LARAAJI: Celestial Sound Bath

Friday, September 22, 2023 at 6:00pm
World Music Hall

FREE!

“…buried in these pieces is a kind of insistence on joy and transcendence. It is as though Laraaji is trying to teach us that, with help and focus, it is possible to exhale and unclench, even if it’s only for the length of a song.”
—The New Yorker

An immersive sound experience led by multi-instrumentalist LARAAJI, who puts the healing and mystical properties of music into practice. He has performed ambient music on piano, electric zither (stringed instrument), and mbira (thumb piano) since 1979.

LARAAJI is an internationally recognized musician, multi-instrumentalist, mystic, and laughter meditation practitioner based in New York City. He is known for his specially designed electric zither, his vocal performances, and his improvisation; he also works with African mbira, synthesizers, hand drums, and percussion. Experimentation with altered tunings has led LARAAJI to a deeply engaging performance sound, which he refers to as “Celestial Vibration,” recalling an earlier paranormal sound hearing experience. LARAAJI brings Eastern mysticism to trance-inducing jams on his modified autoharp, with various electronic effects. He has recorded over 50 solo and collaborative albums. Visit LARAAJI’s website for more information.

Read a profile of LARAAJI published in The New Yorker earlier this year.

LARAAJI’s mini-residency at Wesleyan includes a “Laughter Playshop” workshop on Thursday and this “Celestial Sound Bath” concert on Friday. See LARAAJI’s residency page for more details.

Presented by the Music Department and co-sponsored by the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life, Astronomy Department, Center for African American Studies, Center for the Arts Creative Campus Initiative, College of the Environment, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, and Religion Department.