Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant

Jai Uttal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 16, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sounds True, Incorporated
• ASIN: 1591791065
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,629 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

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.

Product Description

"Kirtan is the calling, the crying, the reaching across infinite space—and digging into the heart’s deepest well—to touch and be touched by the Divine Presence," teaches world music pioneer Jai Uttal. On Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant, Jai guides listeners through the practice of Kirtan—singing the many names of God and Goddess—an essential part of Bhakti yoga, or the yoga of devotion. This sacred music form is for all people; there are no experts, nor beginners, and the practice itself is the teacher, guiding us to ourselves. Listeners join Jai Uttal to explore: the power of ancient Sanskrit syllables in chant to invoke the Divine, how to open the voice and learn to love the sound that comes from our bodies, more than two hours of music recorded by Jai Uttal to commune with the Divine through sacred chant, and the path of Bhakti and Kirtan, the journey of surrender, and much more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect intro to kirtan, December 14, 2005

By 

Theresa Reed "The Tarot Lady" (MILWAUKEE, WI USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant (Audio CD)

Kirtan is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. As more people embrace a yogic lifestyle, it is only natural that eventually they will find their way to kirtan. If you are unfamiliar with kirtan, it is based on the concept of 'bhakti yoga' - the yoga of devotion. Singing the names of gods or goddesses in a call and response style with hypnotic Indian music in the background, kirtan is believed to bring a deep connection with the divinity within all of us.

Jai Uttal's The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant delivers the whole mood of kirtan beautifully. A devotee of kirtan since the age of 19, this talented musician has put together a CD that is melodic, sensuous, intense and truly uplifting. You cannot help but feel moved when the first note hits your ears. There is over 2 hours of music in this CD - and never once will you feel bored. Uttal has a gorgeous voice - you can feel his love of kirtan in every syllable that he utters.

There is an introduction in the CD, where Uttal explains kirtan and the path that led him to it. This is a great piece - I feel that it gives an insight from a true devotee. The intro helps even those who are new to kirtan to understand the significance and beauty of this ancient and spiritual art. I recommend this highly to everyone - not just those on the yogic journey.

There are a few kirtan 'stars' out there in the US these days - Krishna Das and Ragani to name a few - who are helping a wide audience enjoy and appreciate kirtan. While they are wonderful in their own right, my personal favorite will always be Jai Uttal.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Spectacular!, November 25, 2004

By 

Spread the Word "Jamia" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant (Audio CD)

I would give this CD 10 stars if I could. I listen when I paint, cook, relax, drive, anything. It is inspiring and makes me feel actually "closer" to spirit. His voice and talent are
gifts from God. Highly recommended. My 5 and 11 year old even love it.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, inspiring, December 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant (Audio CD)

I first heard Jai Uttal recently on a track on one of yoga instructor Shiva Rea's CDs and was blown away by a sound and style of music totally new to me. This led me to buy Jai's new Kirtan CD shortly thereafter. There's an old saying that the right book, or the right teacher, comes to you when you are ready to listen to its/his/her message. The same is true for this Kirtan CD coming to me precisely when it did. It's opening and transporting me to new dimensions, new realms of emotion, devotion, movement, insight. Words fail me at this point: Jai's voice, devotion, sincerity, and artistry are beyond exquisite. Lush orchestration. And the superior technical quality I've come to expect from Sounds True productions. Highly recommended.