“BlueGrass Kirtan” -- a new CD
featuring Jon Seskevich and fiddle great AC
Bushnell combining ancient sacred words in Sanskrit,
Latin, and Tibetan chanted with old-time
American Appalachian fiddle and banjo tunes. There are
11 cuts on the album, and they are all
fantastic!
And as AC says, “By
golly, it works!”
Price $10.00 plus shipping
Email Jon if interested in bulk orders of more
than 5 copies. For international orders contact Jon for
shipping price before ordering.
What Happens When You Mix Kirtan and Bluegrass Music?
BlueGrass Kirtan!
BlueGrass Kirtan is ancient sacred
words in Sanskrit, Latin, and Tibetan chanted with
old-time American Appalachian fiddle and banjo tunes.
It is chantingthat will knock your socks off!
Check out these videos...
Gopala is baby Krishna and this
chant is about the
bliss of the mother that comes from the unconditional
love for her baby. This was the first BlueGrass Kirtan
track we recorded. It is from the traditional
Appalachian tune Jimmy Johnson.
“Mantra
chanting can be an extension of shaking your ass or raising your voice in joyful exultation,
with no fundamentalist associations.
It's sheer joy to sing, a good way to loosen one's heart
in the world.”-- Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997)
This poem by the
renowned beat poet skeleton Allen Ginsberg
has delighted and inspired me as a
veritable foreshadowing of the spirit and
experience of BlueGrass Kirtan.
Living in the Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina,
I have enjoyed old-time/bluegrass jam sessions.
Listening to the melody of tunes as they repeated in a
regular pattern, in my mind, heart, and soul, I began to
“hear” a mantra that fit the melody and rhythm. These
were the same mantras I had learned during my time of
study in the 70’s and 80’s with
Ram Dass, noted
spiritual teacher, friend of chanting and author of the
book Be Here Now.
In 2006, I went to a concert to hear fiddle great AC
Bushnell playing with Stillhouse Bottom Band. Afterwards
AC and I chatted, discussed this concept and began a fun
musical and spiritual collaboration that has culminated
in this album! AC who has many rich years of playing,
recording, and performing, has brought together
wonderfully talented North Carolina musicians for this
East-West project. They highlight their skills and
artistry with traditional bluegrass instrumental breaks
woven throughout the pieces.
Praise for the Healing
Power of BlueGrass
Kirtan!
"...When
Todd was here, I had him listen to BlueGrass
Kirtan and he loved it! He thought a friend of
his going through cancer treatment would be as
enamoured, and I gave him a CD for her to have.
"Get this, she receives it
the day of her 2nd chemo treatment. She's
listening to the music in her kitchen doing a
jig! Not your typical post-chemo mindset..."
BlueGrass
Kirtan Song List, Lyrics, and Credits
All tunes are traditional music and words arranged and
titled by Jon Seskevich and AC Bushnell.
1.
Krishna and Ram 5:59 Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram Hare Krishna Hare Ram.
The words mean: Victory to God, Praise God Who preserves
and sustains us. In the Hindu tradition, Ram and Krishna
are incarnations of Vishnu, the preserver of the
universe. Sandy Boys is a traditional old-time fiddle
and banjo tune from the Appalachian Mountains.
Jim Beckwith, vocals, harmony vocals; Jon Seskevich, AC
Bushnell, John Moore, vocals; AC Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb
Head, banjo; Robbie Link, bass; Bill Parsons, guitar.
2.
Neat Hanuman Chalisa 6:40
Download Complete Sanskrit and Hindu Lyrics
This 40 verse praise for the mighty Hindu hero Hanuman
combines neatly with Charlie’s Neat, a traditional
old-time tune. Hanuman represents the perfect servant of
God, as all his actions are in service of the Lord. Many
around the world do this chant everyday.
Jon Seskevich, vocal; Ambika Cooper, vocal and harmony
vocal; AC Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb Head, banjo; Robbie
Link, bass; Bill Parsons, guitar.
3.
Allen Ginsberg Waterbound 4:09
The Tibetan Buddhist mantra, Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru
Pedme Siddhi Hum is added to the old-time North
Carolina fiddle tune Waterbound. The Tibetan
pronunciation of Pedme is used here. Allen
Ginsberg gave this translation of the mantra “Om
Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum” referring to
Padma Sambhava, founder of N'yingma, the Tibetan
Buddhist old sect. It translates as “Body Speech Mind Diamond Teacher Lotus Power Amen.”
Each singer takes a turn on lead, and all join the
chorus at the end. Leads in order: Jon Seskevich, Mark
Smith, AC Bushnell, Jim Beckwith, vocals; AC Bushnell,
fiddle; Bobb Head, banjo; Alan Julich, bass; Mark Weems,
guitar.
Devotion to Shiva the Lord of Change and Impermanence. A
previous version of this tune is on AC Bushnell’s
Dancing on the Water CD. For BlueGrass Kirtan, Jim
Beckwith’s free form chanting is added to the mix! Falls
of Richmond is a traditional old time banjo tune.
AC Bushnell, lead vocal; Jim Beckwith, Jon Seskevich,
harmony vocals; AC Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb Head, bass;
Alan Julich, banjo; Mark Weems, guitar.
5.
Jesus Before Breakfast 5:37
The traditional tune Whiskey Before Breakfast is
joined with the Latin sacred phrases of the
Christian tradition “Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison”
which mean “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.” The
second part is the prayer “Dona Nobis Pacem”
-- Grant us peace. There is something profoundly healing
for the family when one substitutes “God” for “whiskey”
before breakfast!
Betsy Bickel and Marilyn Grubbs, lead vocals; Jon
Seskevich, AC Bushnell, Jim Beckwith, vocals; AC
Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb Head, banjo and mandolin; Robbie
Link, bass; Bill Parsons, guitar.
This chant refers to Lord Buddha:
Silent One, Great Silent one of the Shakya clan,
Gone, Gone Beyond, Hail the Enlightened One. So be it!
When asked the question, “Are you God?” Buddha is said to
have answered “No.” “Well, who then are you?” “Awake!” was
his answer. This chant inspires us to awaken. The
traditional tune Seneca Square Dance was originally
recorded by Fiddlin’ Sam Long of the Ozarks in 1925. The
music and these words form a beautiful new creation.
Jim Beckwith, lead vocal; AC Bushnell, Marilyn Grubbs,
Betsy Bickel, Jon Seskevich, John Moore, vocals; AC
Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb Head, banjo; Robbie Link, bass;
Bill Parsons, guitar.
8.
River by the Temple in October 6:02
In India there is a small village in the foothills of
the Himalayas with a temple on a riverbank. Every year
in October hundreds gather there for a nine day ceremony
in honor of the Divine Mother. These and other sacred
sounds may be heard by the river. Sita Ram Siya Ram Sita Ma Siya Ma
Sri Ma Jai Ma Jai Jai Ma Durga Ma Ram Ram Ram
This tune with chants honoring the Divine Mother is a
wild sound painting. Like a river flows, what is
experienced in the present moment will not be repeated
in exactly the same way. The old-time tune Cluck Old Hen
has been transformed here by AC and the Stillhouse
Bottom Band, with Jon and Jim on vocals, all merging
with the Great River of the Divine.
Jon Seskevich and Jim Beckwith, vocals; AC Bushnell,
fiddle; Bobb Head, bass; Alan Julich, banjo; Mark Weems,
guitar.
9.
Walking with Krishna 3:47 Govinda Jai Jai, Gopala Jai Jai Radha Ramanahari,
Govinda Jai Jai
Govinda is another name of Krishna. This chant is a love
song celebrating the union of Krishna and his consort
Radha. It reflects the joy of both lover and beloved of
God. Walking Georgia Row is a rarely heard, beautiful
fiddle tune.
Tim Wells, lead vocal; AC Bushnell, Mark Smith, Marilyn
Grubbs, Betsy Bickel, Jon Seskevich, vocals; AC
Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb Head, banjo; Alan Julich, bass;
Mark Weems, guitar.
10.
Mother’s Sweet 4:37 Radhe Durge Namoh, Radhe Durge Namah
Sri Ma Jai Ma Jai Jai Ma. Sri Ma Jai Ma Jai Ma
Devotion to the Divine Mother of the Universe. Victory
to the blessed Mother.
Radha is Krishna’s consort, and Durga the form of the
Divine Mother usually pictured with a tiger. This chant
is about the love of union with the Divine and unlimited
power used for the benefit of all. This old-time fiddle
tune Sugar Hill was first heard by AC played by Tommy
Jarrell of Surrey County, NC. It has such a sweet feel,
we couldn’t help but call this song Mother’s Sweet.
Jon Seskevich and Betsy Bickel, lead vocals; Jim
Beckwith, AC Bushnell, Marilyn Grubbs, John Moore,
vocals; AC Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb Head, banjo; Robbie
Link, bass; Bill Parsons, guitar.
11.
Jimmy Johnson Gopala 3:35 Gopala Gopala Devakinandana Gopala. Devakinandana
Gopla
Gopala is baby Krishna. Krishna's mother is Devaki.
Ananda is the word for bliss. This chant is about the
bliss of the mother that comes from the unconditional
love for her baby. This was the first BlueGrass Kirtan
track we recorded. It is from the traditional
Appalachian tune Jimmy Johnson.
Jon Seskevich lead vocal; AC Bushnell, harmony vocal; AC
Bushnell, fiddle; Bobb Head, banjo; Alan Julich, bass;
Mark Weems, guitar.
