A recording likely to delight enthusiasts and perplex the uninitiated, All One is a 54-minute, four-part suite rooted in devotional yoga and dedicated, as the liner notes explain, to the "Sacred Names...revealed to us by the Great Beings who manifest Truth." All One presents four essentially seamless tracks in which the Hare Krishna mantra is repeated over and over, yet with gradual fluctuations in musical context, ranging from a worshipful near-drone to a jangly, celebratory sort of pop. (Note: Absorbing so much lyrical repetition may require an especially enlightened state of mind.) Krishna Das, a native New Yorker born Jeffrey Kagel who embraced Indian spiritual pursuits in the late 1960s, is the production's unifying force, half-singing, half-groaning the names and eliciting joyful replies from a 70-voice choir in recurring call-and-response patterns. Among the recording's numerous participants are bassist and co-producer Walter Becker of Steely Dan, co-producer Jay Messina (who has worked with Aerosmith), and drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard, though their contributions are transparent in the mix of many other musicians. Instead, the focus is on the repetitious chants of Das (who also plays harmonium) and the sense of connectedness and oneness they aspire to engender among all listeners. --Terry Wood
Album Description
"All One" is Krishna Das' first new studio recording in two years. Featuring Walter Becker and Def Leppard's Rick Allen, "All One" is a Mantric suite in four movements. "All One" covers musical ground from western classical music to South African township music. Co-produced by Walter Becker, "All One" features a 20 instrument orchestra and 70 voices. Other musicians included on this recording are longtime Krishna Das sideman Ty Burhoe and guitarist/composer David Nichtern.
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