Jaya! -- "The sound is both hauntingly timeless (like Gregorian or Tibetan monks chanting) and energetically contemporary (like music George Harrison might’ve hoped would be made in the 21st century). Some might suspect that chanting mantras, even if accompanied by drums and strings, would be a somber affair, but track four, also called “Jaya!,” might be my new favorite song on my “Get Your Run On” mix. It’s certainly worthy of an impromptu dance session."
~Jackson Hole Weekly
"Jaya!" was named the #1 Kirtan Album of 2011 by the internationally popular show "Full Lotus Kirtan" ... a great honor indeed!!
Shantala (Benjy and Heather Wertheimer) lead kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide, weaving soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics and exotic instrumentation. The weaving of Benjy’s Indian classical singing and instrumentation with Heather’s soaring vocals is masterful, original and profoundly moving. Together they create music with beauty, passion, and reverence. Shantala has performed and recorded internationally with such sacred music luminaries as Krishna Das, Deva Premal & Miten, and Jai Uttal. One of the most beloved groups in the emerging genre of Kirtan (sacred chanting), they were named as one of the top “Wallahs to Watch” by Yoga International magazine, and Yoga Journal calls their music “an intoxicating mix of Eastern and Western”. Kirtan is a celebration of spirit through the chanting of sacred names, and in their recordings and live events, Heather and Benjy carry the audience into a state of heightened awareness, bliss, and devotion.
Heather Wertheimer is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who combines her special love of both music and yoga to lead devotional chanting for yoga workshops and spiritual gatherings internationally. Heather has toured around the world with her husband Benjy, Steve Gorn, Manose, and Deva Premal & Miten. Heather’s debut CD with Shantala, “Church of Sky,” was named by New Age Retailer as one of the top ten albums of 2004. It has been aired on radio stations worldwide. In April 2003, she and Benjy released “The Love Window,” a beautiful and well-loved collection of sacred chants. In 2007, they released “Sri,” their second popular kirtan CD, and their first live CD “LIVE in love” was released in 2008.
Benjy Wertheimer is an award-winning songwriter, vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist (playing tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards). Benjy has toured and recorded with such artists as Krishna Das, Deva Premal & Miten, Jai Uttal, Walter Becker of Steely Dan, and virtuoso guitarist Michael Mandrell. He has opened for such artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter, and Narada Michael Walden. A founding member of the internationally acclaimed Ancient Future world fusion music ensemble, Benjy also toured the U.S., Canada, and Japan with renowned bamboo flute master G.S. Sachdev for many years. He studied Indian classical music for over 25 years with some of the greatest masters of that tradition (including Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Ali Akbar Khan and Z. M. Dagar). Benjy’s CDs receive extensive airplay around the world, and his CD “Circle of Fire” went to #1 on the New Age radio charts.
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