The Whole Music Experience

World   Yungchen Lhamo & Anton Batagov Tayatha   Cantaloupe Music In 1998, I attended WOMAD USA and witnessed an entrancing performance by Tibetan vocalist Yungchen Lhamo on a small stage.   I witnessed a second performance by the vocalist, equally mesmerizing but on the main stage at WOMAD USA in 2001.   Although I acquired Lhamo’s recordings 2nd and 3rd), on the Real World label, I didn’t care for the musical production on the recordings which buried Lhamo’s vocals underneath high-end guitar washes and programming.   Lhamo has one of those voices that works best in an a cappella setting or lightly framed by a single musical instrument. Fortunately for us, the vocalist paired up with Russian classical pianist Anton Batagov on the recording, Tayatha where the musicians read each others' instincts.   Batagov’s piano though light on the keys possesses shades of virtuoso and waxes musical poetry.   The piano and vocals show up...

Nawang Khechog Tibetan Dream Journey Sounds True Although I’ve not forgotten about the former Tibetan monk/musician Nawang Khechog, it has been four years since the release of his last recording. In 2007, Khechog suffered a head injury from an automobile accident in India. In 2008, the musician suffered a heart attack. Despite these tragedies and long recovery, he published his first book, Awakening Kindness (Beyond Words) and helped with the documentary film The Sound of Tibet . Now, the musician releases Tibetan Dream Journey , recording that offers a powerful sonic experience—no doubt healing. I interviewed Khechog in person during the summer of 2006. The interview appears on this blog and on World Music Central. I don’t take Khechog’s music lightly and listen to it to relieve stress and help me find my spiritual center. Although I’m not a Buddhist, I respect this spiritual path and the people on it. However, Tibetan Dream Journey isn’t just for...