Jai Uttal

Jai Uttal (Hindi: जय उत्तल) is an American musician and singer-songwriter born in New York City. Often performing with his "Pagan Love Orchestra," Jai's music is influenced by his R&B roots of the 1960s and 70's and by traditional Indian music, which he first became familiar with at age 19.

When he was 19, Jai moved to California to become a student of Khansahib for traditional voice training and to learn the sarod, a 25-stringed Indian instrument. Later he traveled to India where he studied under Neem Karoli Baba. He was also deeply inspired by the Bauls, the wandering street musicians of Bengal. Jai settled among them, communicating only through music, which ultimately helped establish his unique style¹. Jai continues to study under Indian music legend Ali Akbar Khan.

While some of Jai's music is used in the practice of yoga², it is not all meditative; his 1990's records also used elements of jazz, reggae and rock and often featured powerful horn arrangements by Peter Apfelbaum.

Discography

* Footprints (1990) - with Don Cherry
* Monkey (1992)
* Yoga Chant
* Spirit Room
* Beggars and Saints (1995)
* Shiva Station (1997)
* Nectar
* Mondo Rama
* Kirtan!
* Music for Yoga
* Pranayama
* Loveland
* Dial M for Mantra

External links

* [http://www.jaiuttal.com/main.htm Jai Uttal Official homepage]
* [http://www.jaiuttal.com/htm/reviews/rvw03.htm Music Review by The Yoga Journal]