Bonjour Azure is a compilation of Vashava's recent works involving improvisational New Age music, rooted in the traditions of his Jain/Roma ancestors from North India. Free form in nature, Bonjour Azure's nine original New Age compositions are deeply rooted in the Jain philosophy. Vashava applies the essential tenets of Jain asceticism to transcend to an enlightened mystical state while performing on his traditional wooden flutes. While occupying this alternative realm, Vashava intertwines the eternal cycling of samsara with the universal force of karma. This transcendental experience culminates in the music that flows through Vashava, arising from the six eternal substances, or dravya, of the universe: jiva, pudgala, dharma, adharma, akasha, and kala. Vashava serves as a conduit through which the utpata, vyaya, and dhrauvya converge, defining the deeply spiritual music arising from his wooden flutes. Bonjour Azure reflects the fruits of Vashava's devotion to the essential tenets of Jain asceticism.

Vashava is delighted to share with you these intimate and enlightening expressions of the Jain.

The EP, "Om Shanti" is intended to serve as a bridge from one persecuted culture to another. Vashava's maternal ancestors, the Sabajs, originated in North India as the Roma. They set out on an epic migration spurred by three distinct and separate genocidal events occurring in India (Kshatriyas warrior class), Hungary (fall of the Ottoman Empire) and Poland (World Wars I/II). As bad as things were for Vashava's ancestors, nothing compares to the American Genocide of First Nations societies. What the white man perpetrated upon the aboriginal peoples of North America defies any written description, and so Vashava has expressed it through his music.

The first track on Vashava's new EP, "Om Shanti," is "Dohi do a Dohi." This orginal composition captures the unadulterated freedom embodied by the original peoples inhabiting North America. "Dohi do a Dohi" is a Cherokee phrase, roughly translating to "freedom" and "way of truth". "Dohi do a Dohi" was performed on a C minor, Spanish cedar bass flute.

The next track, "Wasi'chu", speaks for itself. Wasi'chu is the Souix word for a fat, selfish and greedy white man. Enough said. "Wasi'chu" was performed on an F sharp, aromatic cedar flute.

Lastly, "American Genocide" communicates the sociopathic, if not psychotic mentality of the white European colonial invaders who carried out a genocide like none other in recorded human history. The savagery and blood lust of their diseased minds permeates this composition, serving as a potent reminder that Western Civilization is anything but civilized. "American Genocide" was performed on a G major, madrone burlwood flute.

Vashava acknowedges the invaluable contributions of producer and engineer, Mark Kaeder, of Falcon Studios, Portland, Oregon. The entire "Om Shanti" EP was performed on flutes hand carfted by flute maker extraordinaire, Odell Borg, in Patagonia, Arizona.

Vashava has not appropriated First Nations cultures in the publication of his new EP, "Om Shanti." Rather, as a man whose ancestors have been persecuted for maore than 1500 years, Vashava instead honors their legacy.

"Pastorali di James" is a new EP featuring four original compositions honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Edwin James (1797 - 1861). Edwin James was a 19th century Renaissance man, having achieved remarkable success as a scholar, explorer, botanist, physician, surgeon, linguist, and civil rights advocate.

The first track on "Pastorali di James" was performed on a madrone burlwood G major flute, and embodies the incredible journey undertaken by Edwin James during the Long Expedition of 1820, into the Louisiana Territory. Edwin would publish the most consequential literary work of 1823, "Account of an Expedition," which chronicled their exploration of this wild and untamed wilderness. James accomplished many feats throughout this expedition, including the collection and taxonomic description of hundreds of plant species previously unknown to Western civilization.

The next composition on the EP, "Medicine Man," was performed on a Spanish cedar B minor bass flute. Edwin James became an accomplished physician and surgeon. He served as the US Army Surgeon for the Great Lakes region from 1823 - 1833. James also established himself as the primary medical practitioner serving the Burlington, Iowa region, from 1936 until his death, in 1861. "Medicine Man" is intended to reflect James' selfless dedication to medicine and the First Nations people he served for throughout his life.

"First Fourteener" was performed on an aromatic cedar F sharp flute, is meant to convey the inspiration and emotion experienced by Edwin James, as he became the very first caucasian to scale the summit of a mountain greater than 14,000 feet in elevation, in North America. Originally named "James Peak," this mountain has since been renamed as "Pike's Peak." Subsequently, a 13,000+ feet elevation mountain, contained within the James Peak Wilderness Area of central Colorado, was named as "James Peak," in honor of Edwin James' pioneering journey into the region.

Last and by no means least, the composition "Runaway" was performed on a Spanish cedar B minor bass flute, and is dedicated to Edwin James' selfless, tireless and fearless work as a station operator for the Underground Railroad. James converted his home into a station for African American slaves fleeing the Old South by building a secret room behind his fireplace to conceal them from law enforcement authorities. Then, he transported them in his horse drawn wagon, concealing them in baskets, barrels and sacks during their arduous journey to the northern US states that had abolished slavery.

I truly hope my music did justice for Dr. Edwin James, as he has served as a guiding light not only for the Edwin James Organization, but as the primary role model shaping my own life. I acknowledge the contributions of my producer and engineer, Mark Kaeder of Falcon studios, and Odell Borg, who handcrafted the flutes used on the EP, "Pastorali di James."