This benefit CD was released in 2003 by Mother / Daughter team Pat Gear (Philanthropist) and Paula Gilbert (Producer/Artist). During the benefit sale, we gave to 5 charities chosen by the participants. They were Oxfam, Global Exchange, Food Not Bombs, Twin Towers Orphan Fund, and RAWA.
The compilation of 22 tracks brings the world together for healing and prayer during the aftermath of 9/11.
As we grieved together in more than one gathering, 34 family and friends recorded multicultural chants in 18 different languages from around the world to celebrate our life of diversity.
This album was made by people who care. People who volunteered their time to come together for their own personal healing and for the benefit of others.
After 9/11, it was the intention of the participants to create a beautiful multicultural benefit album of chants from around the world as a statement of Global Unity.
The first recording session was in a beautiful hillside home near Healdsburg.
Zackary Miller brought his didgeridoo along with Mal Tornay who brought his drums with his daughter Elise. Katy Carrol brought her healing voice & virtuoso piano playing and her husband Mike who added to the vocal team. Tory Rotlisberger brought her vibrant, healing voice and friends Joanna Noble, Karen Wallace and John Faulkner of Healdsburg Performing Arts Theater. Rick Mariana (who let us record in his home) sang with his twin sons Nicolas & Mitchell. Nicolas & Mitchell were the only kids there that first day. Paula Gilbert the producer and director of the day brought her healing tone, improv piano, Husband Rick Gilbert, Mother Pat and Brothers Karl with his daughter Crystal and Rodney with his Wife Bethany.
This was the crew that began the Chanting for Healing and Prayer album. We all came together in hopes of creating a statement that says -- "We all want to get along - We want the world to get along - and we know this is possible."
The adventure of creating this album continued with several other recording sessions adding more cultures and more voices.
The next set of recordings were done in Occidential at Joe Hoffman's Studio.
Lisamarie Kirkess added a beautiful Quan Yin Chant. Carol Levy offered two Jewish Chants. Jamie Lambert, Chelsea Thompson and Quincy Wise added their vocal to the Funga Alafia Chant.
A Few Moments in Time occurred.....
Then, I met Hansadutta dasa and after getting to know one another, we had a big party at our home to "rehearse" the chanting. Then we traveled back to Joe's to finish the CD.
We added Hansadutta's offering of the Govinda Prayers and Hare Krishna Chant with his group of devotees - Lokanantha dasa, Gadadhara dasa, Nakula dasa, Vishwambhara dasa, Radha Towle, & Jim Seymour (my friend Jim introduced me to Hansadutta.) Pat Gear, Paula & Rick Gilbert , Tory Rotlisberger, Crystal Sanchez, Elise Tornay also recorded with Hansadutta and Devotees.
Hansadutta spent time with The Beatles in the 60's when they were in India learning about Krishna.
The final recording session was done by Paula Gilbert with her beautiful, healing rendition of the Shiva mantra in Sanskrit.
Volunteer Vocalists/Instrumentalists: Everyone on the Album
Historian: Karl Sanchez
Recorded, Edited & Mixed by: Joe Hoffmann Studios, Occidental CA
Special thanks to Rick Gilbert for his everlasting support.
Be the peace you want to see in the world.
