Inspired by love of the divine and heart centering meditation, Spanda brings its own essence of universal vibration to this collection of kirtan style chants with contemporary arrangements, lush instrumentation and original melodic treatments.

7 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Mantras, WORLD: Chants



Details:
"Spanda is a lovely recording of traditional Sanskrit mantras, set to original melodies in a seamless blend of East and West, ancient and modern. Tasteful instrumental offerings by sitar, tabla, harmonium, violin and bamboo flutes complement the spirit-infused voices of Rieah Masubuchi and Rick Borgia in this new recording that will bring joy and peace into your home and heart."

- Robert Gass

The Spanda, featuring Rieah Masubuchi and Rick Borgia, is a new world-beat chant collective influenced greatly by the beautiful and passionate sounds of devotional music from many regions of the world. They simply enjoy entertaining audiences with scintillating arrangements, exotic instrumentation and joyful voices in the style of kirtan.

The distinctive voice of Rieah combines with an all-star group of veteran musicians to produce a unique blend of music highlighting her original melodies and arrangements of Sanskrit mantras. The tracks are filled with moving rhythms and instrumental diversity.

Formed in the spring of 2006, Rieah and Rick traveled to Japan, Washington DC, Chicago, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania to record overdubs from very talented and soulful spirits for Spandaâs debut CD. Performing in concert or leading kirtan style events Spanda is a delightful production, suitable for many venues, festivals and spiritual retreats.

Rieah Masubuchi is a spiritually centered vocalist and composer who has been enchanting audiences with a combination of her unique voice and blissful performances for years. Before arriving in the States in 1995, her professional singing career in Japan included engagements at some of the top nightclubs in Tokyo, performing Jazz standards and R&B songs.

In the US, she lived and performed in Manhattan while making frequent visits to an ashram in Upstate New York, where she was first exposed to the power of singing Mantras. It was an eye-opening experience for her to use her voice in a completely different manner, as a vehicle to connect with the divine.

Now in Columbus OH, she continues to express the heart-felt emotions that reflect her passion for music and spiritual practice.

______________________________________________________________________

Rick Borgia is an artist, musician and composer who believes that creativity is a direct connection to the universal vibration of everything.

From an early age, Rick was drawn to music, rhythm and vibrations; a small child stroking the strings of his fatherâs Silvertone guitar. At the age of two he became entranced by the white noise sounds of his momâs vacuum and by 5 years old experienced trance-like states from placing a Norelco Princess hair-dryer bonnet over his entire head! Gregorian Chants and pipe organs were additional catalysts in the development of a reverence for art and music that has always been part of his life.

An accomplished guitarist and composer, his professional creative experiences include film scores, record production, song writing, and countless creative collaborations, including recording and touring guitarist for Mink DeVille, a legendary pop/cult group whose popularity throughout Europe led him to an extended two year stay in Holland.

After meeting Rieah, he expanded his musical interests to include Asian and middle eastern influences as well as furthering his understanding that creativity is a doorway to spiritual awakening.

Together as Spanda, they welcome the opportunity to continue to create music now in a new way, allowing universal vibrational spirit to guide them on a joyful musical journey.

This ambitious debut CD by SPANDA expresses a marriage of contemporary popular music with traditional world music styles.

For available performance dates and booking please e-mail Spanda at spandamusic@mindspring.com

http://www.spandamusic.com

SPANDA Spring 2007