It’s not surprising that Fred’s intimacy with spirituality brought him to Paramahansa Yogananda, and inevitably to Kirtan.  Songs that nourish the soul and transport the participants.  The songs on this album – both the traditional and the new compositions are informed by respect and reverence for the history and tradition of Kirtan, and inspired by the lifetime of Freddy Bliffert’s music.  Soul music.

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“Soul Music?”  Redundant.  From the time Fred Bliffert heard his first lullaby, he instinctively knew that if it didn’t have soul . . . it wasn’t really music. Through school, jobs, business, raising a family, founding a charity, and building a universe of friends and followers, music – performing, writing, sharing – has been his animating force.  His life force. 

Many of Fred’s early music influences had gospel roots – Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye – but Fred Isn’t of any traditional church himself.  He found his connection to the spiritual world by singing.  Don’t think he was just singing liturgical holy music.  He rocks the room like a heavy metal idol, drops R&B that would get James Brown’s attention, and croons a ballad that makes the audience forget Frank Sinatra.  His three great gifts are a connection to the music, a voice that glorifies that connection, and his overwhelming sense of joy.  Fred hits every note; he nails every lyric; he communicates every bit of feeling.  But he never forgets that he’s an entertainer.  He always brings down the house, and even the infidels in the audience know they’ve been blessed.