Eternity Or Bust - A Short Film About Laraaji

Laraaji is a musician, mystic and laughter meditation practitioner based in New York City. He began playing music on the streets in the 1970s, improvising trance-inducing jams on a modified autoharp processed through various electronic effects. Brian Eno saw him playing one night in Washington Square Park and invited him to record an album for his seminal Ambient series (Ambient 3: Day Of Radiance, released 1980). Laraaji has gone on to release a prolific series of album for a wide variety of labels, many of which he recorded himself at home and sold as cassettes during his street performances. In recent years he has been collaborating with a new generation of underground musicians, most notably on the album he recorded for the acclaimed FRKWYS series with Blues Control. This short documentary has been made to coincide with a series of reissues being released on the All Saints label.
Directed by Chris Hall for Start Productions.

[@demonicsweaters]

I love Laraaji's music. It really is some of the most calming and peaceful sounds I've ever heard.

[@sonicultura]

To me personally Meditation No. 2 is one of the most beautiful tracks I've ever heard!

[@donparkison4617]

They skipped the part where he studied classical composition at Howard University. He is not just a visionary, but a trained composer as well.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Brilliant....always thought this was an Indian born musician.

[@mournblade1066]

Essence/Universe is THE greatest ambient piece ever recorded. When I listen to it I get the image of riding on a flying carpet in the skies above Arabian Nights-era Persia and India.

[@peo_peo]

This is probably my favorite album of his. Puts you in a certain state

[@insanegaming3908]

The music of Laraaji and Jon Hassell has opened up a new world to me. Brian Eno sure knows his music

[@peo_peo]

Such a beautiful man. I love Laraaji's music - listen to it almost daily for the past two years. There's a good video with him and Iasos... that's how I found about Laraaji.

[@abyssopelagic4813]

I love you Laraaji

[@AmritaMandala]

Loved Laraaji's music for 20 years...

[@aeopmusic]

Off to buy the Album now - thank you Laraaji

[@barbaramcspadden8655]

👍Reminds me of Thich Nhat Hanh’s calligraphy ‘The Way Out Is In” which highlights that the way out of any difficulty is to look deeply within, gain insights and then put them into practice. Published 2013. Now the name of a podcast from Plum Village.

[@marcuskirby9477]

Awesome. Glad to find more information about such an interesting pioneer.

[@frothdroplet]

So stoked to see this man in July!!!!!!

[@Signorellielli]

Wtf?! I went to highschool with you at ponderosa! We used to sit on those big stairs at lunch. Trippy seeing you here!

[@cj1614]

Love your story! You just let music carry you though. Wish you the best!

[@Sound8VisionVibe]

BEAUTIFUL!

[@huskerfan328]

wow

[@pixel_germany]

You are great

[@freakmag99]

777 likes on this video as I'm watching

[@paulmahony4467]

this would so good to sample

[@davido3109]

treal!!!

[@mystrigrisinc]

do your own stuff man, it's the greatest way to go to other dimensions

[@abyios]

I love the opening music of this video. I am sure it was composed by Laraaji but does anyone know the title of it? I would appreciate any feedback. Thank You for posting this short documentary on Laraaji.

[@allsaintsrecords]

***** It's a track called "All Pervading" from his first album from 1978. You can find it on disc 2 of the 'Celestial Music 1978 - 2011' retrospective, or a reissue of the whole album (under his original name Edward Larry Gordon) on the Soul Jazz label

[@abyios]

All Saints Records Thank You so much for your information. I have been a fan of Laraaji ever since Brian Eno came out with Ambient 3 so long, long ago. And I listened to that album again and wondered if Laraaji had composed anything else and after looking on You Tube, come to find he's done a lot of recordings. More than I ever knew. Your information is very helpful. I will look to buy more of his music. Many thanks.

[@vektoroptika2]

What is the music beginning at 2:50? Its from an album or just an improvisation made for this video?

[@allsaintsrecords]

All the music in this film is taken from the 'Celestial Music 1978 - 2011' Laraaji retrospective compilation we put out (open.spotify.com/album/0iZGUIBOAAVAsqJK2R2JR3). I think the bit you're referring to is from the track "I Am Ocean".

[@vektoroptika2]

Thanks! But it's not that. I know that album. This one sounds as a newer recording (not like the obscure soundings of his old self-made tapes) similar to the tracks on 'My Orangeness'.

[@allsaintsrecords]

Hmmm might be something improvised we picked up on the audio for the interview when Laraaji was demonstrating the sound of the zither in that case

[@noahcoinflip5942]

whats the last song please???

[@allsaintsrecords]

laraajimusic.bandcamp.com/track/vision-song-suite

[@welte797]

is this boards of Canada starting 5:00 min?

[@d_i_s_c_i_p_l_e_s]

No all the music in the documentary is by Laraaji, that track at 5:00 is "Unicorns In Paradise" which you can find on the Laraaji compilation Celestial Music 1978 - 2011

[@welte797]

@@d_i_s_c_i_p_l_e_s thanks