Category Archives: Blog

Music Meditation Sessions.

Many of you know that I conduct what I call Music Meditation Sessions. However, many seem to have ideas about this that are not accurate. Perhaps the time has come for me to explain it.

 

About 15 or so years ago, I had an arrangement with a yoga and martial arts center in Brooklyn. I would play live music for some of their classes, and in return, I would get to take whatever classes I wished. There was a kung fu instructor who had a system he developed based on the Five Elements (wood, fire, water, metal, and earth). During one of his classes, it occurred to me that there exists musical forms that correlate with each element. For example, water can be invoked by the Dorian mode, or raga Kafi. I experimented with using these musical forms (as well as taking musical cues from the movements and action in the class, anticipating movements, directing energies, etc.) as the templates for my improvisations.

 

It was successful. The only problems that arose were when management insisted upon bringing other musicians into the classes. The other musicians, as talented as they were, couldn’t understand what I was attempting to accomplish.

 

I used this for yoga classes with success; and continue to do so to this day.

 

About three years ago, I came up with the idea of further developing these improvisational techniques, and applying them to guided meditation. Using Indian raga as a basic template, and applying elements of other music, I would use specific musical forms to evoke specific emotional and visceral responses in the listener. I did not confine myself to acoustic instrumentation; the careful use of electronics was equally effective.

 

I call this the Sacred Forbidden Music.

 

The results were successful. Participants reported a wide variety of experiences. Many would report relaxation and deep meditative states. Some would report about recovering lost or repressed memories.

 

Some have described more intense experiences with visions (a few examples: one man told me he was walking in a forest and speaking with winged serpents. Another participant, a woman, said she found herself at the foot of a hill, atop which was an enormous crystal goblet with books and scrolls revolving around it). Others reported astral travel and out-of-body experiences.

 

I should point out that the Sessions are NOT sound meditations. They use elements of sound meditation, but it is a different thing. It is a guided meditation wherein suggested imagery is replaced with musical form.

 

For years I refused to record the Sacred Forbidden Music. I didn’t think the real spirit and essence of the music could be captured in a recording. However, after constant requests, I relented and produced a CD of the music.

 

The development of the Music Meditation Sessions and the Sacred Forbidden Music continues. It’s an ongoing project; and the possibilities are limitless.

2017

Damn! A new year already!

2016 has been a wild ride. I put out two solo CDs, did several performances, released a book, and had many advenures. Plans for the future include more music releases, videos, live streaming of performances, and some other surprises. 

Things are changing in the world. And I and my collegues are changing with it; but we’re changing for the better. And with this in mind, I, for one, am looking forward to 2017. And I’m looking forward to experiencing it with you. 

God’s Unruly Friends Returns to Harlem.

It’s been a long time coming.

God’s Unruly Friends is emerging from its hiatus to offer a performance – maybe the last performance of 2016. Our music, a mystic-ethno-jazz-electronica will bring you to a psychospiritual place of peace and illumination.

This event will reveal the pre-release of God’s Unruly Friends’ upcoming CD A Pearl in Wine. This LIMITED EDITION CD will not be in existence long. However, copies will be available at the show at a discounted rate. AND the first five people who RSVP me at godsunrulyfriends@gmail.com, and attend the show, will get a free copy of the CD!

More good news! If you can’t attend, the performance will be streamed live! You can access it here. After the date of the performance I will provide you with a link to watch it any time. An audio and video recording of the show will be made available.

The performance will be on Thursday, October 27th, 7:00PM EST. It will be located at The Shrine ( 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10030). 

Come, join us. Be part of something wonderful.

Access to the Music

You’ve probably noticed that some changes have been made to this website. It’s evolving, and is a work in progress.

 

The most important thing is that the music is now readily available! Both digital downloads and ordering the physical CDs are easy.

 

Here are the downloads . And here are the CDs.

It’s Mid-September Already?

It’s been a while.

Well, summer was interesting. I weathered some changes, and a few challenges. But I’m still standing. I hope you did well, and had a great summer!

Anyway, on to business.

Saturday, September 17th, I will be one of the featured performers at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors‘ Full Moon Event. This will be a solo performance, and I will be offering two sets in the post Full Moon Lounge, and a talk on the subject of Islamic spirituality for the event. Details will be found here. The event begins at 7pm. CoSM is located at 46 Deer Hill Rd. Wappinger Falls, NY 12590. 

I have the honor of composing music for an upcoming independent film; “Sweet Dreams, Momma.” It’s written and directed by Dianne Kirksey, and stars Ella Joyce. For more information, and to learn how you can support this project, check out this link:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sweet-dreams-momma-film#/

The next God’s Unruly Friends concert will be at Shrine (2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10030) on Thursday October 27th, 7pm. You will want to be there; there will be a few surprises. And it may also be a CD release party! The new God’s Unruly Friends CDis nearing completion (who knows? Maybe I’ll offer a few pre-release copies. I’ll let you know).

(BTW, the photo in this newsletter is my original artwork that will be used for the CD cover. You like?)

Speaking of CDs, the Sacred Forbidden Music (from the Music Meditation Sessions) CD is now available at the following locations:

Namaste Bookshop
2 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011
www.namastebookshop.com

Quest Bookshop
240 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022
www.questbookshop.com 

Scent Elate
313 West 48th Street New York. NY 10036
https://www.scentelate.com/

Finally, a new video!  

I’m glad I had the chance to reach out to you, and look forward to sharing more music with you! Hit me up at godsunrulyfriends@gmail.com

The Greatest

On behalf of myself and all of God’s Unruly Friends, I wish to take a moment to salute the life of Muhammad Ali.

 

What is there left to say about him? He was a master boxer whose technique was technically “wrong” (he kept his left low; you just don’t do this in boxing), but became the undisputed world heavyweight champion. He was a fearless fighter for civil rights, who put himself on the line, ready to accept without fear or apology the consequences society threw at him for doing the right thing. He was one of America’s best representatives of Islam, showing the world the beauty and heart of Islam at a time when it was made to be the enemy. 

Once, he was in the vicinity of a police standoff with a suicidal man who was about to jump from a ledge. He talked the man down, and literally saved his life. He’d clown around for the press and for the amusement of children; and at the same time show astonishing seriousness and strength.

 

I will never forget when, after Parkinson’s Disease had ravaged his once strong body, he lit the torch for the 1996 Olympics. Even the fragility of his body could not diminish the man’s power. 

 

 

When he died, after all his organ failed, his heart continued to beat for a full 30 minutes before he was finally called home. 

 
He was exemplary of what a man could and should be. I salute him, and thank Allah for his life.

God’s Unruly Friends Live Concert Video

On Sunday, March 9th, 2016, God’s Unruly Friends presented a concert at St. Mark’s on the Bowery in NYC. A few video clips of the concert were made available.

Now, the entire concert is available to watch on YouTube.com

The concert is here.

Many more cool things are in the works. Until we meet again.

A Mansion with Many Rooms

In another blog post, I mentioned my new book A Mansion with Many Rooms. 

 

This is a collection of short stories and poetry that  that explores the multidimensional spiritualism of Islam / Sufism introduced and explored in my previous book A Quantum Hijra from a new perspective. A great deal of intimate ideas and concepts are explored that take the reader into new worlds.

 

Check it out.

 

May!

As I write this, it’s one day past my birthday (oh, OK: I’m 55). It’s been an interesting week.

Last Wednesday, I performed with a Neo-Sufi ensemble led / facilitated by Ruhi Roo. She’s got some really interesting ideas, and is making them happen.

I saw the new Miles Ahead movie, with Don Cheadle. It’s really a good movie. I’m writing a review of it for doobeedoobeedoo.info. Keep and eye out for it.

 

My art work is on display this week at the ArtLovHer Artist Salon. It ends Sunday. 

 

And there’s the Sacred Forbidden Music! 

 

In 2004, I developed a method of music performance for yoga and martial arts classes. The idea was to both harmonize the music with the energies invoked in the class, and to invoke energies needed. For example, for classes of a system of martial arts based on the Five Chinese Elements while the sensei was teaching moves based in water, I would improvise using a musical form analogous to water, and synchronize the musical flow and dynamics with the class. The results were successful/

One of the inevitable results of this was obvious. I began to use the techniques he developed to conduct guided meditation. The difference here is that while guided meditations have traditionally used words, suggestions, imagery, etc. to guide the individual and group meditation, my method uses musical form.

The results have been interesting. People have reported effects such as recovering repressed memories, deep meditation states, trances and visions, and astral travel. 

The music for these Sessions is completely improvised; the music for each Session is specific to a particular time and place. I do not teach my method of improvisation.

This music is called the Sacred Forbidden Music.

 

The premeir concert performance will happen on Monday, May 9th, 8pm at the Theater for the New City (155 1st avenue, NYC). The exchange is $15.

There are other things happening, such as two new CD releases in the works, my new book A Mansion with Many Rooms, and other cool stuff.

#godsunrulyfriends

#sacredforbiddenmusic
#beunruly