The Kirtan Love Experience with Jai Uttal & Friends

Imagine an evening where your voice becomes prayer, where breath synchronizes with the voices around you, and where the boundaries between singer and listener dissolve into collective devotion. The Kirtan Love Experience with Jai Uttal & Friends at The Old Church in Portland, OR on Sunday, October 25, 2026 offers exactly this—a rare opportunity to experience sacred chanting led by a Grammy-nominated pioneer who has spent nearly five decades perfecting the art of transformative communal singing.

Jai Uttal is not a performer behind a stage; he is a spiritual music teacher and guide who invites you into the ancient practice of kirtan—call-and-response devotional singing rooted in bhakti yoga. This is music as prayer, as breath work, as heart opening. Whether you're new to kirtan or have chanted for decades, this evening honors both the seasoned practitioner and the curious seeker. Jai's distinctive approach weaves Indian classical tradition, Brazilian rhythms, and American folk roots into a language that feels both timeless and alive.

Come ready to sing, to listen, and to feel the collective energy that arises when a room full of souls gathers in devotion.

What to Expect

An evening structured around sacred call-and-response chanting, storytelling, and rhythmic invocation. Jai Uttal, accompanied by friends and musicians, will guide you through mantra and devotional song using his voice and harmonium. The experience emphasizes participation over performance—this is a congregational practice, not a concert to passively observe. You'll find space to sing boldly or listen deeply, to open your heart, and to experience the transformative power of collective sound. Many who attend report feeling uplifted, connected, and held by the energy of the room long after the final note.

About the Artists / Teachers

Jai Uttal is a Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose work spans five decades of devotional music and spiritual practice. He is a pioneering kirtan artist who has dedicated his life to blending Indian classical music, jazz, and folk traditions into transformative communal singing experiences rooted in bhakti—the yoga of devotion and heart-opening. His music celebrates the breath of life and the power of connection.

Ben Leinbach joins Jai as a skilled breathwork facilitator, bringing the somatic dimension of conscious breathing to enhance the evening's sacred work.

Venue & Logistics

The Old Church | Portland, OR
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026

Wear comfortable clothing. Arrive a few minutes early to settle and center yourself. The Old Church is a welcoming, acoustically beautiful space that honors the devotional nature of kirtan. If you have accessibility needs, contact the venue directly.