Name: Raag Yaman by J.J. Gregg
Duration: 9 min 21 s
Description: It's taken me years to learn how to tell Yaman’s story with all the embellishments and colorful language it deserves but without unnecessary distractions or diversions that weaken or muddy the arc of its beauty. Here's a short version for your enjoyment!

It's taken me years to learn how to tell Yaman’s story with all the embellishments and colorful language it deserves but without unnecessary distractions or diversions that weaken or muddy the arc of its beauty. Here's a short version for your enjoyment!

Raag Yaman

Sprig of That is:
Krissy Bergmark, tabla
Ilan Blanck, guitar
Isabel Dammann, violin

© 2022 Sprig of That
"Kirenaka" written by Sprig of That
Produced by Wes Corbett
Recorded/mixed by Dave Sinko
Mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering
Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, TN
Album art by Isabel Dammann
Layout by Matt Lowe at Check One Two
Additional arrangement help from Andy Thompson
Kickstarter consulting by Travis McNamara at Arthouse Consulting
Guitars graciously loaned to Ilan by Chris Eldridge

Special thanks to everyone who supported our Kickstarter campaign to make this album a reality!

More about Bloom:
Even in our age of short attention spans, there is something that draws musicians towards releasing 10 song albums: maybe it’s the appeal of doing what our favorite artists from yesteryear did, the ability to put ourselves into a lineage of important albums, or the belief that we are making a larger musical statement beyond any a single piece. Perhaps with all these reasons in mind, we are excited to release Bloom, our full-length debut album of original compositions.

More than anything, this album is a testament to our growth throughout this process, so much of which we owe to producer Wes Corbett. With a sharp ear, encouraging words, and the ability to whip up a tasty stir-fry, Wes brought exactly what we needed to this process; it’s why we paid him the “big banjo bucks,” as he might say. Wes helped us bring on legendary recording engineer Dave Sinko, whose resume includes the albums that made us fall in love with this kind of music to begin with. It’s easy to see why our favorite artists go to him again and again: beyond being an audio wizard, you’d be hard pressed to find a sweeter soul. Though it’s us playing the instruments, this album is as much a result of their careful efforts as it is ours. A special shoutout to Travis McNamara of Arthouse Consulting for helping us run a Kickstarter campaign that, beyond paying for the very item you’re holding, helped us connect with our friends and fans in a truly special way.

While recording, Wes said something that really stuck with us: “Sometimes, a funny thing occurs: we make an album that ends up being better than us, which in turn forces us to grow to meet it.” We feel that’s exactly what happened with Bloom, and we're excited to spend the next few years growing into it as a group. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for listening. We hope you enjoy.

-Sprig

Kirenaka

tabla // Krissy Bergmark
bass // Anthony Cox
berimbau // Gregory Beyer
piano // Andres Crovetti
guitar // Toni Lindgren
sax and clarinet // Nelson Devereaux

Recorded by Jason McGlone at Hideaway Studios
Mixed by Andres Crovetti
Produced by Anthony Cox and Andres Crovetti
Mastered by Rob Schlette at Anthem Mastering
Cover art by Krissy Bergmark
Album title from Ross Gay's Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude
©2023 Krissy Bergmark
www.krissybergmark.com

Years

Green

This Heart

Tune came to me while camping in the mountains above Lander, Wyo days before the 2017 solar eclipse.  photo was taken at dusk looking out over Lander, cannot yet see the pretty lights of lander, but I watched them as the stars came out and picked out this tune.   thx for listening

Lander

Meadows makes dead cornfields magically bloom in technicolor.  The final track from Makeshift Music etc. album "Meadows." Re-released by Intangible Cat in 2003.  Perfect for imagining a beautiful summer day... Album available on Bandcamp.

Meadows

meadows - meadows 7 - from MS24CD - Meadows

Perhaps the most loved track from a most loved album.  This track's shimmering psychedelic beauty is icing on a cake chock full of disparate yet somehow complementary genres - from ambient to trance to punk to super-rock pop and a flyswatter electrocution craziness thrown in.  Listen to other tracks from the album free by clicking "Buy" link above. From the past history of @doghallucination and @rebekahstape.

MACROCEPHALICS

The Light Bulbs - very very very sick - from MS13 - Macrocephalics

Born out of midwestern winter desolation, this album explores a unique constellation of acoustic sounds, instruments, and feelings.  'swollen throat' provides a fantastic glimpse of the whole album.  A classic work from the creator @doghallucination.

shivers

shivers - swollen throat - MS23 - 2001

From Intangible Cat: "Title track from the album "Beat Wings in Vain." The piano touch in this piece slows my breathing down. The saxophones join in and keep leading you deeper into a dream where  beautiful atmospheric sculptures form in this piece, a bit like watching clouds develop from a giant oak tree into a wave crashing on a mountain top. True to form, the song climaxes in a sort of 'gushing cloud' experience, where the sky turns multicolored and the clouds smile at you. Then the clouds part ways into the clear night sky."

Beate Wings in Vain

Beat Wings In Vain

Sounds for quieting the spirit in these tumultuous times, enjoy this peaceful musical medicine. These contemporary raga meditations feature sitar, upright bass and tranquil textures of ambient guitar soundscapes. This EP launches a new series of contemplative music we're releasing over the next 3 months.

The intention of this music is to fortify the inner experience, to be the best of who we truly are. May the music help reconcile our hearts and minds in the midst of a suffering humanity, that we may be strengthened for loving service in the times to come.

Titles are inspired by the healing miracle of vision in the 9th chapter of the book of John. "Seeing Anew" is a musical meditation for a healthy vision and mental state to combat fear and anxiety. "Cleansing" is a deeper re-humanizing plunge into a pool of collective healing. A flowing prayer for overcoming of the deep dis-ease of division, bigotry and the scapegoating of our fellow humans around the world and around the corner.

Seeing Anew

A dynamic yet meditative sitar player, J.J. Gregg performs improvised and pre-composed music. With over a decade of hands- on training in India, J.J. immerses western experimental and jazz music into the traditional world of the sitar. J.J. Gregg has performed on the sitar in India, Japan, Thailand, and throughout the U.S. He also teaches sitar & voice online & throughout the Willamette Valley. visit jjgregg.com or email here: charukeshi.roopak@gmail.com 

Upcoming shows:

September 22 - Thursday, 7pm - Artichoke Music, Portland - $15
           with Ravi Albright, tabla and David Van Auken, guitar

October 1 - Saturday, 5pm - Yoga Library, Salem - $5-20 sliding scale
           with David Van Auken, guitar



Recent shows: 

Music Millennium Record Store, Portland, (indoors)
Sunday, August 28th, 3pm in-store performance

Minto Island Growers Farm Stand + Food Cart, Salem
Saturday, August 20th, 5pm, with Ravi Albright on Tabla
NEW ALBUM RELEASE PARTY!

Common People Yoga, Salem w/ Ravi Albright on Tabla
July 24th, 6pm, $30 (cancelled, covid)

Salem Make Music Day -  Salem Public Library, June 21st 2022, 1pm, Solo Sitar

March 4, 2023 w/ Ravi Albright on Tabla - 4pm, Walla Walla, WA - Whitman College, Hunter Conservatory

October 22, 2021, 4pm, Walla Walla, WA - Whitman College, Hunter Conservatory

Saturday, September 4th, 5pm - Minto Island Growers Farmstand in Salem

May 22 2021 4pm PST - Zoom concert - email or msg for link

2020:

December 20 2020 4pm PST - Zoom concert - email or msg for link

May 16, 2020 Bloomington Public Library, IL, 2pm (cancelled - covid)
Saturday, January 11th, 2pm - Wilsonville Public Library

Saturday, January 4th - TEDxSalem - live recording here: https://youtu.be/4CWjFit3d3o

2019

Sunday, December 29th, 5:30 pm - 'in delicate balance' release party at Yoga Library, Salem OR

Friday, October 11th - Indigo Yoga + Wellness 15th Anniversary Party, Salem

Sunday, September 22, 2pm - ARTS/West, Athens, Ohio
Friday, September 6th, 4pm with Ravi Albright on Tabla, Whitman College, Walla Walla

Saturday, July 13, 6pm - Minto Island Growers Farmstand in Salem

June 1st evening at TBA in Walla Walla/Waitsburg with Peter de Grasse and Pavan Kanekal.  Suggested donation: $5-15.

June 7th at The Hive in Bend, OR.  7:00pm $10-15 sliding scale at the door

Saturday, April 20th, 7:00pm.  At the Yoga Library in Salem.  With Pavan Kanekal on tabla. $10 at the door/$5 students.

Saturday, March 16th, 2019 - Bellingham, WA - Alternative Library - with @wmdmusic98 - 8pm, doors open 7:30pm.

2018

December 13/15 in Mumbai, India - part of World Dance Congress Dadar-Mumbai - with dancer Peter de Grasse.

September 28 - Whitman College, Walla Walla WA - Solo show

Saturday, September 15th, 5pm - Minto Island Growers Farmstand in Salem

Saturday, June 30th, 6pm - Minto Island Growers Farmstand in Salem

Sunday, June 24th, 4pm - Northwest Notes - on KMUZ in Salem 100.7 FM.  

Saturday, June 9th 12:00pm - Denny Park - Seattle International Dance Festival - with dancer Peter de Grasse.  

May 18th/20th Myozen-ji Temple - Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, Japan - solo on 18th and duet with Chigusa Fukushima/Samadhi bowls on 20th. 

April 7th, Northwest Docs - Portland - New Album release party with Ravi Albright on tabla.

February 23rd - Whitman College, Walla Walla WA - Solo show.

Raag Yaman

J.J. Gregg

Recent comments

Cayla Skillin-Brauchle

Related tracks