Michael Green & THE ILLUMINATION BAND
Sufi Blues: High harmonies, Slide
Guitar, and Fountains of Light.
In 1997, artist Michael Green got together
with poet Coleman Barks and created THE
ILLUMINATed Rumi. Drawing on mythic images
from around the world and across the ages, he demonstrated that
digital media could gracefully contribute to the realm of the
sacred arts. THE ILLUMINATed Rumi went
on to become a national best seller, and one of the books that
have made Rumi–a 13th Century Islamic mystic–the
most popular poet in America. The merging of word and image
opened up timeless Sufi teachings to a new audience, and the
book a new classic.
Now in its sequel, ONE SONG • A New Illuminated Rumi, adds another element–music. Green joins
with an extraordinary group of musicians (Kabir Green, guitar,
vocals; David Mowry, slide guitar, vocals; Jeff Sheard, drums,
vocals; Bill Zinno, upright bass), and discovers that
Rumi’s mystical longing merges perfectly with the
familiar yearning of our own Appalachian / gospel / blues
harmonies. The songs that emerge are a hypnotic mix of
“ecstatic poetry, old-time ballads, non-duality chants
& metaphysical field hollers” that would sound
equally at home at a New Age gathering or a West-Texas truck
stop.
THE ILLUMINATION BAND is intense,
entertaining and moving. Is Jelaluddin Rumi, a Muslim mystic
from Afghanistan gearing up to emerge into American popular
music? As we nervously contemplate the headlines, the idea of
high harmonies, slide guitar, and fountains of light
undermining the Last Crusade is delicious.