BENJY WERTHEIMER AND MICHAEL MANDRELL: Notes from Celtistan

Benjy Wertheimer and Michael Mandrell

Notes from Celtistan

© 2007 Benjy Wertheimer and Michael Mandrell (892275001314)

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The mythical world where Celtic meets Indian

notes

About Celtistan:

"All travelers through distant lands return with elements of those lands’ richness inside—later integrated into the creation of new richness at home. As musical and spiritual travelers, Michael & Benjy have taken this journey to create the new land of Celtistan.

"The beautiful musical landscape there reverently merges Michael’s Celtic and jazz sensibilities with Benjy’s love of Indian classical music, giving the ancient traditions of India and Ireland a new melodic voice (with occasional touches of Asia and Bosnia). Celtistan’s flowing and vibrant language was captured live, to preserve the unique richness, openness and spontaneity that shared moments bring.

"Michael & Benjy have shared the depth and beauty of these moments since 1999, when it was clear from their first meeting that their synergy would take them and their audience to new acoustic lands.

"Welcome to Celtistan."

–Eric Alan, Music Director
Jefferson Public Radio • Ashland, Oregon
Author/photographer, Wild Grace: Nature as a Spiritual Path

About Benjy Wertheimer:
An award-winning musician, composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist equally accomplished on tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards, Benjy Wertheimer has toured and recorded with such artists as Krishna Das, Deva Premal and Miten, Jai Uttal, Walter Becker of Steely Dan, virtuoso guitarist Michael Mandrell, and renowned bamboo flute master G. S. Sachdev. He has also opened for such well-known artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter, and Narada Michael Walden. Benjy is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed world fusion ensemble, Ancient Future.

Beginning his musical studies at age 5, starting with piano and later violin and flamenco guitar, Benjy received training in Keyboard Improvisation at the University of Colorado and in Composition and Ethnomusicology at the University of Washington. In addition, he has studied Indian classical music for over 25 years with some of the greatest masters of that tradition including Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Ali Akbar Khan and Z. M. Dagar, and was, along with the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart, a contributing composer and member of the Zakir Hussain Rhythm Experience.

For over five years, Benjy scored music for the internationally syndicated NBC series, Santa Barbara. He has also recorded music for several international clients including Master Card and The Nature Company. His CD Circle of Fire reached #1 on the international New Age radio charts in 2002.

About Michael Mandrell:

Moving to Taos, NM in 1991, Michael performed with the world fusion group "Taos" co-producing their CD, "The Deepening Edge," released nationally on Blix Street Records. His later self-produced CD, "The Great Spiral Dance" continued in the world fusion tradition with all original guitar compositions, adding flutes, East Indian percussion, Uillean pipes and other ethnic instruments.

Michael tours regionally and nationally, playing solo as well as with many of the acoustic warrior road tribe, including Jenny Bird and Benjy Wertheimer. As "Echoes" executive producer Kimberly Hass observes, "Michael's hybrid guitar style reveals a guitarist of eclectic sensibilities and delicate technique. His music circles the globe in imagistic compositions." He currently makes his home in Portland, Oregon.

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  • A brilliant work of World Music Art!
    author: Victory Review - Nancy Vivolo

    All the treasures of the world seem to flow from the chalice of Notes from Celtistan, an amazing collaboration from the Celtic strings of acoustic guitarist Michael Mandrell and the broad tonal voicings of percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Benjy Wertheimer. The blend of intricate fingerstyle guitar work in open tunings combined with the talking tabla, congas and traditional instruments of India is full and richly satisfying. Reminiscent of the travels of Genghis Khan, Mandrell and Wertheimer gather together the glitter of melodic soundscapes, the fragrance of mysterious musical scales and the spice of flowing rhythms to create these exotic sculpted songs. The journey begins in the Pyrenees Mountains with “Iberian Nocturne,” written by Mandrell, which has an ancient yet agelessly classical dream quality. “Sneakin” Out” illustrates the depth of musical connection that these two have achieved in what was a spontaneous creation materializing out of thin air during their studio recording session; just a little something that happened on their break, as it were. Their treatment of “Banish Misfortune” is traditional Celtic but clearly influenced by their own individual style. Defying regional boundaries, “Bhagavan Dude” has a broad dawn-on-the-desert scope that seems to contain elements of the American high plains but spends equal time somewhere in the Sahara giving new meaning to the term World Music. Organic and earthy with the shadow of found objects, “Turkish Coffee” had a full, round openness that surrounds the listener while the song moves forward with a steady assurance that resonates deeply and with satisfaction. “Road Dogs” is the rhythmic equivalent of one of those word games that you play with your traveling partner along vast stretches of highway from here to somewhere. Notes from Celtistan is already a brilliant work of World Music art, but Mandrell and Wertheimer go one step further with the capstone track “What was the Question?” The poignant observations and actions of the Bosnian cellist Vedran Smailovic are illustrated with a graceful and effective presentation that you will not soon forget.

  • Notes from Celtistan
    author: Mariette

    Received the album on Christmas Eve, just in time, and in perfect condition, thankx to your very safe packing. It's a brilliant, most genius piece of work. I cherish it as part of my most precious possessions. Many thankx CD Baby.

  • author: Susi Wong

    Wonderful, moving, relaxing music. I listen to it everyday while driving in this crazy traffic. It calms me down! I highly recommend it!

  • it is a great CD loved the music thanks
    author: wilbur frank

    this cd sound great , good good music on it, its just what i wanted.

  • Powerful and deeply moving
    author: Little Eagle, Little Eagle Music Review

    Where's the sixth star! The world needs more music like this. Outstanding, powerful, deeply touching. Wertheimer and Mandrell take step it up a big notch. Wow!

  • A truly excellent CD
    author: Michael - Professor Emeritus, Boulder, Colorado

    Lovely! Subtle, sophisticated, beautiful, varied: a truly excellent CD. I'm most impressed... and crystal-clear, gorgeous notes in the throat-singing of "What Was The Question" ...

  • The range of musical innovation on this CD is positively stunning!
    author: Christine Carter, Mystical Activist - Return To Center

    Since I got 'Notes" I haven't stopped listening to it. It's unpredictable, it's smart and full of passion and refinement but doesn't slip into preciousness. These are seasoned artists who have such serious chops that I often couldn't imagine there were only two of them playing! Their range is masterful as they combine an infinite number of Celtic orchestrations, Hindustani rhythms and jazz modes. It's inspired music, sponteneous and filled with deep and abiding soul - a true gift.

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