Karjam Saeji
Encyclopedia
Karjam, or Karsangjamtso, Saeji is a Tibetan singer/songwriter/dancer from the grasslands near Maqu in Gansu Province in China
. He performed with the Gannan Tibetan Performance Troupe, from Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
from 1991 and moved to America in 2007. He recorded a CD, Pilgrimage, in 2007 as part of the Lopez Artist Advance Project, on Lopez Island
in Washington State. The executive producers of "Pilgrimage" were Lenedra Carroll (formerly manager for Jewel
) and Michele and Steve Heller. The producer was Ralf Illenberger
.
Karjam was one of the invited performers for the 2008 World Festival of Sacred Music held in Los Angeles
, California
. "Pilgrimage" was nominated in 2009 for the Just Plain Folks music awards, the largest independent music awards in the world, as were two of the singles off the album, "Danlih" and "Nehnijih Lirang". On August 28, 2009 at the awards show they announced that Karjam won the Asian Album award for "Pilgrimage" and was the first runner-up for the Best Asian Song with "Danlih".
He is known for his strong singing voice, frequently singing a cappella
. He also accompanies himself with the bouzouki
, the Tibetan dranyen, and sometimes on the mandolin
.
Karjam joins a fairly large group of musicians in the Tibetan tradition now active in the West, including singer Techung, singer Yungchen Lhamo
, singer Phurbu T Namgyal, flautist Nawang Khechog
and Jewish-American Tibetan-genre performer Amalia Rubin.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He performed with the Gannan Tibetan Performance Troupe, from Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in southern Gansu Province, China. It includes Xiahe and the Labrang Monastery, Luqu, Maqu, and other mostly Tibetan towns and villages...
from 1991 and moved to America in 2007. He recorded a CD, Pilgrimage, in 2007 as part of the Lopez Artist Advance Project, on Lopez Island
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands. Lopez Island is in land area. The 2000 census population was 2,177.-History:...
in Washington State. The executive producers of "Pilgrimage" were Lenedra Carroll (formerly manager for Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
) and Michele and Steve Heller. The producer was Ralf Illenberger
Ralf Illenberger
Ralf Illenberger is a German Grammy-nominated New Age guitarist.-Biography:His first appearance was in 1977 as a duet with Jürgen Kirsch. He then founded the duo Kolbe & Illenberger with the guitarist and singer Martin Kolbe, releasing the album Waves in 1978. It was nominated for the Deutscher...
.
Karjam was one of the invited performers for the 2008 World Festival of Sacred Music held in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. "Pilgrimage" was nominated in 2009 for the Just Plain Folks music awards, the largest independent music awards in the world, as were two of the singles off the album, "Danlih" and "Nehnijih Lirang". On August 28, 2009 at the awards show they announced that Karjam won the Asian Album award for "Pilgrimage" and was the first runner-up for the Best Asian Song with "Danlih".
He is known for his strong singing voice, frequently singing a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
. He also accompanies himself with the bouzouki
Bouzouki
The bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
, the Tibetan dranyen, and sometimes on the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
.
Karjam joins a fairly large group of musicians in the Tibetan tradition now active in the West, including singer Techung, singer Yungchen Lhamo
Yungchen Lhamo
Yungchen Lhamo is a Tibetan singer-songwriter and currently living in exile in New York City. She has won an Australian Record Industry Association award for best Folk/World/Traditional album, and was then signed by Peter Gabriel's Realworld Record label.She has performed with Billy Corgan and...
, singer Phurbu T Namgyal, flautist Nawang Khechog
Nawang Khechog
Nawang Khechog is a Tibetan flute player and composer.Nawang was born in Tibet, but following the Chinese invasion of 1949/1950, his family moved to India, where Nawang studied meditation and Buddhist philosophy...
and Jewish-American Tibetan-genre performer Amalia Rubin.