I would like to share my performance art project that was recorded last year at Burning Man 2013, 'Deep Playa Wonderings'. This was my ninth year at Burning Man and I've been performing percussion and trumpet through out the years in various venues. The year before I co-composed music for a Fire troop audition tape. It was a fun process. I ended up loading it to my SoundCloud page and gave out the link as playa gifts in 2012.

After the success of that project I wanted to try a different spin on it. I've always been a fan of wandering in the deep playa and the musical encounters have been highlights of my Burn. I decided I would go out each night to the deep playa and perform improvised music at different art installations. My gift back to the audience would be gifting that actual song to them post-playa through my SoundCloud page.

So the project became 'Deep Playa Wonderings'. I hope to continue gifting of this playa artifact to the Burner community.

I

Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

As I came back to the default would I was saddened to hear the news of a good friend and band mates daughter passing after a long and strong battle with cancer. David, I hope this sound meditation performed at this sacred place will reach Maari and help you and your family find the peace you deserve.

This is a mix of the third song I performed at the Temple of Whollyness at Burning Man 2013. It is part of a project called "Deep Playa Wonderings" where I recorded sound meditations at various locations in the deep playa at Black Rock City. Friday was a special day because I started my day recording at sunset and performed all night.Then ended with the final meditations at the Temple for Sunrise.

Please send your throughts and prayers when listening to this to Marri and David Dickerson's family

for Maari - Friday Sunset at the Temple of Whollyness: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

This was the first night of Deep Playa Wonderings at Burning Man 2013

That Was Beautiful - Tuesday Night: Deep Playa Wondering Burning Man

This was the first night of the Deep Playa Wonderings at Burning Man 2013

Thats Wonderful - Tuesday Night: Deep Play Wondering Burning Man 2013

Wow, Perfect - Tuesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

That Was Amazing - Tuesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

Shake Out This Tension - Tuesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

We're Being Serenaded - Tuesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

This was the first night of the Deep Playa Wonderings at Burning Man 2013. I have to say this chance encounter with Caleb Jay Ebstein (Throat Singer) was the highlight of this project. Thank you for sharing your spirt and soul with us that evening. I hope to create more meditative sounds with you soon!

A Chance Magical Encounter - Tuesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

This was recorded on Wednesday night after attending the camp WANT IT! sushi party. The location was "Starfuckers Oasis" which is a set of couches and grass umbrellas along the 3pm deep playa perimeter. It ended up being one of the better places to perform because the groups of people here were seeking the quiet solace that the deep open playa could only provide.

Wind Song - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

It's Wayne Gretzky - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

Other Sauces, like Sour Cream - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

Oasis Awakening - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings-Burning Man 2013

Bliss Dancing - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

Playa Offering - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

Warm Embrace on a brisk night - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

The Truth Is Found in the Deep - Wednesday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

Anita was my Aunt from my mothers side. She had a very quick battle with cancer that ended this summer. It was a beautiful gathering of family that we all got to say goodbye in the end. When she was in the last stages of the battle, she was having problems breathing and her children asked me to play my hand pan for her to help her calm her breathing. What proceding was one of the most powerful/emotional moments I've had as a musician. It was soothing how almost instantly her breathing calmed and her head swayed to the music. But what happened next was seeing people gather again and have a powerful connection of emotion with her. Im blessed to be able to use music as a way to bring people together. 

This was the first song on Friday at sunset at the temple I played. When I started a women asked if she could sit with me as I played and invited her. Both of us swelled up in emotion and were crying as I played. My feelings form my Aunt were finally able to be experienced and let go into this sacred place. It is part of a project called "Deep Playa Wonderings" where I recorded sound meditations at various locations in the deep playa at Black Rock City. Friday was a special day because I started my day recording at sunset and performed all night.Then ended with the final meditations at the Temple for Sunrise.

for Anita - Friday Sunset at the Temple of Whollyness: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

The very first night of Deep Play Wonderings. We set up and an art car immediatley started to join the performance. We were in the blissful company of Angus, Alexa, and Alejandra. 

David Blink - Trumpet
Dave Avalos - Bali Steel Hand Pan

Joyful Praise - Monday Night: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

This was the 3rd song performing at at temple during sunset on Friday at Burning Man 2013. I was joined by a women wearing bells on her wrists and asked if she could pray with me, where she showed her prayer through movement with her arms sitting next to me. The energy of these temple recordings still really affect me. It brings me back to that place of experience all of those emotions of our loved ones passing. 

The Offering - Friday Sunset at the Temple of Whollyness: Deep Playa Wonderings - Burning Man 2013

This was the last song that I recorded on Friday night at the temple. I had my first in person meeting with RoyTwoThousand. He is the photographer of the background image that I used for the Deep Playa Wonderings Logo/sticker. He graciously allowed me to use his image for this project. I was able to return the gift with a song just for him.

You can see his work and one of my favorite burning man videos at:
http://roy2k.com
