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art & soul in trAnce JuJu When British producer/guitarist Justin Adams met up with Gambian griot and ritta (one-string iddle) player Juldeh Camera for their 2007 debut album, Soul Science, the world was introduced to the unique performance of a masterful West African instrument over a driving blues guitar. The duo's follow-up, Tell No Lies, was equally powerful, but three's the charm on the seven-song Juju. Opening with a straightforward blues track, "Nightwalk," the album covers a lot of territory, with three songs clocking in at more than 13 minutes apiece. Attempting to capture the band's live sound in full, Dave Smith and Billy Fuller were brought in on bass and drums to elevate the immense strength of these ingenious cultural meldings. While every song is a journey in itself, the 15-minute "Deep Sahara," beginning with a ritti solo and closing with a percussive jam on cajon, is an incredible example of this band's sheer force. (Real World) —DB JOurneY intO StiLLneSS guided meditations with Kundalini mantra ramdesh Kaur Some of the most beautiful music in the kirtan world comes from Spirit Voyage recording artists. Musicians on this label frequently support one another's musical endeavors, and on Journey Into Stillness, Snatam Kaur, Mirabai Ceiba, Jai-Jagdeesh and Ram Dass back up Ramdesh Kaur's smooth voice, as she guides you to a state of inner peace and stillness. With each journey into your self, your spirit and the stillness of soul, the accompanying mantra takes you deeper into the meaning and experience. Particularly beautiful is "Guided Meditation for Peace" with Snatam Kaur chanting the mantra "Ong Sohung" behind Ramdesh Kaur's gentle guidance. This would be a particularly thoughtful gift for anyone who needs relief from stress. —Paul Andrews fiLm PrOJect hAPPineSS directed by John Sorensen What creates lasting happiness? That question is the premise of the ilm and movement, Project Happiness. Depression is on the rise in America, and one in ive teens has thought about suicide in the last year, the ilm reports. Worse, one in 12 has tried it. Concerned mom Randy Taran wanted to create more happiness for herself and her family and had the brainstorm to put the task to four naturally curious and emotionally challenged teens, to try to get to the bottom of the question. They consulted other youth from Nigeria and Tibet (in India), as well as such experts as the Dalai Lama, George Lucas and Buddhist practitioner Richard Gere, along with numerous ordinary people. Among other questions they explored the difference between pleasure, which is short term; and joy, which is generally long-term and often linked to taking care of others. Children, for example, teach us compassion and unconditional love, and are one of the greatest sources of joy. The Dalai Lama told the teens that, "the main thing is warm-heartedness and trust." Actor Richard Gere pointed out the tenet of Buddhism that all sentient creatures move toward happiness and away from suffering, and that suffering is an impediment to opening our hearts. In the film we watch the American teens open their hearts to their international counterparts, and see their astonishment at discovering their similarities. We don't get to know the characters well enough to care deeply about them—although Prabha Sharan, product of an Indian orphanage, tugs our heartstrings—but it's impossible not to care about the peace they're waging. Nobody can give us the keys to happiness, the teens ultimately realize, but we can choose it for ourselves. Project Happiness continues to offer the happiness curriculum to schools that understand this concept and want to share the tools. The path to world peace and happiness may ultimately lie with the next generation of youth. At least if Project Happiness has anything to say about it. (Beyond Words Publishing) —Abigail Lewis To join the international movement to give people of all ages the tools they need to ignite their own happiness, go to www.projecthappiness.org. Promote your products in the February/March issue's Valentine's GIFT GUIDE 310-425-3056 • DeaDline January 21 34 A&S_01.indd 34 wholelifetimesmagazine.com 11/27/12 4:09 PM