DJ Darren September~Peace Through Music

Join us for an evening of sacred community and ecstatic bliss-filled chanting! This September brings us a concert filled with mantra music, mystic poetry and Kirtan-ing to your heart’s content in the form of SITA & THE HANUMEN. Come and enjoy the mini-Bhakti Fest here in Santa Barbara on September 14 at Unity Church of Santa Barbara. Don’t miss out on their only West Coast performance!

Sita & The Hanumen comprises of Jahnavi Harrison (Sita), Gaura Vani, Benjy Wertheimer and John de Kadt. Not only are these musicians phenomenal when performing together, each of these artists are amazing individually & with the exception of Sita, have each created their own fantastic music albums. These artists have also collaborated on countless CDs by other fellow musicians.

(Sita) Jahnavi Harrison was raised in an environment full of Kirtan. She began studying Western classical violin as a child, exploring different styles of music, from Irish to Klezmer. In recent years, her studies in South Indian dance (Bharatanatyam) have led her to undertake further study in South Indian Carnatic vocal and violin. She is a kirtan singer, writer, dancer, and visual artist. She performs regularly with Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits.

Gaura Vani was born into an American Hare Krishna family and left the US at age six for a gurukula (temple school) in the holy city of Vrindavan, India. He studied ancient Sanskrit and Bengali prayers, learned to play traditional instruments and sing sacred music. After a time of rebelling against his nature and sacred calling, Gaura created the group As Kindred Spirits. In January 2009, Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits launched the radical, first ever Chant4Change, when 1,000 people gathered in Washington, DC on the eve of the presidential inauguration to empower the new Obama administration.

Some of the most humble Kirtan singers and talented musicians you will ever hear in America. This is soul music—authentically rocking.This band is very hip and very holy.

~Sharon Gannon, yoga instructor & chant singer

For more about Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits…http://www.gauravani.com/

Benjy Wertheimer is an award-winning musician, composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist equally accomplished on tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards. Beginning his musical studies at age 5, starting with piano and later violin and flamenco guitar, Benjy received training in Composition and Ethnomusicology at the University of Washington. In addition, he has studied Indian classical music for over 25 years with some of the greatest masters of that tradition.

When I listen to Benjy play esraj, it transports me beyond the Beyond.

~John Friend, founder of Anusara yoga

For more about Benjy Wertheimer…http://www.benjymusic.com/

John de Kadt is a percussionist, poet, as well as a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. He specializes in hand percussive instruments from many world music traditions. His 25 plus years experience has provided him with the perfect touch on drums from India, Ireland, Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, Africa and Cuba.

Absolutely stellar-imaginative-soulful, body-gyrating…[he] rocks!

~Shiva Rea

For more about John de Kadt…http://www.johndekadt.com/

We hope you can be apart of this sure-to-be scintillating concert. Just a couple of weeks away!Om Shanti