Fairfax, CA – Grammy nominee, Jai Uttal, is proud to release his 21st, and first all instrumental, album Gauri’s Lullaby, on all platforms. There is also a teaser video available here.

Following his highly acclaimed double album, Roots Rock Rama! Jai’s latest release comes as a direct response to the current global crisis. What a time everyone is going through! Anxiety and fear flow like waves of a malevolent ocean; the great deluge seems nigh. The album is a sonic medicine to calm hearts, relax minds and bodies, and help find ease during this intense period of ‘time-out.’ Consisting of four long acoustic guitar meditations, inspired by Jai’s many years of study with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, the work creates a healing energy for homes, families, and hearts.

It’s time to take a deep breath, exhale, and remember our divine connection, as well as the human bond we all share. With everyone being urged, with what seems to be good reason, to keep at a physical distance, this has been challenging on so many levels. During times like these, it becomes very easy to contract and withdraw. However, now, more than ever, this is the time to STAY CLOSE!

The four songs on Gauri’s Lullaby: Music for Healing and Other Joys were created over a period of about seven years as birthday presents for Jai’s beloved wife, Nubia Teixeira, a noted yogi and author, to use in her home yoga practice as well as in her many classes.

There was never an intention to turn them into a ‘public’ album release. Although Nubia hears Jai play and sing all the time at home, these were her ‘exclusive’ Jai Uttal tracks to use for teaching and just for relaxing. So many students asked her, “What is that music? Where can we get it?” and Nubia would smile and say the songs were just for her!

Well, welcome Corona, a time when global anxiety is in the red zone. Even the calmest people are nervous, and those with higher stress levels during ‘normal’ times are shaking and trembling!

About three weeks ago, Nubia said, “It’s time to share Gauri’s Lullaby! The world needs these healing sounds.” Jai was, at first, surprised, and a bit resistant, feeling that this is so different from all of his other album releases. The four songs are instrumental guitar meditations and his music is generally upbeat Kirtans, the traditional call and response singing style that originated in India, but has since taken over the yoga scene worldwide. However, after thinking about it for a little while, he agreed with her, deciding, “this isn’t a moment to be concerned with ‘branding’ or ‘image’. Rather, it’s a time to share love and stay close in our hearts while we stay ‘sheltered’ in our homes.”

Gauri is a Sanskrit word that means ‘shining and brilliant’, and it is one of the names of the eternal beloved of Lord Shiva, the Lord of Transformation and Protection. It’s also the name that Jai and Nubia’s Indian spiritual mother, Sri Siddhi Ma, (a Neem Karoli Baba devotee since the 1940s!) gave to Nubia about ten years ago. Nubia only uses this name in her most private internal conversations/meditations with Ma. And so, these songs are dedicated Jai’s beloved Nubia, who is always connected to Spirit, and always sharing that connection with others.

Jai notes, “I’m a very lucky guy! I hope these healing sounds can bring solace and ease to all.”