WHO IS MANDALA
The Band Members:
Scott Robinson:
Born of his passion for the devotional musics of many faiths and cultures, Scott Robinson founded Mandala as to be a synthesis of the Hindu kirtan, Islamic Sufi zikr and Christian Gregorian chant traditions.
With a musical background as rich as his music, Scott is a classically trained composer and spent much of his life immersing himself in the exploration and practice of folk and world music.
Playing a variety of instruments including the tabla, percussion, and vocals, Scott brings the steady heart to the band.
Scott is a professed member of the Third Order of St. Francis and attends the Church of St. Martin in the Fields in Philadelphia.
Paul Butler:
A gifted improviser and spirited musician, Paul Butler plays a variety of wind instruments including, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Native American Wood Flutes, Bawu, Ocarinas, WX7 Wind Synthesizer.
In 1999, Paul and the Hot House trio were given the honor of being selected as Jazz Ambassadors to the Middle East by the United States State Department and the Department of Cultural Exchange. Their Ambassadorship consisted of performances and teaching residencies throughout Syria, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco, and Tunisia and offered Paul the building blocks to grow his world music experience.
He has performed concerts of improvised music with Grammy nominated Cellist David Darling; most notably at the International Cello Festival in Montreal, Canada. Paul has collaborated with David on the Massage Music Balance and Massage Music - In Tune CDs, and on the soundtrack for the Knosis film, The Song of the Stars.
Paul has been featured on numerous recordings and live performances.
Andi Mcgraw Hunt
Andi McGraw Hunt's musical experience ranges from playing flute in her university wind symphony to improvising with adults recovering from addictions to busking with her guitar on the streets of London. With many years of choral experience in church choirs, Andi deeply enjoys singing sacred music. Andi is also as a past member of Sine Nomine, a vocal ensemble specializing in 16th and 17th- century English church music.
She holds a bachelor's in music therapy from Michigan State University and a master's in music therapy from Temple University. Andi has been a practicing music therapist since 1997 and is currently a Future Faculty Fellow at Temple University pursuing a Ph.D. in the music therapy program.
She and her husband Neil live in Media, PA where they host a house concert series
Mandala: Bio
The Music of Mandala
Mandala’s first CD, Compassion, is an adventure of sacred sound and calls to the higher nature of the listener. Weaving a soundscape of Indian and Middle Eastern percussion, Western strings and winds, choral singing and liturgical chant, the music of Compassion is inspired by the 12th Century Persian mystic Rumi, the Psalms of the Hebrew Bible, and contemporary devotional poetry.
With so many places to go, the listener will revel in this enlightening CD!
Mandala’s newest CD, No Hands But Yours centers the listener upon Hindu-style Kirtan, Sufi-style zikr, and Indian and Middle Eastern percussion.
The album includes many stellar guest performers, including violinist Gloria Justen, of Orchestra 2000, saz-player Simin Goral (who formerly played with Arif Sag for Turkish National Television) and members of the Philadelphia Boys Choir.
No Hands But Yours also includes settings of several poems by participants in the Philadelphia Interfaith Youth Poetry Project.
“I just wanted to say how deeply I am appreciating the Mandala CD... have been using it for prayer mostly every day.”
--Nancy Hartsock
, Eastern University