Exploring the 23-string guitar: Artist, Designer / Creator of this Webzine

For a number of years I've focused on the creative side of this publication, coordinating writers, keeping articles fresh and designing the graphics. It is now my pleasure to join many musical friends in the Rising Stars segment and introduce you to the sound of my 23-string Dwij Veena, a guitar based instrument that I created and built. In Threshold, a twenty-one minute improvised composition that is linked below, I am playing with Cybele on Sarangi and vocals, and Gopi Chari on Tanpura and vocals.

Threshold - mp3file

The Talisman CD is a presentation of four instrumental Tone-Poems, woven into the sounds of nature, that are created as support for meditation, visualization, and relaxation. Readings by Linda Maree open each tone poem. Talisman is an honoring of the first year of an infant's life on Space Ship Earth as seen against the four directions of the Native American Medicine Wheel. It also honors the annual rebirth that each of us experiences while transiting this terrestrial orb on a journey without beginning or end. The concept of Talisman grew out of our bimonthly meditation and Tibetan Bowling Circle, facilitated by Rev. Jacquie Riker, and the encouragement of pianist/composer Jeff Lantz.

Short clip from Talisman:   mp3 file   

Click to order your Talisman CD package

My music is inspired by the Sarode artistry of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and I've had the honor of my dear friends Debashish Bhattacharya, Chris Ris, and Amit Chattergee introduce me to a number of Ragas which have provided the rhythmic foundation for the music I play. This is a first step across a new and spirited musical threshold for me and it is deeply heartfelt. For additional information contact me at: dwij@dwij.org

Click to visit the: Dreamwalker Art Gallery