Jai Uttal

Jai Uttal is a pioneer in the world music community. His eclectic east meets-west sound has put his music at the forefront of the world fusion movement. Jai Uttal’s musical roots embrace a rich variety of cultures and traditions that span the globe and the centuries. From the hillbilly music of the Appalachian Mountains to the passionate strains of Bengali street singers, from the haunting rhythms and melodies of ancient India to contemporary electric rock sounds, Jai’s music distills the essence of diverse musical forms.

In recent year's after releasing many ground-breaking world fusion albums, Jai’s work has increasingly became devoted to kirtan. In 2003 he began the first of several recordings focused on the practice of bhakti yoga (kirtan) for the Sounds True label, these have included Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant, Music for Yoga and Other Joys…, Loveland, Dial M for Mantra, and Pranayama, a collaboration with his wife, yoga teacher and bhakti dancer Nubia Teixeira. It’s this marriage and subsequent birth of son Ezra that fueled a creative rebirth for Jai that culminated in the 2008 recording Thunder Love, a sonic approximation of darkness giving way to dawn and finally opening up to love. Most recently Jai released Bhakti Bazaar, the follow-up to his very popular Music For Yoga and Other Joys.

Jai adds, “World music is music from everywhere. Music that creates bridges. Music that unites hearts and cultures. Music that brings peace.”