Keyboardist Steven Halpern Joins With Three Master Flutists On Latest CD

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Internationally acclaimed GrammyR nominated recording artist Steven Halpern continues his groundbreaking, best-selling Brainwave Entrainment series with Deep Theta 2.0, a new recording that features Rhodes electric piano, synthesizers, and Japanese shakuhachi and Indian bansuri bamboo flutes. What makes this recording particularly noteworthy and effective is Halpern's use of brainwave entrainment technology set to the precise frequency of the deepest theta brainwaves (4 Hertz) which is the brain state associated with deeper meditation, enhanced healing and heightened creativity.

Steven Halpern has been a leader in the field of new age music and sound healing for more than four decades. He has recorded 77 albums, published two books (Tuning the Human Instrument and Sound Health), and sold more than seven million albums worldwide. In 2005 he was named by Keyboard magazine "one of the 30 most influential keyboardists of the past 30 years." His debut album, now available as Chakra Suite, was named "the most influential new age/healing album of all time" by a panel of industry leaders. Last year his album Deep Alpha was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Now Halpern returns with Deep Theta 2.0, the latest recording in his Brainwave Entrainment series which takes another step forward with the addition of three bamboo flute masters collaborating with Halpern. "On Deep Theta 2.0 I am combining some of the best modern healing instruments with ancient acoustic instruments traditionally associated with Zen and yoga meditation, " explains Halpern. "This takes the music and the entrainment process to another level." The shakuhachi flute traces its origins to Japan and China in the 12th Century, and was used by monks and samurai in the practice of Zen meditation to achieve stillness of mind, connection with nature, and enlightenment. The bansuri flute, a widely-used folk instrument throughout Asia for 2, 000 years, was initially revered as Lord Krishna's divine instrument.

Each of the 13 tracks has its own distinct identity because of the strong rapport and interaction between Halpern on Rhodes electric piano and the three special-guest bamboo flute masters. Jorge Alfano, who plays on eight tracks, is not only accomplished on flutes, but also has played with folk-singer Ritchie Havens, worked extensively as a jazz bassist in New York City, and recently performed for the Dalai Lama. Schawkie Roth, who plays bansuri on four pieces on the album, has been a practitioner of new age music for nearly four decades and previously played on several Halpern albums including Zodiac Suite, Eastern Peace and Deja-Blues. Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin, who performs on one composition, holds two shakuhachi grand master titles from Japan.

"First and foremost, Deep Theta 2.0 was created to be music that people want to listen to. As foreground music, it showcases virtuosity and almost telepathic rapport between the musicians. The music creates a relaxing and spiritually uplifting mood which listeners want to have in their life, " Halpern says.

"For more than 40 years I have focused on the healing powers of music composed with the intention of creating greater harmony, balance and inner peace for the listener. My calling has been to compose music that takes my listeners to a deeply relaxed state in which healing happens naturally, and which uplifts the body, mind and soul. In my music, workshops and books, I have always promoted all aspects of sound healing. The Brainwave Entrainment series is the latest, most up-to-date manifestation of my life's work. It's more than just music. It's a Sonic Spiritual TechnologyTM.

"Deep Theta 2.0 gently guides the brain to the proper theta state. Human beings have spent millennia learning different ways to get into deep meditation - deep breathing exercises, certain types of music, or chants. Combining healing music with Brainwave Entrainment technology is a remarkably quick and effective way for the average person to access states of consciousness that support physical and spiritual health and well-being."

Halpern's intuition and landmark biofeedback research proved that the unique tone of the Rhodes electric piano (long a favorite in jazz, rock and funk) is especially conducive to creating relaxing, meditative and healing recordings. That's why he featured the instrument in his early recordings, and why he features the new and improved Mark 7 model on his current recordings. "The Rhodes is integral to the Brainwave Entrainment series, " he says. "Its pure tone is the perfect complement to the entrainment matrix. For me, more than any other synthesizer or sampler, it is the ultimate keyboard for healing music."

With Halpern's Aural SyncTM Brainwave Entrainment series, he adds sonic entrainment tones to his healing music so that the listener receives both positive benefits simultaneously. The reason brainwave entrainment appears on this album is because, when combined with the music, it provides a shortcut to meditation. "Our bodies respond to the rhythms of the world around us, " Halpern states. "For example, it is obvious how our heartbeat entrains or synchronizes to a drumbeat, and one result is that our feet start tapping and we want to dance. Similarly our brainwaves entrain to rhythmic stimuli measured in beats or cycles-per-second measured in Hertz. Unlike many of the brainwave entrainment albums on the market, I employ this technology in a very subtle manner, so that its presence is felt more than heard.

"The electrical activity of the brain has historically been categorized by most researchers as being in the Beta state at 13-39 Hz, the Alpha state at 8-12 Hz, the Theta state at 4-7 Hz, and the Delta state at 1-3 Hz. So by taking advantage of the brain's natural frequency-following effect, we are entraining the brain to take the listener quickly, easily and safely to this specific state to virtually guarantee deep meditation, self-healing and higher levels of creativity."

Unlike most of the brainwave entrainment albums on the market, Halpern doesn't simply add the tones in post-production. Rather, Halpern hears the tones in his headphones as he improvises and records. He is fully "in the theta zone" himself, and that's another reason many listeners will feel the effect so readily.

On some Deep Theta 2.0 tracks the flute player overdubbed on Halpern's performance. On other tracks Halpern followed the flute. Halpern then put on his producer hat to fine-tune the final mix with subtle editing and re-orchestration. "The production on these recordings is quite involved, " Halpern explains. Halpern has extensive experience working with flute players (flutists on previous recordings have included Paul Horn, Iasos, Kat Epple and Bettine Clemen).

Halpern's Brainwave Entrainment series began with Sleepscape Delta in 2010 followed by Deep Theta in 2011. Deep Alpha, released in 2012, featured collaborations with Grammy nominees Paul McCandless on oboe and Michael Manring on fretless bass. The album received a 2012 Grammy nomination for "Best New Age Album, " earned Zone Music Reporter Award nominations for "Best Ambient Album" and "Best Relaxation/ Meditation Album, " soared to #2 on the ZMR chart (and stayed on the chart for eight months), and went Top 5 on Billboard's New Age Chart. The extremely-popular companion album Deep Theta spent 27 weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard's New Age Chart.

Deep Theta 2.0 is a sterling example of the synergy of a master musician's art and the latest sound-based brain science to give birth to an instant classic that will appeal to a broad demographic of listeners, including long-time Halpern fans, new converts and especially, fans of new age, ambient and healing music.

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