Mushrafali

Mushrafali draws from many sources for his inspiration and loves to share that with others in sacred space: jazz, classical, West African, North Indian, Middle Eastern and Sufi. His instruments include piano & synthesizer, hand & mallet percussion, alto flute and voice. He has performed or recorded with jazz legends Paul McCandless (reeds), Stefon Harris (vibes), Zakir Hussain (tabla) and members of Bobby McFerrin's "Voicestra". He leads and composes for the groundbreaking 19-member "Mirabai Ensemble"--which created unique vocal/instrumental improvisations--as well as the "KRIYA" Octet and "earPlay Jazzquintet". Accompanying Sufi 'zikhrs' or sacred movement meditations is one of his passions as well as setting Sufi poetry for "earPlay" and stage magician Heather Rogers. He is currently finishing his eighth CD.

As a teacher, Mushrafali has been working privately and in groups for over 30 years and is adjunct faculty at JFK University and Sonoma State University. (He was also taught at FIREDANCE, May Fire, and SpiritFire '05). He has published numerous articles on the Musical Creativity and the Art of Practicing, and is influenced by a wide range of modalities, including: physical re-training methodology, linguistic-conceptual models, Buddhism, and training in Western and non-Western musical traditions.