Confessions of a Rock n' Roll Cellist

Dear Friends!

I hope this finds all of you well as possible.

I'm writing to you to share a video of Summer's Spell for Cello and Loops, a piece that's meant to soothe. In these times, I've noticed it helps me to listen to music that's soft and healing, and I hope this fills that need for you. Later this year, We'll be releasing an album of this music co-created with my friend, pianist Wells Hanley.

I made this video as part of a fundraiser for Saving Wild Tigers, an organization that works to preserve the habitat and lives of tigers in India, home of the world's largest population of tigers in the wild, and the most viable population for the survival of the species.

If you feel moved, please make a donation however large or small here. The organization, founded by wonderful chant artist Nina Rao, gives all money directly to work in the field.

Proud to be a part of this new release by master magician, Bryan Senti. I’ve played cello on many of Bryan’s amazing film scores, including Experimenter, with Winona Ryder and Peter Sarsgaard. It was great playing on this new album which takes aim at injustice and inequality. Now out from Kowloon Records 👏👏

As a survivor of sexual abuse, I watched the Kavanaugh proceedings with a combination of civic duty and mesmeric fixation. As the hours and days passed, I was unable to turn my attention away, and my usual powers of restraint, my ability to shut down the news for my own wellbeing, were lost. It was as if the boy in me believed the outcome could somehow reshape his own terrifying past. That if Dr. Blasey Ford were taken seriously, my own experience of abuse might be erased, or at least mitigated significantly. 

Since then I’ve wondered, why was I so compelled? Even my morning meditations were punctuated by the reappearance of one or more of the players on my inner screen. Despite the devastating outcome we’ve witnessed, and the consequent terrible pain we’re experiencing, Dr. Ford’s testimony has left a lasting impact on my system, for the very good. The fact that truth was spoken, and heard by so many millions around the globe, will have a tremendous impact on our collective future. We can’t begin to calculate the enormity of that influence. The truth we heard affects all of us. 

Dr. Ford chose to speak out at a crucial moment, a moment pregnant with change and potential, her words having an exponential relevance. She spoke not only for herself, not only for all female victims of sexual assault, and not only for all women and girls in their struggle for safety and equality. I realized that, as a survivor, she had also spoken for me.

Her testimony came on the heels of a huge wave of revelations of widespread sexual abuse of children in our country, and around the world. I believe that timing is no accident. The World is ready to hear. This was confirmed last week, when the Nobel committee awarded its 2018 Peace Prize to Nadia Murad and Dr. Denis Mukwege, two unbelievably courageous opponents of sexual violence.

The difficulty of speaking up after sexual abuse of any kind is common to all groups of survivors. Feelings of shame and violation make it incredibly painful to remember, recount, and relive those moments, and Dr. Ford spoke of this terror. Although she told her own story, her bravery bridged the gap between female, male and otherwise identified, speaking for the vulnerable of every gender. She stood as a human speaking for all humans.

Christine Blasey Ford used her voice and physical presence to speak truth to power. Her very being expressed the truth of a humanity intentionally and despicably suppressed. And in the seismic moment she told her story, that dehumanization was suddenly collapsed, like a burnt-out star taking its last gasp.

What we do with that moment is our choice. The future belongs to all of us to shape. We must think longterm, taking hope and momentum from the powerful light Dr. Ford shined on our predicament. Acknowledging, but not giving into our despair or powerlessness, will be a key to our success. Embracing hope and taking time on a daily basis to cultivate and celebrate our own strength will be priceless assets in changing this godawful situation, as we work to create long-lasting, meaningful change.

Dr. Ford acted like a fulcrum, one that finally frees a boulder that's ready to roll. And roll towards sweeping change it must.  Society must recognize the equality of women and girls in all regards.  All of our legislative power must be put to use, from equal pay to the right to choose. We have to make our voices heard now more than ever to that end. Everywhere law fails to reflect equality is a place where a clear message is sent to all- that females are lesser than, and as such are justified targets of violence, sexual and otherwise. 

The struggle for legislative justice may have become more difficult, but the story is not done being written. And, perhaps more importantly, we have a new and unprecedented depth of opportunity to examine and transform our own communities. Our boys need to be taught new ways of seeing, speaking, and of being. And we men need to re-evaluate all of our thinking and doing, taking our lead from the women amongst us, whose wisdom is sorely needed now, and always. This is not a mere idea, but a practice. Deep listening, and the moment-to-moment willingness to surrender our claim to being right, are keyholes into this new room of parity and true health for our society.

Safeguards against the abuse of children must also be put into place. Our world needs reforms that protect children from predators by staving off the causes of predation. This should begin with the Catholic Church allowing its priests to marry. Although warring factions within the Church blame the age-old epidemic of abuse on either clericalism or the permitting of homosexuality within the priesthood, the simple truth is that priests allowed partners would be less likely to feel loneliness and isolation, thus less likely to seek intimacy from the powerless. And as a survivor, I pray for the passage of legislation like the Child Victims Fund, introduced in the N.Y. State Senate this May, which would eliminate statutes of limitation, subsidize counseling and treatment for survivors, and require reporting of abuse from within the clergy.

Hello Dear People,

I hope the Summer has been good to you and that the beginnings of Fall find you well. I've been working hard to bring the music out of its shell, and also taking some time to be in Nature, and with friends, to reflect and enjoy. I’m very excited to share with you the release of Anubhav, the new album by chant artist Nina Rao which I produced. For the past year and change, Nina and I have worked to create a world of sound that celebrates Spirit in all its forms, with a special emphasis on the Divine Feminine so sorely needed in these times. Nina has a special connection to practices in praise of the goddess, and it pours through in her music. I feel blessed to be exposed to this wisdom through her music, and I’m happy to say that I feel a greater presence and connection to our divine Mother thanks to this album. I know you will too.  Anubhav uses instruments from around the world, including tabla drums from India, kora harp from west Africa, violin and cello, and guitar and bass to highlight Nina’s beautiful voice and harmonium playing. Her wonderful songwriting made my work as producer easy. Enjoy Anubhav on CD here, download on iTunes, or stream on Spotify or your favorite streaming service.

I hope to see you soon at a live show!  10/6      w Krishna Das in Huntington NY 10/20    w Nina Rao in Hudson, NY 10/27    w Krishna Das and Nina Rao in New York, NY 11/3      w Krishna Das and Nina Rao at the Ahimsa Festival, Hunter NY 11/9      w Krishna Das in New York, NY 11/10-11  Workshops w Krishna Das in Brooklyn NY 11/17    w Nina Rao in Saratoga Springs, NY Please see NinaRaoChant.com and KrishnaDas.com for details and tickets

Howdy!

Hello Lovely People,

I hope you're all well and enjoying some lazy summer days.   I've had some beautiful days myself, visiting my teacher Ram Dass on the island of Maui for an intensive retreat. He always brings so much Joy into my life, and then this extends into the music I make. Life becomes richer, and I feel gifted to dip my toe into the deep pools of sound this particular world has to offer. One seed which recently came to fruition is The Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project. The Project sends songwriters to Rikers Island and other institutions, where mothers have been separated from their babies or struggle to stay connected to them. There, these writers team with mothers to co-create lullabies for the children. Some of these songs were recorded by singers including Fiona Apple, Rosanne Cash, Angélique Kidjo, Patti LuPone, Natalie Merchant, and Dianne Reeves, and are now available on Decca Records. I was blessed to play quartet cello with Natalie on a wonderful song. I've even got a little solo!  Listen on Spotify or buy the CD here. It's also on iTunes.