NAME PRONOUNCED: kar-jam say-jee, full name: Karsangjamtso Saeji; GENRE, MUSIC: musician, composer, singer, performer, dancer. Exceptionally strong singer, new to playing an instrument: Bouzouki. STYLE: Beautiful, soulful, traditional Tibetan folk songs. Timeless and satisfying. FROM: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province. EXPERIENCE: Scouted after high school by the most prestigious performance troupe in his region of Tibetan China. Then required to train for one year in a rigorous school for performers before going on tour with the troupe starting 1991. Toured China, Tibet, India, Nepal, Korea. On tour in Korea he met his American wife, they were married one year later. Moved to the U.S. A. in March of 2007 INTERESTS: his Buddhist practice, family, music, preserving Tibetan performance traditions. AWARDS: Co-winner of Lopez Artist Advance, May 2007 CD: Pilgrimage. I love this CD and play it a lot. It is a fusion of traditional Tibetan folk with contemporary instruments and themes. NOTEWORTHY: extraordinary voice and presence, beautiful melodies.
It was awesome to discover Karjam Saeji at the auditions for Lopez Artist Advance. Dressed in colorful traditional performance attire, he sang a cappella with two songs accompanied by local percussionist Jamie Cordova. His talent and presence were riveting. Producer Ralf Illenberger was extremely excited to work with such a vocal talent, and loved the possibilities of Karjam's traditional compositions. Said Illenberger, "Karjam has a world-class voice, its a privilege to work with vocal talent of this caliber. I also love his compositions...Karjam has a very strong sense of melody and writes memorable songs that reach deep."
In Karjam's music, I hear the soul of nature and a fullness of life's spirit. Raised close to nature, the son of nomadic herders of yak and sheep, it seems to me the imprint of the simple vitality and power of nature is in his bone marrow as well as his voice and songs. I think the unusual production of Illenberger forms an extremely successful musical bed for this great voice. The guitar and synthesizer arrangements bring excitement and a contemporary feel that gives the songs a modern yet timeless mood. And speaking of mood, the CD is very beautiful--it manages to be both soothing and captivating. I always feel fed at a deep level when I have this on.
Karjam's interests and concerns in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture are about the challenges and effect of modernity and globalization on the traditional lifestyle, good quality of life for his family there, and education for young people, especially his nieces and nephews. He is also interested in cultural preservation, particularly of the performing arts.
