Album Notes

On August 28th, 2009 Pilgrimage won the Asian Album of the year from Just Plain Folks (the World's Largest Music Awards) and the song Danlih was first runner up for Asian Song.

Karjam Saeji (full name, Karsangjamtso Saeji) grew up in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. His parents are nomadic herders of yak and sheep. Finishing high school he spent a year in a special school for performers at the behest of the troupe that had scouted him. This troupe was the most prestigious performance troupe in the Tibetan part of China and he began performing as a dancer with a grueling schedule of practice and performance starting in 1991. They performed around China and the Tibetan regions, although Karjam took time off to study Tibetan Literature.

Karjam's music reflects his deep Buddhist belief. The subject of the songs he writes center on his own life-- his Buddhist pilgrimage walking 2,600 kilometers on the Tibetan Plateau in the summer of 2006, his marriage, his family. He also has set poems to music, including a poem by the sixth Dalai Lama which appears on "Pilgrimage". Other songs include songs written by friends and traditional folk songs which he has re-arranged. Through his music he wants to communicate with other Tibetans and to teach western people more about Tibetan culture. He also has a strong interest in preserving Tibetan performance traditions and old recordings.

On his CD "Pilgrimage" the strongest influence outside of Tibetan tradition comes from Ralf Illenberger who played music for, produced and mixed the album.

"Pilgrimage" was made as a project of Lopez Artist Advance. Executive Producers: Lenedra Carroll, Michele and Steve Heller. Producer, Mixer, Master Musician: Ralf Illenberger. In addition to the musical tracks played by Ralf, there are drums by Jaime Cordova and vocal back-up by Vilina Sanburn-Bill, Ani Sanburn-Bill, Jamie Cummins, Anah-Kate Drahn, Uhane Johnson, Emebet Bill, Chloe Cunningham, Kristin Fernald, Rose Amber Sumner, Wendy Raven Westervelt and Lenedra Carroll.

More information and pretty photos at http://www.karjamsaeji.com