By Nancy Weingartner Monroe

Published: 2017.04.21 10:34 AM

Hamid Jabbar gave up his practice of law for a full-time yoga/meditation practice.

The trials and tribulations of multi-tasking as an intellectual properties litigator brought Hamid Jabbar to the mat, first as a yoga instructor and then as a meditation guide.

Jabbar, who studied music at NYU before earning his law degree at UCLA, got into meditation when he first started practicing law. Law created a disconnection between me and my body, he says.

While we thought Jabbar was a novelty, he says, Its not that uncommon to find lawyers who teach yoga and meditation. But to do it welland full timerequires leaving behind all the lawyer trappings of expensive homes, fancy cars, Rolex watches, fine wine, five-star hotels in Europe. You get the picture.

The 37-year-old is one of the instructors at a new franchise, Current Meditation, in Phoenix, that was started by family members from three health-related franchises, Massage Envy, European Wax and Amazing Lashes. Ross Weisman is the CEO of Current.

Mindfulness is making its way into the mainstream. Most yoga classes have a few minutes at the end of the session to close your eyes and concentrate on your breath, but its not enough. Yoga has become exercise, for the most part, Weisman says. Which is why his meditation studios will be separate facilities, not just add-ons for yoga studios or gyms.

Meditation has been described as being akin to rebooting your internal computer. Benefits include reduction of stress, improved concentration, increased happiness and slowing the aging process. While waiting for the franchise to get up and running, here are some tips from Jabbar on how to do begin a meditation practice on your own:

Get in a comfortable position (sitting, lying down, lying in a hammock) and close your eyes;

Turn off all external distractions (thoughts, cell phones, fitness trackers, barking dogs may have to be marooned temporarily in the backyard);

Switch from a tight-breathing model to a more relaxed state of being;

Try to clear your mind of all thoughts, good or bad;

Breathe in through your nose, out through your nose;

Try not to fall asleep, but dont get focused on staying awakebreathe.

Start with a minute and gradually work your way up to 10 minutes, then 20 minutes, then longer.

And that iswhy theres a need for guided classes.

Jabbar says he thought about buying a franchise, but decided, I just prefer to teach.

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You Can Try This At Home, But Meditation Studios Are Currently in Vogue - Franchise Times (blog)

Spoiler alert: These are the colors of the six levels.

What if a meditation app didnt ask you to focus on your breathing? What if you didnt have to listen to someones voice telling you what to think about? A new meditation app, Sway, takes a different approach.

Instead, Sway (iOS, $2.99) connects your mind and body by asking you to move your phone slowly and continuously. When you do, it plays soothing sounds and undulates a colorful landscape on your screen. If you move too fast or too slow, it chimes and asks if youre ready to end the session.

Ive tried a lot of meditation apps, and Sway is the most beautiful Ive seen. The aesthetic comes from UsTwo, the same people who designed the achingly gorgeous Monument Valley game. And I love that it doesnt ask me to focus on my breathing, because when I do that my nose always starts to feel weird.

To keep you coming back, Sway has six levels, and you can only unlock one each day. If you miss a day, you backtrack a level. On the first day, you meet your goal (announced with a gentle chime) after just three minutes. The next day, it takes four. Then six, then 10, and finally 20 minutes. The apps makers hope you build a 20-minute-a-day habit.

The levels have different colors and, I think, different soundscapes. Each level introduces a different idea, too. At first, you just move your phone. In the second level, youre encouraged to look away from the screen (pretty as it is) and use sound from your headphones as your feedback. My favorite was the level called Balance, where you walk as slowly as possible, challenging yourself to stay steady even while youre on one foot. Youre just walking, but mindfully.

You may feel a little self conscious Swaying while waiting for the bus, although happily it works just fine to have the phone in your pocket while youre walking from place to place. In any case, this app is a novel way to meditate that is easy on the eyes and the ears.

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Sway Is a Beautiful Meditation App That Doesn't Tell You What to Think - Lifehacker Australia

USA TODAY Sports' Tom Pelissero examines the 5 quarterback prospects that have the best chance of being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. USA TODAY Sports

David Njoku(Photo: Associated Press)

The first time David Njoku took a seat in Todd Hartleys room, it didnt go well.

Hartley had just been hired as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach of the Miami Hurricanes. It was the spring of 2016. Njoku, a promising tight end, was one of the handful of Hurricanes watching film. The others pulled out notepads and jotted down Hartleys pointers. Hartley noticed that Njoku, keeping his eyes attached to the projector, didnt. Hartley continued, anyway.

Several minutes passed. Hartleys eyes kept returning to Njoku. He felt himself distracted at the sight of Njoku, no pen or paper. He couldnt help it.

Dude, Im getting pissed, Hartley said. You should be taking notes.

Njoku, after all, had only played tight end one season of his entire career.

What he was doing was he was watching, he was listening, Hartley told USA TODAY Sports in a phone call. He is an unbelievable learner at seeing something. Hes so visual that he didnt have to take notes. He saw it and went out to the field and applied it and did it.

Njoku may be the most intriguing prospect in the draft, and now, hes using another visual tool to help his transition to the NFL: meditation.

NFL draft TE rankings: Impressive class could be in high demand

For the better part of this past year, Njoku watched and scrutinized film of the great Miami tight ends of the past: Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham, Kellen Winslow, Clive Walford. Then he cued up tape from his own one-on-one battles in practice, put the clips in slow mo, and analyzed every aspect of his hand placement, route running, catching, footwork.

Then, I go home, meditate a little bit, visualize myself doing those extra things, Njoku told USA TODAY Sports in a phone call recently.

Whether it was a certain route, running it a certain way, or after the catch, trying to find a way to break tackles with a juke, a stiff arm, a hurdle, or a spin move or whatever it was I sit down, play some nice music, and meditate and focus on more of my instincts and reactions, imagining defenders when I have the ball in my hands. I think that really helped me.

Njokus schedule is a little tighter now, well into the pre-draft process, but he does this every day to every other day. If hes running late, hell unplug for just five minutes. With more time, he stretches it to about 20. Hell do it in bed before he goes to sleep, or in the middle of the day.

It has all paid off.

Njoku caught 43 passes for 698 yards (16.2 yards per reception average) in 2016. He hauled in eight touchdowns or one on 18.6 % of his receptions.

This past season he caught passes and ran for huge chunks of yards that youd normally see from a deep threat: 76, 54, 48, 46, 33, and 30.

Is this the year there's a first-round run on tight ends in the NFL draft?

Njokus athletic traits shine. Hes 6-foot-4, 246-pounds with a track background that boasts a high school national championship in high jump. His 4.64-second 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical leap and 133-inch broad jump at the NFL scouting combine all reinforce whats available on film.

But hes raw. Njoku started playing football in seventh grade. Miami recruited him as a receiver, but his Freshman 15 turned into a Freshman 30. Coaches tried him at linebacker for one week, something Njoku said humbled him. Eventually they settled on tight end.

He has played the position for only two seasons. At Miami, he appeared in just 26 games and only started nine times. He wont turn 21 until July, and is one of the youngest players eligible for this years NFL draft.

I can do it all, Njoku said. I can line up on the line of scrimmage attached, or go outside and make it happen at receiver. It hasnt really stopped me or made me think twice of making this step and coming out. Ive only played tight end for about two years. Im new to the position, but I think Im improving very fast. I think I can only get better from here on out.

Said Hartley: You can tell he has immense talent, but he just hasnt had enough reps to perfect his craft. His ceiling is so high.

So now, Njoku is trying to become the first tight end selected in the first round of the draft since 2014, when the Detroit Lions chose Eric Ebron with the No. 10 pick. Hell compete for that distinction with Alabamas O.J. Howard.

Im very relaxed, Njoku said. I feel like I put in all the work that I was supposed to put in. I showed everybody what I could do. Honestly, I feel like I could do even more than what I showed. But whatever team drafts me will see that. Im calm, you know? I probably wont be on draft day, but right now, Im relaxed.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes

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Draft prospect David Njoku uses meditation to help him improve as a TE - USA TODAY

Life is shaped by our thoughts. (Photo: Bill Smith, Flickr)

After fumblingfor about four months with my mindfulness and meditation practices, I've finally regained some motivation and balance. (In my head, I'm doing a dorky, shameless happy dance about this.)

I'm back at it more regularly, which issatisfying and calming. And I'm thankful I managed to keep up efforts enough to bring myself back to it.

Even when my practices were waning, I thought a lot about themthe need, the benefits, the results of not practicing, how they fit into my overall life goals.

And maybe the simple act of reflecting has given me some additional clarity. It feels that way now.

So here are four musings I've had recently about mindfulness/meditation.

Each morning when I step outside, I try to take a few deep breaths and really feel the morning's beauty, instead of rushing out the door and missing it. This week, I took time to appreciate simple and slightly drooping irises. (Photo: Staff)

They're a lifestyle, a mindset.Even when I wasn't actively meditating every day, I held on to mindful tendencies.

I personally distinguish mindfulness and meditation, although some don't. But for me, meditation is actually sitting for a period of time in silence, focusing on breath, the present moment or a specific visualization, which can be guided by a teacher or app.

Mindfulness can be done throughout the day and involves focusing on specific tasks and being present.It's fully engaging in whatever moment you're in without judgment and distraction. It's being outside the egoic mind.

It's walking to work and feeling the way each footstep hits the ground, instead of meandering mindlessly or multitasking and checking emails on your phone. It's noticing and appreciating a lovely purple iris speckled with dew.

It's a certain awareness.

I definitelyfind it easier to be mindful when I'm meditating regularly, but I came to appreciate that I can utilize mindfulness techniques at any time. I can take a few centering breaths in a moment of stress. I don't have to be a slave to my racing, anxiety-ridden mind.

These techniques don't make all my problems or worries go away. But they aren't supposed to.

They make you uncomfortable.I've touched on this before, and the idea has proved itself true again.

Sometimes during meditation, there's nothing to do but sit with my anxiety, which is sometimes just there and outside my control.

It'd be easier to distract myself from it, and if that distraction came in the form of cleaning or other chores (it usually doesn't), perhaps that's productive.

But sitting with anxiety, which is anchored physically in my body, is also fruitful. It's uncomfortable, but worthwhile, because it builds a resilience that can't be cultivated when the mind is distracted.

Similarly, practicing mindfulness, especially during times of anxiety or depression, doesn't evoke the "let-me-take-a-moment-to-notice-this-lovely-flower" feeling.

But just as important as recognizing life's beauty is being able to observe and accept unpleasant realities without judgment.

It's not fun or easy, but it builds an invaluable wherewithal and inner strength that make dealing with the ebb and flow of emotions less painful.

The acceptance and exploration of negative emotions also provide learning opportunities. We might be surprised what happens when we listen to ourselves and our feelings. They might be telling us something, and we just need to quiet down so we can hear the lesson.

Additionally, what we resist will persist. Learning how to accept inevitable discontentment will allow us to move past it.

They open up the world.Although practicing mindfulness and meditation can bring into focus uncomfortable realities of life, it also opens up your world in a marvelous way.

It wakes us up; it helps combatnarcissism; it creates balance and can positively impact your life perspective.

The lessons practiced in mindfulness and meditation can be applied to life.

During meditation, we might be able to quiet the mind to focus on the moment or breath for only a few seconds. The more you practice, the easier it gets to do it for longer, but it's natural that the mind might wander.

Teachers will direct you not to judge yourself for that and not to judge your thoughts. You just gently redirect your focus back to the breath and the current moment. The practice might involve doing this over and over. You literally just start over every second, if needed.

There's a certain comfort that comes when you apply that practice to daily life.Every second is a chance to start over, do something better, to change your mindset or refocus on the present moment.

They promote a positive perspective.When we get outside our maddening minds, there's more room for kindness, empathy and optimism.

When we are present, there's more opportunity to observe, listen and learn.

When we are quiet, that's when we can connect deeply with ourselves and with life.

All this promotes a positive life perspective, which is priceless.

After all, life is mostly what we think it is.

The opinions expressed in this column belong solely to the author, not Nooga.com or its employees.

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4 musings on mindfulness, meditation - Nooga.com

Artist Justin Matherly's New Show Is a Meditation on Healing Wall Street Journal (subscription) Justin Matherly's interest in rebirth is so pervasive that even the materials he used to make his newest works reflect the concept. All but one of the sculptures in his show A recrudescence, opening April 22 at Paula Cooper Gallery, were made out of ...

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Artist Justin Matherly's New Show Is a Meditation on Healing - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Photo Courtesy: satramana.org

Although fully enlightened, Ramana lived thesimplest of lives and remained mostly in silence Ramana Maharshi was the epitome of simplicity. He lived what he preached. It so happened that the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, came to visit Ramana Maharshi in his ashram, at the base of Arunachal. The ashramites started cleaning and decorating the ashram for the occasion. It was the tradition at Ramana ashram to feed animals first, followed by the beggars and guests.

Ashram residents would be the last to eat. This practice started by Ramana continues in the ashram.

On that day the beggars and monks were told to stay under a tree a little further away from the ashram and that they would be fed there. The president came and went straight to Ramanas hut to meet him. But he was not there. Everyone was perplexed because Ramana never left his hut. The president waited for him there and the ashramites started to search for Ramana but couldnt find him anywhere. After a long search, they found Ramana sitting under the same tree designated for the beggars. The ashram residents persuaded him to come back to his hut. Once he reached the hut, Rajendra Prasad touched Ramanas feet in reverence and asked him why he was sitting with the beggars.

Ramana answered, It was repeatedly announced in the ashram that the beggars should go and wait for their meal under that tree. I also have been a begging monk my whole life. Thats why I went and stayed with the other beggars.

Today is the Mahaparinirvan day of this rare saint who lived in South India in the past century.

Although fully enlightened, Ramana lived the simplest of lives and remained mostly in silence. He was born at 1.00am on December 30th 1879 in Tiruchuzhi, a small village in Tamil Nadu, 30 kilometers from Madurai, the famous Hindu pilgrimage in South India. He is considered the anshavatar, part manifestation of Shiva. Ramana came to his abode, the Arunachal hill, two hundred kilometers east of Madras, at the age of seventeen and lived there for the next 44 years. Arunachal is thought to be the Kailash of South India and is considered the physical manifestation of Shiva.

Ramanas father, Sundaram Ayyar, was a rural lawyer who was known for his honesty and purity. All the people in the area respected his honesty and truthfulness, even thieves. One day a group of thieves stole goods from a bullock cart. When they found that the goods belonged to Sundaram, they promptly returned it. Even the thieves did not like robbing him. His mother Alagamma was also equally pure and saintly. When Ramana was 12, his father died and the familys difficult times started. Since they lived in a joint family, Ramanas uncle, Subbir, took on the responsibility of Ramanas family, and they moved to his house at Madurai. Subbir loved Ramana dearly. He was admitted to Scotts Middleschool, but Ramana had no interest in formal studies. He would rather spend his time playing, wandering around and meditating in the nearby temples.

One day an elderly relative came to visit Subbirs house. Ramana asked him where he was from. When the relative said that he was from Arunachal, Ramana was thrown into a sudden ecstasy.

Ramana had often heard of Arunachal but when he realized that the holy hill was a real tangible place on earth that men could visit, he felt a magnetic pull towards Arunachal.

An event that occurred when Ramana was 17 brought about the great turn in his life. One day in mid-June 1896, he had the experience of death. In his own words, The shock of the fear of death drove my mind inwards and I said to myself mentally without actually framing the words, Now death has come; what does it mean? What is it that is dying?

He felt his consciousness leave his body. His body lay dead but his consciousness felt fully alive.

For the first time he experienced the eternal nature of the soul. This event made him absolutely introverted and he lost all interest in his studies and any other external work. Annoyed by his lack of interest in anything, his brother Nagaswami scolded him, You dont know how to study and neither do you help out in household chores. It is better that you become a wandering monk.

One day Nagaswami asked Ramana to go and pay his college fees and handed him five rupees.

Instead of paying his brothers college fees, Ramana used the money to go to Arunachal. When he found that it cost just three rupees to reach Arunachal, he left two rupees in an envelope along with a note for his brother that became famous later. It said, I am leaving home in search of my lord as it is his wish. This is a spiritual journey. None of you should be sad and dont waste money and energy trying to find me. I havent paid your college fees. I have taken three rupees and the rest of the money is in the envelope.

When he reached Madurai station, it was already past the departure time of the train to Villupuram, but miraculously it only left once Ramana got on it. A Muslim priest who suddenly appeared in the train saw that Ramana was divinely possessed and asked him where he was heading. The priest then informed Ramana that the train was going to Tiruvannamalai and disappeared as mysteriously as he had appeared. Ramana reached Tiruvannamalai on the morning of September 1, 1896, where after the darshan of the Arunachal temple and hill, he went into a deep and blissful trance. After that he never left Arunachal till he left his body on April 14, 1950.

When he reached Arunachal he had very few possessions with him. However, after the darshan of his beloved Arunachal he decided to get rid of whatever little was left with him. It included a little money, food and clothes. He tore a piece from one of his shirts and turned it into a loincloth, which became his only possession from then on. He started meditating inside the temple of the thousand pillars. When others of his age saw that he was entranced in deep meditation they started to play pranks on him. Ramana was fed up with their pranks so he left his spot and started meditating in the basement of the temple where there was a Shivalinga, which was called the Patallingam. The youths stopped bothering him there but the Patallingam was heavily infested by insects since no sunlight reached there. The insects bit him all over his body but Ramana, who was in deep samadhi, took no notice.

Seeing such deep vairagya (detachment) in a young boy, a local sadhu, Shosadri Swami, started to care for Ramana. He started protecting Ramana from the local boys as well as from the insects. He then shifted Ramana to a safe place in a different temple. Slowly Ramanas vairagya and his ability to sit in one place, drowned in bliss for days, made him famous in the area. Curious folk started coming to have darshan of this silent young saint. Ramana spent time in various temples of Tiruvannamalai and in the end he came to the Virupaksha cave in the Arunachal hill. Eventually Ramana Maharshi and the Arunachal hill became synonymous with each other. Due to his presence Arunachal became famous around the world. If someone came and asked him a question, he would only gaze at the questioner with utmost compassion. After a while the questioners questions would disappear and he would be filled with great peace and spiritual fulfillment.

The Superintendent of British Police in Vellore, F. H. Humphreys, came in contact with Ramana Maharshi in the most interesting manner. Humphreys became the Superintendent of Police of Vellore at the age of 21. Due to his past life sanskars, Humphreys was a clairvoyant seer and regularly had spiritual visions. While meditating, he started to frequently see the vision of a young saint clad only in a white loincloth sitting on a hill. He made a sketch of his recurrent vision and started showing it around. The locals said that it must be Ramana Maharshi of Arunachal.

Humphreys came to Arunachal on his motorcycle all the way from Vellore, eighty-seven kilometers away. He parked his bike at the base of the hill and started scaling it in his heavy policemans uniform. The extreme midday heat and the uphill climb left Humphreys exhausted and parched.

Ramana was sitting quietly under a tree as usual. When Humphreys came near him, Ramana kept on looking at him without blinking. They were both of the same age. Humphreys couldnt take his eyes off Ramanas gaze. After 15 minutes Humphreys felt as refreshed as he had ever been before. His exhaustion disappeared and he felt as if he was bathing under a fresh spring.

Humphreys had come there with countless spiritual questions but in Ramanas presence, his questions started to sublimate. Neither did Humphreys ask any question, nor did Ramana have to utter a word. Humphreys felt so light that he thought he could fly. Without saying anything to Ramana, he started to climb down the hill. He was so elated that he spontaneously broke into a dance. While climbing up he was a serious police officer full of questions and queries; on returning he was happy and joyous like a little boy, without a tinge of worry on his face. Such was Ramana Maharshis magic.

Humphreys was Ramana Maharshis first western disciple and he visited him frequently. His love for Ramana started to grow and he asked him if he could leave his profession and give up Christianity. Ramana said, No, you need not renounce anything at all. If the need to renounce is so great then why dont you renounce your assumption that you are this body? Search deeply within for your real self. To go into this search, there is no need to quit your profession or your religion.

Along with Humphreys, there were a few other seekers from the West who knew the value of Ramana Maharshi and made him known to the world. Among them were Paul Brunton, Arthur Osborne, SS Cohen and Major AW Chadwick.

Such was the power of Ramanas silence. Ramana was in silence most of his life and his silence was totally alive and powerful. It would take seekers to a deeper space and transform them more than did the discourses of many masters. Just one compassionate glance by him would bring deep peace and contentment to many of his devotees.

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On Ramana Maharshi - Republica

Community members will be able to eat steak, dance and participate in a live auction this Saturday while supporting animal welfare.

The Monroe County Humane Associations annual Tails on the Town fundraiser will take place Saturday at the Bloomington Country Club. The event, which includes dinner, music, dancing and auctions, will bring in 200 attendees and raise more than 20 percent of the associations annual budget.

The event is vital in funding the associations many programs, including a low-income veterinary clinic, a pet food pantry, mobile vaccine clinics, animal education initiatives and an animal therapy team.

Its a fun evening to get together and relax and have fun supporting animal welfare in our community, event coordinator Kimberly Goy said.

Planning the event has been anything but relaxing, Goy said.

Goy and her team started planning for the event last December. They coordinated with the donors, the hosts at the country club, the auctioneers and the attendees to make sure the event runs smoothly.

If anything does go wrong, she said they will just have to roll with the punches.

Theres always something that goes wrong, but you just deal with it and put a smile on your face and remember why youre doing all this, she said.

Goy also said planning the event would have been impossible without the support of her committee, interns, volunteers and donors.

Almost everything from the centerpieces to the wine and beer was donated, she said. The wine came from Oliver Winery. The beer was from Upland Brewery. The desserts were donated by Kroger, and the dinner of crab cakes, grilled sirloin and vegetable strudels came from the country club.

I could sit at my desk all day, and I still wouldnt be able to do this myself, she said. It takes a community.

After all the planning, Goy said the best feeling in the world is to see the event come together. The end product makes all the work worth it, she said.

Theres just a huge sigh of relief, and then you look around the room and see the attendees smiling and laughing and having fun and just being happy to support the cause, Goy said.

One of Goys favorite parts of the evening is the auction, which includes smaller items such as yoga classes, golf instruction, and local food and restaurant vouchers.

The live auction comes next. Professional auctioneers present items such as a private airplane ride over Monroe County, a hot air balloon ride and an experience playing and painting with walruses at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Goy said attendees can be competitive during the live auctions, and it can fun to see them dress up in fancy cocktail dress, then throw up their bid cards while yelling at the auctioneers.

After the auctions, attendees will dance and listen to music by a Bloomington-based folk and rock band called Five Spoke Wheel. They will also hear representatives from the humane association speak about the changes they have undergone and the things they have accomplished in the past year.

While Tails on the Town is almost sold out for this year, Goy said there are plenty of opportunities for people to help out during the rest of the year. Volunteers can help plan events, help at the veterinary clinic and work with animal ambassadors at schools after filling out an online application.

Goy said the humane association is here to serve the community but it cannot do that without the support of that community. As a result, she said she is grateful to everyone who helps organize the event and keeps the association running every day.

We cant do this on our own, she said. We need all of you. We need the community.

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Tails on the Town to offer night of dinner, music and auctions to support animal welfare - Indiana Daily Student

Folk musician Gregory Alan Isakovperformed a 90-minute set including a yet-to-be-released song off an upcoming album in front of a lively audience at Liberty Hall Wednesday night. Lawrence was the first stop on Isakovs tour to promote his 2016 album Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony." The album is a collection of songs from Isakovs previous five albums, but reimagined with the accompaniment of a full orchestra.

Opening musician Sera Cahoone started the show with a brief set of fun, thoughtful American roots songs about love and the Colorado landscape. Cahoone and her violinist told the audience that theyd misplaced the money made from merchandise sales.

They werent kidding.

I feel like were going to find it because you guys bring a good energy, Cahoone said.

A constant chatter came from the audience for most of Cahoones set mostly from the bar area but the conversation wasnt rude or apathetic. Cahoone and Isakovs music created a relaxing, no-rules atmosphere.

At the beginning of the night, the line for the show was out the door at the scheduled 8 p.m. start time, with the performances running late. Free State High School seniors Mariah Houston and Kahler Weibe attended the show together at Wiebes request, who has been listening to Isakovs music for years. She said when she found out Isakov was coming to town, she immediately made plans to attend.

I was like, I am going to this concert, Wiebe said.

Houston, who plays the French horn in the Free State High School marching band, said she was looking forward to seeing Isakovs numerous instrumentalists perform.

After Cahoone's performance, Isakov came out alone, holding his guitar on a stage decorated with lamps painted to look like globes. The rest of his band joined him after the first song. Five musicians, each of whom played multiple instruments throughout the night, enthusiastically accompanied Isakovs songs. The violinist danced around stage during the more upbeat numbers, leaning over to jam with the guitarist or play along with the drummer.

The lights were turned completely off when Isakov played Big Black Car, off of his 2009 album This Empty Northern Hemisphere.The songs somber tone is much like most of Isakovs other music. He apologized to the audience for writing such sad music.

I realized recently that we dont have any happy songs, Isakov said.

Despite a slower tempo, the audience loved Isakov. The applause was thunderous after he played the final notes of Saint Valentine.

Isakovs band went on and off stage during the concert, leaving the frontman alone for a few tracks in the middle of the set. Theyd return and form an arc around Isakov, huddling and singing backup, as if they were a band of old musicians in the Appalachian Mountains.

Its like barbershop mixed with, Where are these guys from anyway? Isakov joked.

Isakov was warm and charming to the crowd. He felt comfortable enough to debut a song from an as yet unannounced seventh album.

He issued a disclaimer, saying that the song might not ever be performed again if the audience didnt like it.

They all deserve the chance to be played once before I kill them, he said.

The song title not given was in Isakov's regular sweet style and employed full use of his excellent guitar playing and soothing vocals.

Last night was not only the first stop of Isakovs American tour, but it was also his first time in Lawrence. He seemed to like being there as much as his audience did.

I think this one was the best first shows ever, Isakov said.

Edited by Ashley Hocking

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Folk musician Gregory Alan Isakov puts on fun, soulful show at Liberty Hall - The University Daily Kansan

Sun-News Reports , . 12:04 p.m. MT April 20, 2017

Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society will hold its fourth annual Red, White & Blues Festival at St. Clair Winery. The outdoor festival will feature six-hours of live music.(Photo: Ansaharju, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Enjoy a relaxing evening of blues and jazz during Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Societys fourth annual Red, White & Blues Festival from 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at St. Clair Winery & Bistro.

Three bands are booked for the six-hours of live entertainment, beginning with CW Ayon Trio from 4 to 6 p.m. CW has added two more players to his act, creating a new sound with Felipe Calavera on bass and Chris Smith vocals and guitar. CW has long been a local favorite one-man band with an amazing blues repertoire and is set to show off his new group.

The Muddy Hands Blues Band and Friends will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. The band has been on hiatus for a while, but will be cranking up the tunes with Ben Altamirano on harp/vocals, Bill Godby on lead guitar, John Hyndman on bass, Bill Haeker drums and Kenny Arroyos on keyboards. There will also be a guest horn section with Dwight Goetz and Josh Carter and backup vocals featuring Pam Rossi. Sage Gentle Wing promises to put in an appearance. This band has lots of local talent and has a wonderful feel playing Chicago Blues, Texas Shuffle and Memphis Blues. This has the making of a monster set so be there for a great sunset performance.

The third band set to play the festival is the Todd Tijerina Trio from Albuquerque from 8 to 10 p.m. Recipient of four New Mexico Music Award nominations in 2011, winning Blues Song of the Year for Nothin Like the Blues. Todd Tijerina is featured on guitar/vocals, Dave Heidt on bass/vocals and Mo Roberts on drums.

A hot time in Mesilla will be assured. The setting is idyllic as the St. Clair Winery & Bistro front lawn has a magnificent views of the Organ Mountains, the perfect backdrop for fine bands, drinks and food.

Tickets are $15 in advance with online sales at mvjazzblues.net or at purchase tickets at the following locations: St. Clair Winery & Bistro, Hubbards Music-N-More and Whites Music Box. Tickets at the door will also be sold at the door for $20. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets, small sun umbrellas and sunscreen. No outside food or drinks are allowed.

Hosting the annual event is the Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to promote the appreciation of Jazz and Blues art forms. The group also works to create opportunities for established and aspiring musicians. All proceeds for the festival go to the societys scholarship funds for NMSU music students. These funds are the Bob Burns Music Scholarship and the Helen Sachs-Helder Vocal Jazz Scholarship. The society will be having a raffle where the proceeds will go to their scholarship fund.

This years prizes include a Fender DG-8S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Pack which includes: acoustic guitar, gig bag, instructional material, strings, strap tuner and picks value $200, donated by Hubbards Music N More. St. Clair is donating a wine basket worth over $200 and there will also be CDs from the performing bands. Tickets will be $5 each or 3 for $10 with advance sales at Hubbards.

What: Fourth annual Red, White & Blues Festival

When: 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 22

Where: St. Clair Winery & Bistro, 1720 Avenida de Mesilla

Cost: $15 in advance or $20 at the door

Info: mvjazzblues.net

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Annual blues festival highlights jazz talent - Las Cruces Sun-News

He could light up a room, said Cyndy Clark, a Gold Star mother, as she talked about her son, Sgt. Richard Giordano, to the other Gold Star Families at her table. I miss him every day and even though I didnt get to spend many years with him, I appreciate every second I did have with him.

Clark and three other Gold Star Families united with Soldiers from the 101st Special Troops Battalion, Sustainers, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., April 13 to honor their fallen Soldiers during the Fallen Sustainers Remembrance Ceremony.

Clark, who lost her son in 2012 in an accidental drowning on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This is the third time Clark and her husband have attended the ceremony, and although Giordano was never part of the unit, the Sustainers have made her feel like part of the Family.

The unit has really adopted us into their Family here and its been great so far, Clark said. The respect they show us and our son every year is just truly amazing.

The ceremony honored 18 fallen Soldiers, 14 of whom were from the 101st STB, 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde, with the remaining four Soldiers from different units and duty stations ranging from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Abn. Div. to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Lieutenant Col. Wally Vives-Ocasio, commander of the 101st STB, 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde., said that although the ceremony was initially held to honor those who died during the attack on Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, on April 16, 2011, it was important to honor all the fallen Soldiers from the battalion and those Soldiers from the battalions extended Family.

We wanted to keep the ceremony close to the date of the attack because in one single attack we lost five Soldiers, said Vives-Ocasio. The unit has really adopted us into their Family here and its been great so far, Clark said. The respect they show us and our son every year is just truly amazing.

The ceremony honored 18 fallen Soldiers, 14 of whom were from the 101st STB, 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde, with the remaining four Soldiers from different units and duty stations ranging from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Abn. Div. to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Lieutenant Col. Wally Vives-Ocasio, commander of the 101st STB, 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde., said that although the ceremony was initially held to honor those who died during the attack on Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, on April 16, 2011, it was important to honor all the fallen Soldiers from the battalion and those Soldiers from the battalions extended Family.

We wanted to keep the ceremony close to the date of the attack because in one single attack we lost five Soldiers, said Vives-Ocasio. It was also important for us hold the ceremony because although some of the Soldiers were not from our unit, they are still our brothers and sisters in arms, and providing this ceremony for their Families is the least we could do for them.

The battalion and the Gold Star Families honored their fallen Soldiers by displaying the Soldiers photographs in front of a battalion formation and unveiling each picture one by one, then conducting a 1-mile remembrance run.

Clark, who walked the mile with two other Gold Star Family members, said she and her husband enjoy attending ceremonies like this because it helps honor the memory of their son.

Its comforting to know that the Army remembers their fallen Soldiers enough to take a day to honor and remember them, Clark said.

Clark added that organizations like the Tragedy Assistance Program, Army Community Service Survivor Outreach Services and the Gold Star Survivors program are what helped her and her husband after their sons death and encourages all Families who have lost a loved one to reach out to the different programs.

After the run, Families were invited to attend a breakfast in the battalions classroom while the 101st Abn. Div. band played for those in attendance.

Clark said she enjoyed everything from the unveiling of pictures to hearing the relaxing music the band played during the breakfast and cannot wait to see what the battalion has planned for next year.

Everything was truly wonderful this year, Clark said. Every year is different, but its always a wonderful experience and it means the world to us to see our sons picture displayed.

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Remembering those who gave all - The Fort Campbell Courier