A mystical journey into far out eastern gypsy culture

ShadowDance . Support Briana . Kaihea . Cosmik Casbah 09 . Tribal Nights

Family and friends:
Amar - Freyja - DJ Sep - Sooozhyq - Frederique . Ultra Gypsy . DJ Dragonfly . Dhamaal . Dhol Rhythms . Sila & the Afrofunk Experience . Beats without Borders . Ariellah . Soulsalaam . Cheb i Sabbah . Tabla Rasa . Turbo Tabla . Rena Jones . Boom Boom Bollywood . Lumin . MC Rai . Solace . Sub Swara . Triple Power . Kush Arora . Clandestine . DJ Layla . FatChanceBellyDance . Elizabeth Strong . Mira Betz . Zoe Jakes . ShadowDance . Surya Dub . Nonstop Bhangra . Atash Maya . Unmata . Beats Antique . Mitara . Kaihea . Sharon Kihara . Susan Frankovich . Jennifer Faust . Cera . Kami Liddle . Queen Harish . Colleena . Dan Cantrell . Samantha Hasthorpe

Listen to / Download
live mix by DJ Amar

in honor of Swara Samrat Maestro Ali Akbar Khan - April 14, 1922 – June 18, 2009

Our most beloved Khansahib passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Thursday evening.
Khansahib had been a dialysis patient since 2004, and had been enduring numerous health issues ever since.
The great Maestro had continued his music teachings publically at the Ali Akbar College
until just weeks ago, and continued to teach music at home until the day he died.

We all are here in this world for some higher purpose, but how many of us are aware of it? Very few.

Khan Sahib knew the day he came to this universe that he has to do lots of selfless service, and he did it till last day of his precious life. His happiness was in giving and giving all of the time. No one was deprived even when they had no means.

What can i say about his music? No words will do justice to his immortal, moving, full of feelings music.
Listening him play was an experience which many of us lucky ones had and will cherish our whole life.

Kabir was a mystic poet around 1400.

Says Kabir:

listen my friends,
He gave me my life,
He alone can deprive me of it,
He alone is my protector.
I will dwell with that Lord and be one with him,
No more will i stay in this house of clay.

In another stanza Kabir says:

If the whole earth were my paper
All the trees were my pen
And the seven seas my ink
They would not suffice
To write the glory
Of my master.

Great sage Ramana Maharshi wrote,

The Guru is both “external” and “internal”. From the “Exterior” he gives a push to the mind to turn inward: from the “interior” he pulls the mind toward the Self and helps in the quieting of the mind. That is Guru’s grace. There is no difference between God, Guru and the Self.

- G.S. Sachdev
Spoken at Khansahib's memorial service and burial on the Summer Solstice - June 21, 2009

Links: An Appreciation . AACM . Washington Post . SF Chronicle . LA Times . 80th Birthday Celebration 2002


   

Live video footage from recent shows (ok, not so recent :).
Electric Vardo Live at Tribal Throwdown March 17 in Berkeley. . . Freyja performing at 'Hybrid' New York November 10, 2006

Electric Vardo Recommends:

GROOVE GARDEN 1st Saturdays in Fairfax
NONSTOP BHANGRA 3rd Saturdays at Rickshaw Stop
SURYA DUB 4th Saturdays at Club Six

Every Sunday DUB MISSION at Elbo Room
Every Thursday CHEB i SABBAH at Bollyhood Cafe
3rd Wednesdays TRIBAL NIGHTS at Bollyhood Cafe

more events listed at www.solunamar.com

Visit us on tribe.net and join the Electric Vardo tribe


We present unique nights with a Gypsy Flair extending the borders of artistic creation - in forms of Music, Dance, Visual Art, Culinary Extravagance

Below are photos from our First Electric Vardo event on March 11th, 2005.


Notes on Electric Vardo Opening Night March 11, 2005 (pics above):

What an amazing night ... I just returned home (6am, the morning after) and am energized by the performances and the people. Thank you to all of you who came and made our first night (one of many more to come) a bashing success. We are thrilled and thankful to all of the artists, live performers, dancers and DJs, and our group of great people who helped us promote and bring this night together.

For those of you who missed it, be sure to save the date Next Month, Saturday April 9th, for another amazing night with Ultra Gypsy, DJ Sep, DJ Amar, DJ Dragonfly, Janaka Selekta, Rena Jones, Sukhawat Ali Khan and a special Ultra Gypsy Student Dance Performance..
Live Performances - Dance - DJs - Exotic Food and Drink - All night
8pm-4am.
Be sure to make advance reservations for our Exotic Dinner Lounge.
Last night all tables were Sold out. On that note, for those of you who may have had any trouble during our first night, please accept our sincere apologies and know that with our first event's overwhelming success, we are regrouping and working on ways to make it better, smoother and more accommodating to all. Both the collective and the venue are already discussing how we will make next month's and future events even more phenomenol and running smooth as saffron-lemon infused butter. We appreciated your wonderful support and look forward to seeing you again soon. Please, we ask you, if you did experience any difficulty, do let us know. We want to do our best and appreciate your candid feedback. Please e-mail me at events@bansuri.net or call me at 415-259-8629 with your comments.

Special thanks goes out to all members of Lumin (Irina, Jef, Susie, plus special guest musicians and dancers), Tabla Rasa (Jim, Tim, Uttam & Wallace), Vicki and all of the dancers of Dholrhythms, Jimmy Love, Nayomi Munaweera, Maneesh the Twister, Soulsalaam, Teed Rockwell, Kitundu & Sukhadia, Chef Sterling, Salie at the bar and the Blue Cube Staff, Saroj (my mom) for the wonderful recipes, and you.