skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Paul Horn with George Harrison in 1968 in India.
Photograph by: Paul Horn's private collection, Times Colonist
By Grania Litwin, Times Colonist, March 20, 2009
Victoria jazz flautist Paul Horn just turned 79, but that's not stopping him from appearing with Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Donovan and Sheryl Crow at a benefit concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall on April 4.
"They should have held it in Madison Square Garden," he joked, noting the event was sold out in seconds, with tickets priced from $99 to $500 US. Internet scalpers are reselling them for up to $4,250.
"It's very exciting getting together again -- man it's been 40 years," said Horn, who first met the Beatles and Donovan at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in 1968. He was making a film about the holy man, and they all studied transcendental meditation together.
"During about six weeks I got to know Paul and George best, Ringo only stayed about two weeks. John was more of a loner, although interested in learning to play the flute. George was studying the sitar and we'd go to a little hut sometimes and jam. Donovan was there the whole time -- the quintessential flower child, a very sweet, gentle soul." He and Donovan later toured the U.S. together twice.
The concert will raise funds for the David Lynch Foundation, which wants to teach a million children to meditate, said publicist Steve Yellin from Iowa.
"We've already taught more than 70,000 around the world and hundreds of schools in the U.S. have now applied."
Horn applauds Lynch for bringing transcendental meditation into schools, to help reduce stress and bullying, and increase creativity and health. "It's an ambitious project, but it's all about timing. It has taken time for the West to finally connect with Maharishi's message, and realize TM is not a religion."
All the musicians are donating their time, said Horn, who has recorded more than 40 albums, won Grammys and worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington to Nat King Cole. Other performers at the event are Ben Harper, Moby, Bettye Lavette and Jim James.
How will Horn fit in with the youngbloods?
"I'll be there to give a break from the energy," he said with a chuckle, adding he'll play a piece with Donovan, then an improvisational solo with digital delay -- echo effect -- that he guarantees "will quiet the crowd."
He perfected the technique in 1968 in the Taj Mahal -- a flawless echo chamber -- that resulted in his famous album Inside.
Horn, who will travel to New York with his wife Ann Mortifee, has never played in Radio City Music Hall, although he has performed in New York many times -- twice at Carnegie Hall.
"I'm doing this because I value TM. It has immeasurably affected everything in my life and is a reflection of who I am, my music."
glitwin@tc.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
Sir Paul McCartney, who is headlining the "Change Begins Within" concert on April 4th, is a friend of David Lynch, whose Foundation is sponsoring this extraordinary event. Sir Paul took his daughter to visit Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Vlodrop, Netherlands, in the late 90's. Paul has signed on as National Co-chairman for the concert and to help raise funds for one million children to learn to meditate. The Iowa Source ran this piece about the latest addition to the concert lineup: Ringo!enjoy,
laughing crow
The big news is that Ringo Starr had tea with Paul in Los Angeles earlier this week. The night before Ringo had had dinner with some friends who told him about the school project in San Francisco. So when he met with Paul, he was very enthusiastic about participating. Paul and Ringo have not performed together for seven or eight years. The last time they performed was at a concert for George Harrison, who had just passed away. Prior to that, it may have been at least 20 years since they played together on stage. As one of our promoters said, "If these tickets don't sell within one hour after going on sale, we should all retire!" This will be a fabulous and historic event.
David Lynch is orchestrating the whole evening, and it will be a unique Lynchian event—unlike any other concert anyone has attended! He is having a lot of fun coming up with creative and unusual ideas to make it a fabulous evening.Don't wait, buy your tickets early. It's for a wonderful cause and one of the best events any of us will attend in this lifetime.
Legendary rock musician and former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, will headline the David Lynch Foundation’s benefit concert, “Change Begins Within,” at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Saturday, April 4. The concert will launch a global initiative to teach one million children the Transcendental Meditation technique.Sir Paul, who is co-chairing the event, learned the Transcendental Meditation technique in 1967 and attended a course with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India in 1968.Sir Paul will share top-billing with Donovan, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Moby, jazz flutist Paul Horn, and Mike Love of the Beach Boys.
David Lynch, Russell Simmons, Laura Dern, and other surprise guests will fill out the star-studded slate as presenters.The concert will raise funds to teach one million at-risk children the Transcendental Meditation technique, giving them the life-long tools to overcome stress and violence—and promote peace and success in their lives. Over 60,000 children in various countries have learned the Transcendental Meditation technique in the past two and a half years thanks to the David Lynch Foundation.“Over one hundred schools in the New York City area expressed interest in incorporating the Transcendental Meditation technique into their systems,” said Dr. John Hagelin. “Extensive research on the benefits of the TM technique on student health and performance as well as the tremendous educational success of Maharishi University of Management contribute to the wide acceptance of the program.”
“Teach one million kids to meditate—and we will change the world overnight,” Mr. Lynch said. “This will be a celebration of Maharishi’s life-transforming knowledge.” Mr. Lynch, an award-winning filmmaker, inspired Sir Paul and his fellow artists to honor Maharishi and help the David Lynch foundation spread peace.A limited number of excellent seats have been reserved for meditators and their families and friends. Information about tickets is available through the David Lynch Foundation.Reprinted from Maharishi University of Management e-newsletter,"Achievements."To subscribe or view issues, click here.
Posts
