Jai Uttal Performs Live Online February 3 And At The Freight & Salvage In Berkeley February 11
Fairfax, CA – Deeply revered Bay Area Kirtan musician Jai Uttal is releasing his 22nd album, Dust & Tears February 3, and will be celebrating the release with an online concert that day, and with a full band live concert in Berkeley February 11.
Jai will return to The Freight & Salvage for his annual Valentine’s Day Bhakti Concert, Friday February 11 this time with an amazing band of top Bay Area players including, Sandy Cressman on vocals and flute, Prajna Vieira on vocals and harmonium, Ben Leinbach on bass, Jeff Cressman on trombone and percussion, José Neto on guitar, Jai’s 17-year-old son Ezra Uttal on keyboards, and Deszon Claiborne on drums.
Dust & Tears is one of the most introspective, profoundly personal albums in the vast catalog of beloved, world devotional musical innovator, Jai Uttal. It is also one of his most boldly adventurous recordings—an inspired synthesis of divine poetry and song from across the ages and around the globe.
Attendees will join Jai and his band for a first glimpse into the world of Dust & Tears. Alternating between gentle, prayerful songs in English and ecstatic call and response Kirtans, this will be a night to remember!
Jai hosting a Valentine’s Day Concert is appropriate as sacred music is one of the main modalities of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of love and devotion. As noted in Yoga Journal, “the Sanskrit word bhakti comes from the root bhaj, which means "to adore or worship God." Bhakti yoga has been called "love for love's sake" and "union through love and devotion." Bhakti yoga, like any other form of yoga, is a path to self-realization, to having an experience of oneness with everything.”
"Bhakti is the yoga of a personal relationship with God, At the heart of bhakti is surrender,” says Uttal in the story.
Since its founding in 1968, the Freight & Salvage has been deeply rooted in that aspect of Berkeley’s culture that embraced freedom, justice, acceptance, collaboration, and innovation. The Freight is mission-driven, and has become a world-famous venue for traditional music – music that is rooted in and expressive of the great variety of regional, ethnic, and social cultures of peoples throughout the world.
Jai notes, “My Valentine’s Day gigs at the Freight & Salvage have been filled with so much spirit and good energy. The Freight is one of the most lovely and important venues in the Bay Area, and I’m always so touched by the care and respect they have for the musicians who perform there. I look forward to a night of joy, celebration and introspection.”
Tickets for the Berkeley show are $15-$30, and along with a great preview video of Dust & Tears are available at https://secure.thefreight.org/12070/jai-uttal. Tickets for the online event are $21 - $108 and are available at https://houseofbhakti.jaiuttal.com/dust-tears-online-album-release.
