Soul of the Esraj by Benjy Wertheimer

"The heart opens its doors to receive the Beloved in the form of the 'Soul of the Esraj.' Words fall at the feet of this music as we enter into the beauty that lifts us into ourselves. We find a home here, a place to rest and a haven from the storms on the ocean of this world. This is not just music, it is prayer."

-Krishna Das

"When I listen to Benjy play the esraj it transports me beyond the Beyond. 'Soul of the Esraj' is a must-have CD for all yoga practitioners."

-John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga

About Benjy Wertheimer

A founding member of the internationally acclaimed Ancient Future world fusion music ensemble, Benjy has studied Indian classical music for over 20 years with some of the greatest masters of that tradition (including Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Ali Akbar Khan and Z. M. Dagar). An award-winning songwriter, composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist (playing tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards), Benjy has toured the US, Canada, and Japan with renowned bamboo flute master G.S. Sachdev and has opened for such artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter, and Narada Michael Walden.

For over five years, Benjy scored music for the internationally syndicated NBC series "Santa Barbara." He has recorded with numerous artists on such labels as A&M, Windham Hill, Narada, Nippon Phonogram, Triloka, Rounder and Global Pacific, and worked with such internationally renowned producers as Rick Rubin (the producer for the Beastie Boys, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, and many others). For several years, Benjy was a contributing composer/member of the Zakir Hussain Rhythm Experience (along with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead).

Benjy is very grateful to David Michael, Randy Mead, Matthew Montfort, Tim Ellis, and Heather Klinger Wertheimer - Soul of the Esraj could not have come into being without their unique and wonderful musical gifts.

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