If you enjoy the recorded soothing sounds of New Age music assimilated with the sensations of waves, wind or a bubbling brook as background music during your yoga class, then prepare yourself for a new exhilarating and exciting experience of live music being synchronised to the yoga movements.
Jay & Chris Finnen performing at The Groove Garden Cafe
Many lovers of blues music will know Internationally acclaimed musician,
Jay Hoad for his high-energy exotic sounds of blues, rock, reggae, island, Latin and Celtic music, whether playing solo or with other musicians. Well, there is another side to Jay's music, because in conjunction with yoga teacher, Pamela Gibson, or
Yoga Pam as she is better known, he creates and synchronises live instrumental music according to Yoga Pam's relaxation and exercise movements. Jay's entire performance on acoustic guitar, Weissenbom lap Steel Guitar, Dulcimer, Dulsitar, Didgeridoos and Percussion is synchronized in "real time."
Joga Pam and Jay Hoad. Photo courtesy of Yoga Pam.
Jay presents a live open mind concept of playing his various instruments spontaneously according to Pam's movements. "Every time Pam would get into a rhythmic flow with her hands I would play to suit her movement until she moved to the next section of the body and I would change to suit," says Jay. "It was really intense, as I complimented her various movements.
Yoga Pam with Yoga class. Photo courtesy of Yoga Pam.
"I was not intending to record a yoga CD, but the original class was so successful the members wanted a CD of the music. It was then I had to tell them I had just created the music; nothing was composed, it was entirely spontaneous. This inspired the recording of the CD Earth Music. I finished up booking the whole yoga class to come into the recording studio, and setup in a different room," said Jay. He watched them through a glass window as he listened to Pam's directions to the class through his headphones as his music was recorded. "I could not have played the music without that yoga class being there at the time."
Jay Hoad playing at Victor Harbor.
Earth Music is a beautiful album offering relaxing and uplifting music, ideal for either relaxing or exercising, or simply just as background music. 'Buddha Beat' is quite up-tempo with didgeridoos and pulsating drumming due to Yoga Pam's yoga classes can get quite physical during her Dru yoga exercises. This track is the only one to include some multi-tracking with Jay playing a drum loop on a Dulcimer. All the other pieces of music are completely live with him playing the various instruments in just one take.
Jay with just a few of his 50 guitars
There is rhythmic and up-tempo music for when you wish to do a Zumba style yoga and stretching exercises, and when you just want to peacefully meditate with Hatha Yoga, there are gentle pieces of music with comforting sounds from various guitars and string instruments.
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If you are interested in experiencing yoga with live music, here are two Yoga events:
Yoga Fusion Festival, Sunday 13 April 9.30am at Port Elliot Institute Hall, The Strand. Yoga Crew with Jay Hoad live. Joyful Buddhas Bookings call 8552 8229 or Email: [email protected]
Wed. 23 April 7.00pm Anglican Church, Bay Rd, Mt Gambier. Yoga Pam and Jay Hoad live Bookings call: 0402 730 785 or Email: [email protected]
Jay Hoad's Home is Where the Heart is.