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Rocker-T and Joan Baez Perform Live Duet at Northern California's 31st Annual Harmony Festival

Rocker-T, the internationally-renowned, ground-breaking, and award-winning Reggae and World Music recording artist, delivered an unexpected and exhilarating live acoustic performance of his new single, "The Way Life Should Be..." to the capacity crowd at Northern California’s 31st Annual Harmony Festival accompanied by singer and human rights activist Joan Baez with Gabriel Harris, Joan's son, on percussion. And for those that don’t believe “lighting strikes twice,” the duo delivered a surprise and equally rousing second live performance of the song later the same evening. "The Way Life Should Be..." is from the new Epiphyte Records EP release, featuring five mixes of the duet single "Luv is the Foundation" written and performed by Rocker-T with Joan Baez.

The first early afternoon mainstage set featured Rocker-T, backed by a 50 voice Choir, performing “Rise Up and Stand” to the audience of approximately 3,000. In the first of the two impromptu guest performances, Joan then joined Rocker-T on stage to perform her legendary "Gracias" before the two segued into "The Way Life Should Be..." The set ended with a powerful version of "Amazing Grace" which, backed by the Choir, was the high point of their first performance together.

Rocker-T opened his second evening set with his longtime classic, "Tru Ganjaman" and then another rousing performance of “Rise Up and Stand.” Rocker-T then introduced Joan who performed Steve Earle’s "God is God" and "Gracias" before the two joined in the duet of "The Way Life Should Be..." to close out their set.

At the day’s end, Rocker-T said, “The on-stage chemistry between Joan and I, fed by the audience’s energy, has left us all with a deep and gratifying feeling of elation. I hope that this will be the first of many more live collaborations between Joan and I.” A beaming Joan Baez stated, “I had a wonderful day.”

Other artists featured on this year’s event included: Michael Franti, India.Arie, Matisyahu, Cake, K’Naan, Kitaro, Steve Kimock, Dead Kennedys, and the Bad Brains.

Rocker-T and the More Luv Band will perform at Temple in San Francisco on August 13, 2009, as part of an Epiphyte Records label showcase/release party for “Luv is the Foundation.”

The Annual Harmony Festival, described as a hybrid between Burning Man and Bioneers – and the longest running festival on the West Coast - is a celebration of new ideas, community activism, eco-awareness, uplifting music, and more, in a green, family-friendly environment.

For more info, to request a review copy of “Luv is the Foundation”, or arrange an interview with Rocker-T, please contact Christopher Buttner, at chris@prthatrocks.com.

CDs of this EP release are available in fine retail stores everywhere or directly from Epiphyte Records website. Digital downloads of the EP are also available now on I-tunes and other digital music stores worldwide.

RockOm's Interview with Grammy-award winning composer, Kitaro
By Tom Crenshaw, tom@RockOm.net

For over a quarter century, Japan's Kitaro has been an internationally recognized icon and globally acclaimed composer and musician. Influenced early on by American rock and R&B, Kitaro began experimenting with synthesizers and a rainbow of unconventional sounds in the mid-'70s. His pioneering fusion of electronic artistry, traditional Japanese forms and pop-inflected Western idioms created a lush, harmonic, and poetic sound that won the now legendary artist a huge international following.

1980's Volume 1 in the revered Silk Road series is considered an all-time masterpiece, with subsequent volumes only adding to its luster. '87's Grammy nominated The Light Of The Spirit, a collaboration with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, exceeded sales of two million in the U.S. alone, elevating Kitaro's presence to an unprecedented degree. 1992's Transcendent Dream, made with Yes' Jon Anderson, was also a smash, and other highlights are too numerous to single out. In 1993 Kitaro won a Golden Globe for his soundtrack to the Oliver Stone movie Heaven and Earth. 2000's Thinking Of You won a Grammy for Best New Age Album.

Kitaro has been quoted in the past saying that his music comes from a power beyond, “from heaven,” to be exact and that it flows through his body and out of his fingers when he composes. The fact that he has never studied music, doesn’t read or write music and, according to him, "never practices," makes it hard to fathom where those beautiful, out-of-this-world sounds come from.

This week marks the release of Kitaro’s latest project, music for a documentary film entitled Toyo's Camera. Toyo’s Camera captures the compelling stories of the internment camps in which Japanese Americans were held during World War II. While cameras were prohibited in internment camps there was one photographer who smuggled in a lens and built a camera with it to capture life behind barbed wires. That photographer was Toyo Miyatake. The film's story is told through over 400 photographs and is a collaboration of world renowned artists including photographers Toyo Miyatake, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and musicians Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) and film director Junichi Suzuki.

RockOm: What was your initial response when you were approached to compose the music for the Toyo’s Camera documentary?

Kitaro: It was an honor. This was a very important time in the history of Japanese Americans. The fact that they selected my music to represent these people in this important film is quite humbling. Most of the tracks are from previous works of mine. I am also an avid photographer so, of course that aspect of things made it especially interesting to me, but mostly the history is what is important to me about this film.

RockOm: You collaborated with Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda on the music for Toyo’s Camera. Had you two worked together before?

Kitaro: They utilized one of Mike's songs for the film - but we just missed recording together. We did try to work together for a special track, but Mike's band mate hurt his back in China of all places, so I think the schedules suddenly changed and we weren't able to do it in the end. But I know we did what we could to make it happen. Maybe next time; it would be great.

RockOm: What do you enjoy most about collaborating? Tell us about your experiences working with Mickey Hart and the essence of collaborating. Do you see a day when you will collaborate again on projects?

Kitaro: Again, funny you ask. We're talking to Mickey Hart about maybe doing something again (that might be a scoop). The collaborative process is always interesting because it takes you out of your comfort zone and you end up making different decisions during the actual recording. It's often refreshing. It allows you to go places musically you don't normally go.

RockOm: You’re quoted as saying, "I never had education in music; I just learned to trust my ears and my feelings." You’ve also stated, 'Whose song is this?' I write my songs, but they are not my songs." Where does music come from?

Kitaro: It's all about nature and mother earth for me. I learned playing the guitar and now perform more with keyboards, so that allows me to think about music from two varying sides of creation. We must respect the earth. That's the inspiration for me, always.

RockOm: Is all music essentially spiritual?

Kitaro: For me, absolutely.

RockOm: You infuse Indian, Chinese and European music into your own unique sound; but initially you were inspired by R&B. How important is having a passion for diversity to a musician’s evolution into developing their own style or sound?

Kitaro: The rhythms emanating from R&B music are so different from eastern music. I think that's why the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis always were inspired by [R&B].

RockOm: How long do you intend to observe the August full moon at Mt. Fuji with your annual concert?

Kitaro: As long as my schedule permits. It's quite amazing.

RockOm: How do you see music, in general, evolving in the next five to 10 years?

Kitaro: I hope the CD business stays alive. Downloading music is cool - one song at a time - but many of my projects have a common theme, so it isn't always about a hit single for me and others like me in the world music arena. I even see vinyl making a comeback with some artists, which I love because again, digital is cool, but sometimes you get more warmth with vacuum tubes instead of chips.

RockOm: If you couldn’t play music any longer what do you think you would spend your time doing?

Kitaro: Photography is my second love; definitely photography.

RockOm: The great jazz musician Sun Ra is quoted as saying, "The planet is asleep and it's the fault of musicians who are untrue to themselves." Do you believe this?

Kitaro: I think most musicians try to remain true to themselves. I think some people on the planet may be sleepwalking sometimes, but the beauty of the planet is ever-changing, never sleeping and always glorious.

RockOm: Your Japanese nickname translates to “a much happy man”. Are you truly a happy man and are you content with your life?

Kitaro: So lucky, so peaceful, so busy... so happy!

www.domo.com

www.toyoscamera.com

www.myspace.com/kitaronetwork

Pictured in the photo are: Director - Junichi Suzuki, Toyo Miyatake's Son - Archie Miyatake, Kitaro

One of the joys of being a part of RockOm is being introduced to killer new bands who actually have something to say. Enter Audrye Sessions - the authors of this week's RockOm featured track of the week. Their song "Turn Me Off" is being offered as a free download this week for registered RockOm users and you'll also get a chance tomorrow to hear from frontman Ryan Karazija in an interview on the RockOm podcast.

Also be sure to check in at the end of this week for an exclusive interview with Grammy award winning musician and composer, Kitaro.