GuruGanesha Singh, Snatam Kaur - Joy is Now (2008)

Joy Is Now is an album built on duets and call-and-response kirtan between GuruGanesha (Guru Ganesha Singh) and Snatam Kaur. Their voices form a counterpoint of masculine and feminine, strength and sweetness, earth and ether. GuruGanesha’s guitar moves into realms inspired by Indian raga and jazz, in conversation with an ensemble of classical Indian instruments: sitar, sarod, esraj, flute and Indian violin.

The opening track, “Peace Has Begun,” traces back to 2007. After a concert at Golden Bridge in Los Angeles, the duo were approached by Steve Robertson, a devotee of sacred music and founder of Project Peace on Earth, which in September 2009 was to stage concerts of sacred music for peace around the world with performers such as Sting, Madonna, Paul McCartney and Julian Lennon. Moved by what he heard, he invited them to take part. While the album was being recorded, he hosted Guru Ganesha at his home, and their conversations about the growing worldwide “Peace Has Begun” movement shaped the record: Guru Ganesha is convinced that peace is already breaking out across the planet and that lasting global peace will arrive in his lifetime.

The “Hari Om” chant goes back to 1974. Yogi Bhajan arranged a lunch in Georgetown for Swami Satchidananda and his community and asked Guru Ganesha to compose a chant combining sacred words from both traditions. He devised the melody on the spot, and musicians from both groups joined in. When he signaled the end after about thirty minutes, both teachers waved for the chanting to continue, again and again. After roughly two and a half hours everyone fell silent at the same instant without any cue, and in the stillness both teachers burst into deep laughter, as though they had achieved exactly what they set out to do. Whenever Guru Ganesha chants “Hari Om,” he returns to that day.

Tracklist:
1. GuruGanesha Singh, Snatam Kaur - Peace Has Begun
2. GuruGanesha Singh, Snatam Kaur - Hari Om
3. GuruGanesha Singh, Snatam Kaur - Joy Is Now
4. GuruGanesha Singh, Snatam Kaur - Aad Sach
5. GuruGanesha Singh, Snatam Kaur - Sat Narayan
6. GuruGanesha Singh, Snatam Kaur - Guru Ram Das Love Song