The Love Window
Benjy and Heather Wertheimer, also known as the musical duo Shantala, lead devotional chanting for workshops and at yoga centers across the U.S. and in Costa Rica.A founding member of the internationally acclaimed Ancient Future world fusion music ensemble, Benjy Wertheimer has studied Indian classical music for over 25 years with some of the greatest masters of that tradition (including Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Ali Akbar Khan and Z.M. Dagar.) His 2002 release Circle of Fire was #1 on the New Age Voice radio charts in November 2002. An award-winning songwriter, composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist (playing tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar and keyboards), Benjy tours frequently with Krishna Das and has toured the US, Canada and Japan with renowned bamboo flute master G.S. Sachdev. He has opened for such artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter and Narada Michael Walden. For over 5 years, Benjy scored music for the internationally syndicated NBC series Santa Barbara. He has recorded with numerous artists on such labels as A & M, Windham Hill, Narada, Nippon Phonogram, Rounder and Global Pacific, and was a contributing composer/member of the Zakir Hussain Rhythm Experience (along with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead).Heather is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, yoga teacher, and therapist, whose beautiful vocals, unique perspectives and unusual depth reflect a wide array of human experiences. Heather performs and tours with Benjy and with virtuoso guitarist Michael Mandrell. She combines her special love of both music and yoga to lead devotional chanting for workshops and spiritual gatherings. Her debut CD with Shantala, "Church of Sky," is a contemporary folk CD with musical influences from around the world. In the past, Heather was a featured vocalist in the musical "Return to Avalon" and has performed throughout the Northwest with the groups HeartStrings and Lonesome Taxi.