This wonderfully adventurous album breaks new ground left and right. Who would have thought that smooth jazz and sacred mantras would combine so well. Only an artist as talented and authentic as Lea Longo could pull it off!

GuruGaneshaBand

Canadian singer and songwriter Lea Longo is a talented artist with roots in television and major film. Her work can be found on Dawson’s Creek, Party of Five and Cheaper by the Dozen among others. She has been performing for most of her life. An international traveler, Longo is fluent in many languages and has embraced world music in her work. “Songs of a Siren” is her most recent release. There are cover songs and original works with a combined flair of world music, yoga chants, jazz and pop.

“Om Radha Krishnaya Namaha” is one of Longo’s original works. A steady percussive beat, the song is a svelte vocal experience with pop elements incorporating a seamless encapsulation of yoga chanting turned popular music. Like a hazelnut mousse spread over a chocolate cookie, this song is smooth and delicious and I couldn’t stop playing it. The primary focus is on the vocals with light percussion. You almost don’t notice what is going on in the background-some ambient sounds and the tinkling of chimes. Beautiful.

“Love Is All You Need” has two versions on this album—the standard version and the Ben Leinbach Mix. Both are heavily infused with mantra jazz and a heavy Indian influence. Poetic and rich with textured music and pop infusions, the song is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures at their best. Catchy and full of light, these two pieces resonate joy.

“Om Parama Prema” is a breathy piece that brings to mind coffeehouse tunes and caramel macchiatos. An infusion of yoga chants with a resounding jazz and pop essence, this track is one you could imagine hearing on the soundtrack of your favorite current Hollywood blockbuster. A steady percussive beat, this song is much like “Om Radha Krishnaya Namaha” in the vocal focus.

Lea Longo has performed all over the world. Bringing mantra style world music together with jazz and pop elements she creates a seamless musical experience with her silky voice and songwriting talents. This album contains three well known jazz standards—“The Very Thought of You,” “Fever” and “Here’s to Life” but it was the original works that caught my attention. Those are the pieces that make this album lean closer to the 5 star range in the ratings. The original works let the listener hear the artist in her natural environment, and what a lovely sound it is. Don’t miss this album.

Dana Wright -New Age Reporter

Desde Canadá nos llega el nuevo trabajo de Lea Longo, una mujer con una dulce voz que nos sumerge en ese estado de bienestar en el que a todos nos gustaría estar. “Zen Voyage” es un viaje musical en el universo de la cultura zen, aquí nos encontramos con diez magníficos mantras basados en textos sanscritos, textos sagrados que sirven para sumergirnos en un estado de relajación y de bienestar con nosotros mismos. La propia compositora nos dice que “Zen Voyage” es un trabajo que le permite revivir esa paz, ese bienestar interior en cualquier lugar, en cualquier momento…
No lo dudemos y dejemonos llevar por este “Viaje Zen” hacia nuestro interior para lograr ese estado de ánimo que no siempre podemos conseguir pero que si nos gustaría mantener, trabajos como el de Lea Longo son el camino más indicado para poder lograrlo.

Ultima Fronteira Radio (Jul 13, 2007)

A blend of classic smooth jazz and eastern Indian mantras, all blanketed by Lea’s sweet seductive vocal stylings  Dean Olson Strongwriter on the Radio

“Lea is breaking new grounds with a sensuous combination of mantra & jazz that is relaxing and entertaining”

Thomas Gramuglia | Hindsight Records

My first Meditative Kirtan experience, and I just discovered an easier way of drowning the mind into meditation.

Thank you Lea for introducing us to Meditation yoga chanting

I Bow To You Heartfelt, calming and exciting all at the same time? That scarcely describes the new album by Lea Longo called Zen Voyage. The music is a medium of ancient Sanskrit mantras sung sweetly and delivered with exceptional melody. Although my Western ears still have difficulty with the repetitiveness of Eastern music, I was never bored throughout this remarkable album.

Canadian Lea Longo is not only a talented singer-songwriter, but also a dedicated yoga instructor and Mantra Meditation facilitator. Her unique music appears on television and film and she is the recipient of many international music prizes. Lea’s voice is soft and gentle, a bit reminiscent of R&B artist Sade. The music, Eastern flavored with a medium tempo, is muted at times allowing the fervor of the human voice to dominate, but in this case, it is not a bad thing. Lea shares the metaphysical spotlight with co-writer “Radical” Rad Crasto, guitarist and producer.

Namaste, from the Hindi phrase, “I bow to you” is a well-known international greeting. Read More…

RJ Lannan – Sounding Board-Zone Music Reporter (Aug 21, 2009)

Je me suis littéralement senti transporté lors de l’écoute de Zen Voyage. Une musique qui m’a aidé à me concentrer, à stimuler ma créativité.

Piero Facchin – CH GLOBAL (Mar 27, 2007)

Allergique aux musiques new-age à la Enya – la “transposition musicale du coma”, écrivait jadis mon collègue Jean-Christophe Laurence -, j’envisageais avec scepticisme l’écoute de ce CD de Lea Longo intitulé Zen voyage. Surtout qu’à l’endos, la pochette promet que “ces mantras, formules sacrées chantées en textes sanskrit, aideront à trouver en vous une énergie positive et spirituelle…” Manquerait plus que l’encens au patchouli, me disais-je. Eh bien surprise: ce n’est pas si ringard que cela et, surtout, c’est franchement efficace pour trouver le sommeil. Si on le réserve pour ses séances de relaxation ou de yoga maison, Zen voyage peut être un agréable accompagnement sonore.

La Presse et Cahier Sante, Montreal (Feb 27, 2007)

Lea Longo’s Peace Chants is meditative and blissful. Lea’s songs embody the Western kirtan movement. There are Sanskrit and Gurmukhi (Kundalini) chants. The opener, “Om Ram Ramaya Swaha,” features an Iranian rounded, bowed instrument that Lea refers to as a camanche . The sound is hypnotic. “Om Mani Padme Hum” has an afro-pop feel and is uplifting, while “Om Namah Sivaya” continues to haunt me. Hailing from Montreal, Lea is among Canada’s finest. The Chicago satsang (chanting community) is waiting for you, Lea. Come on out and play!

Everything around us can be formulated into a something new. Rewind! Reboot! Refresh! Enjoy music with your heart and soul. This will make the music your very own.

Buzil -Yoga Chicago

Ces magnifiques mantras et mélodies aériennes nous ramènent à une essence de vie des plus pures.

Louise Robitaille – Le Lundi (Mar 27, 2007)

Listening to Lea’s voice is like being called to your favorite place and enjoying the sweetness it delivers.

Gary Goldberg – IN the SPIRIT RADIO