Laraaji (born Edward Larry Gordon, 3 May 1943) is an American multi-instrumentalist specializing in piano, zither and mbira. His albums include the 1980 release Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, produced by Brian Eno as part of his Ambient series.
Born Edward Larry Gordon in Philadelphia,[2] he studied violin, piano, trombone and voice in his early years in New Jersey.[3] He attended Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C., where he studied composition and piano.[4] After studying at Howard, he spent time in New York City pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian and actor, as well as playing Fender Rhodes electric piano in a jazz-rock band ‘Winds of Change’.[5]
In the early 1970s, he began to study Eastern mysticism and believed he had found a new path for his music and his life. It was also at this time he bought his first zither from a local pawn shop. Converting it to an electronic instrument, he began to experiment using the instrument like a piano. By 1978, he developed enough skill to begin busking in the parks and on the sidewalks of New York. He favored the northeast corner of Washington Square Park, where he would improvise for hours on end with his eyes closed.[6]
The following year he was encountered by Brian Eno while playing in Washington Square Park,[7] who went on to produce his most widely recognized release, Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, the third installment of Brian Eno's Ambient series.[8] This was his first album released under the name of Laraaji.
This international exposure led to requests for longer versions of his compositions which he supplied to meditation groups on cassette tapes. It also resulted in an expansion of his mystic studies with such gurus as Swami Satchidananda and Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, founder of the Ananda Ashram in Monroe, New York.[9]
In 2022, Laraaji joined with Medicine Singers—a group of Native American ritual performance artists in partnership with other artists—to play on their self-titled album.[10]
Laraaji started the Laughter Meditation Workshops, which he still presents around the globe.[11][when?]
In 2023, Pitchfork awarded Segue To Infinity "Best New Reissue" and declared that the album "should definitively put a nail in the coffin of the narrative of Laraaji as a street busker who was simply “discovered” by (Brian) Eno, instead cementing him as an preeminent figure in ambient and new-age music’s history."[13]
Discography
Celestial Vibration (Swan, 1978) – under the name Edward Larry Gordon
Through Luminous Eyes (All Saints Records, 2020) cassette only, available as triple cassette boxset with Sun Piano and Moon Piano.
Circle of Celebration (NOUS with Laraaji and Arji OceAnanda - 2021)
Segue To Infinity (Numero Group, 2023) – includes Celestial Vibration (1978) "with three discs of early, unreleased material, all produced around the same time"[23][24]
With others
Automatic (Gyroscope, 1994) – as part of Channel Light Vessel
Excellent Spirits (All Saints Records, 1996) – as part of Channel Light Vessel
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