om-datta-lgOM DATTATREYA:  JOURNEY TO THE WEST

Michael H. Cohen’s 2009 debut release, Om Dattatreya: Journey to the West is an inspiring blend of Eastern spirituality and global musical influences such as world beat, electronica, r&b, rock, funk and gospel.

Featuring vocalists Joni Allen and Allie Stringer (both touring and recording veterans from Dave Stringer Kirtan), the album is produced by Grammy Award winner Jeff Ciampa and is graced by ‘tabla wizard’ Jim Feist.

The ten compositions on Om Dattatreya create an emotionally powerful and spiritually transcendent synthesis of East and West, integrating the spiritual and material worlds, individual and collective approaches and masculine and feminine energies.

According to LA Yoga Magazine, “The recordings are flawless and energetic… blending Eastern and Western musical accompaniment with a tendency to take the spirit to ecstatic levels of play.”

TRACKS
1 Hare Om Shivaya (7:18)
2 Om Namoh Bhagavate Vasudeveya (7:05)
3 Maheshwari Ma (5:08)
4 Guru Om (5:41)
5 Shiva Om (7:50)
6 Kali Durge (5:26)
7 Shree Ram (6:37)
8 Guru Guru Paramaguru (4:04)
9 Om Dattatreya (7:50)
10 Lokha Samasta (1:17)

All music composed by Michael H. Cohen © 2006-9 Shiva Datta Music, LLC (BMI), except Lokha Samasta (traditional, arranged by M. Cohen).

MUSICIANS
Michael H. Cohen – lead vocals, harmonium (on all tracks but 6)
Joni Allen – featured vocals (2, 3, 4, 8, 9), choir vocals (1, 5, 6, 7), kartals (4, 7, 9), tambourine (2, 4)
Jim Feist – tables (1, 2, 4, 6, 8). Find Jim on the web at http://www.classicaltabla.com
Holly Moretti – choir vocals (2, 4, 5, 9)
Allie Stringer – featured vocals (7, 10), choir vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9)
Jeff Ciampa – all other instruments and programming

ABOUT OM DATTATREYA
Featuring vocalists Joni Allen and Allie Stringer, and produced by Grammy Award winner Jeff Ciampa, Om Dattatreya is an inspiring blend of Eastern spirituality and global musical influences such as world beat, electronica, r&b, rock, funk and gospel. Chanting the many names of the Divine calms our minds, opens our hearts and connects us with Divine Energy. Om Dattatreya is an emotionally powerful and spiritually transcendent synthesis of East and West, integrating the spiritual and material worlds, individual and collective approaches and masculine and feminine energies. Om Dattatreya is music for your soul.

PRODUCTION
Recorded, mixed and produced by Jeff Ciampa at Studio Orange.
Mastered by Rick Essig at REM Sound.
Microphone support from Rob Griffin
Art direction and graphic design by Stacey Hubert
Allie Stringer photo by Aimee Keil All other photos by Brandon Jones

Om Dattatreya is chantable, interesting, and addictive.
Yoga Chicago Magazine
Mike Cohen's ``Journey to the West`` album blew me away when I first heard it, and you know, it continues to. The musical arrangements are beautiful, interesting, complex, and funky and the Mike's chanting with the talented female vocalists makes it sublimely sacred. It's a very full experience. I can't wait to hear what aural blessing manifests next from Mike.
Blake TedderFull Lotus Kirtan Show
The recordings are flawless and energetic… Om Dattatreya blends Eastern and Western musical accompaniment with a tendency to take the spirit to ecstatic levels of play.
LA Yoga Magazine
OM DATTATREYA is an awesome first CD…. Mike Cohen joins the heavenly choir of Kirtan artists.
Gary GoldbergIN THE SPIRIT radio show host

THE TRACKS

  1. Hare Om Shivaya

Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivaya Hare Om, Shivaya

Om Sai Shree Sai, Jay Jay Sai

Lord Shiva destroys illusions and bestows Divine Grace. Om Sai Shree Sai Jay Jay Sai calls to the great Indian saint Shirdi Sai Baba. The Guru, Ganesh and Gayatri prayers open energy channels to the Divine.

  1. Om Namoh Bhagavate Vasudeveyaa

Om Namoh Bhagavate Vasudeveyaa Ram Ram Sita Ram

Govinda Govinda Gopala

Ram Ram Sita Ram, Jay Hanuman

Not my will, but Thy will be done.

  1. Maheshwari Ma

Saraswati Ma, Namoh Namah

Maha Devi, Maha Shakti, Maha Laxmi, Maheshwari

Invokes the love and energy of the Divine Mother in her most caring and compassionate forms.

  1. Guru Om

Om Jaya Guru Om, Jaya Guru Om

Guru Om, Guru Om, Guru Om, Jaya Guru Om

Victory to the guru, the dispeller of darkness!

  1. Shiva Om

Om Shiva, Om Shiva, Om Shiva Om

Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivay

Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Om Namah Shivaya

Breaking forms and cutting through illusions, Shiva brings freedom and bestows Grace. The Tryambakam Mantra is a prayer for immortality associated with Shiva.

  1. Kali Durge

Om Mata Kali, Om Mata Durge

Kali Durge Namoh Namah

Om Mata Kali, Namoh Namah. Om Mata Durge, Namoh Namah

An urgent plea to the Divine Mother in her fierce and protective forms. Please show me the energy of creation!

  1. Shree Ram

Shree Rama Jaya Ram, Jay Jay Ram Sita Rama Bolo, Radhe Shama Bolo Sita Ram, Sita Ram, Sita Ram, Sita Ram

The Divine dance of Sita and Ram, Radhe and Shyam, who playfully integrate masculine and feminine energies.

  1. Guru Guru Paramaguru

Om Guru, Guru Guru, Paramaguru

Hare Om Tat Sat Jai Guru Datta, Hare Om Tat Sat Jai Hare, Hare Om

Invokes the entire lineage of guru’s. Jai Guru Datta – victory to the primordial guru Dattatreya!

  1. Om Dattatreya

Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah Om Om Dattatreya

Three-headed Dattatreya integrates Brahma (creation), Vishnu (sustenance) and Shiva (destruction) within one form. This chant represents the life of Shirdi Sai Baba, a Shiva incarnation who transformed into a Dattatreya incarnation, uniting the powers of Divine Love, Freedom and Creation.

  1. Lokha Samasta

Lokha Samasta, Sukinoh Buvantu Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Closing prayers for sealing in the energy generated through our practice of Kirtan.