , this must be the celestial music that Mozart and other composers and mystics wrote about !"

" I thought if I could only remember or write down one little piece of this glorious music I could be happy for my whole life . After some timeless time we emerged from the cave and I thanked my guide deeply , although I could not explain to him what I had just experienced , I barely had words .

This transcendental music surely tuned my consciousness over the years and led me to where I am now !