In this episode of Shambhu Sessions, guitarist and composer Shambhu sits down with flugelhorn and trumpet artist Jeff Oster — a dear friend, longtime collaborator, and one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz and New Age instrumental music.

Jeff Oster's journey is anything but conventional. Before launching his recording career, he spent years balancing life as a financial advisor while quietly shaping a deeply personal musical voice. Since then, his warm, melodic flugelhorn sound has become a defining presence across dozens of albums and collaborations.

In this wide-ranging and intimate conversation, Shambhu and Jeff reflect on how they first met in 2009, their shared musical path, and the creative relationships that followed — including collaborations with Will Ackerman, Tom Eaton, Nile Rodgers, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Ruslan Sirota, Diane Arkenstone, and many others .

Jeff opens up about:

• Growing up with classical, jazz, pop, and prog-rock influences

• Discovering the flugelhorn and shaping his signature tone

• Recording albums like Released, True, Surrender, Next, Reach, Brothers, Howling Loon, Seven Conversations, and Divine Ratio of Love

• His collaborative work with Shambhu, including "On Mother's Day" and "Montauk to Mexico"

• Improvisation as a spiritual and emotional practice

• Using looping, delays, and sound design in live performance

• Why it's never too late to follow the sound that calls you

This episode is a deep dive into tone, breath, silence, improvisation, and creative reinvention — and a reminder that music can be both a refuge and a lifelong companion.

🎺 Learn more about Jeff Oster and his music: https://www.jeffoster.com

🎸 Explore Shambhu's music and podcast episodes: https://www.shambhumusic.com/podcast

If this conversation moved you, please like, subscribe, and share Shambhu Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts.

"On Mother's Day", composed by Jeffrey Oster (ASCAP) and Neil Vineberg (BMI), is used under license to Shambhu Sessions.

Welcome to Shambhu Sessions, where we explore the heart, spirit, and stories behind the music.

In Episode 8, I welcome one of my closest friends and longtime collaborators — guitarist, composer, producer, and sound-explorer Todd Boston. Todd and I met in 2009, and from the first moments we played together, we shared a creative and intuitive musical connection that has shaped both of our lives.

Todd is a deeply versatile artist whose journey spans:

🎵 Touring internationally with Snatam Kaur, Manose, GuruGanesha Singh, and other beloved artists in the mantra and devotional community

🎵 Recording his breakthrough album Touched by the Sun with producer Will Ackerman

🎵 Creating immersive sound worlds through Dolby Atmos and cinematic sound design

🎵 Releasing solo albums including Alive, Urban Nature, and his newest work, ANAM

🎵 Building his own studios — first in Lagunitas, CA and now in Portland, OR

🎵 Mixing and mastering all of my albums and singles since Soothe

In this conversation, Todd shares the full arc of his musical evolution — from discovering the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and early blues, to studying Indian classical music with maestro Ali Akbar Khan, to performing on global stages, and ultimately becoming an immersive audio designer for film and visual installations.

We dive into:

🔹 Todd's earliest musical memories and the healing power of the guitar

🔹 His transition from electric to acoustic fingerstyle

🔹 The impact of Echoes Radio and the discovery of Windham Hill

🔹 His deep study of Indian classical music and the spiritual roots of sound

🔹 Touring the world with Snatam Kaur and the devotional music community

🔹 The story of how he met Will Ackerman during my Sacred Love sessions

🔹 Building his own recording studios — and why space matters

🔹 His leap into Dolby Atmos and immersive sound

🔹 Our long creative partnership and intuitive remote workflow

🔹 His film work, including the immersive project Orbital

🔹 His latest album ANAM and upcoming 2026 projects

🔹 His philosophy of music as a sacred force that connects all human beings

This episode is a tribute to Todd's artistry, heart, and devotion to sound as a healing force.

Explore Todd's music and projects: https://toddBoston.com

Listen to more episodes of Shambhu Sessions: https://pods.to/ss

Explore Shambhu's music at: https://shambhumusic.com

Subscribe for new artist conversations that celebrate creativity, presence, and the soul of music.

If this conversation moved you, please like, comment, and share — it helps the series reach more listeners.

Stay open, stay inspired, and keep listening.

— Shambhu

In this episode of Shambhu Sessions, I sit down with the luminous Diane Arkenstone — a visionary composer, multi-instrumentalist, and pioneer in New Age, ambient, and cinematic music.

Diane shares how she overcame health challenges and how music became her path to healing. We explore her creative flow, her alter egos like Enaid, Ah Nee Mah and Earth Trybe, and the inspiration behind her books and recent music releases — including Ocean Serenade from her upcoming pop album Hotel Del Mar and her new holiday single Starlight on Fallen Snow with David Arkenstone.

We also dive into:

• Her work with Native American communities in the Southwest

• Her success founding Neo Pacifica Recordings

• Her award-winning children's books and animated film

• Her personal philosophy on art, spirit, nature, and healing

🔗 Listen to Diane Arkenstone's music: www.dianearkenstone.com

🎧 Listen to Shambhu's music: www.shambhumusic.com

🌿 Learn more about Shambhu Sessions: www.shambhumusic.com/podcast

👉 Listen, follow, and share Shambhu Sessions wherever you get your podcasts.

CREDITS:

Intro/Outro music: "Pondering When" by Shambhu, written by Neil Vineberg (Sacred Love Music – BMI) is used under license to Shambhu Sessions.

In this inspiring episode of Shambhu Sessions, guitarist and composer Vin Downes joins host Shambhu for a heartfelt conversation about the art of tone, touch, and truth in music.

Vin shares his early journey from Ozzy Osbourne and heavy-metal roots to discovering Windham Hill Records and studying classical guitar — a path that would eventually lead him to record with Will Ackerman and Tom Eaton at Imaginary Road Studios.

Together, Shambhu and Vin reflect on:

🎸 How alternate tunings shaped Vin's composing style

🎼 His daily writing practice inspired by David Crosby

🎶 The creation of City Lights Hide the Stars — where "the head meets the heart"

🏫 His award-winning high-school guitar program in New Jersey

🌌 And the joy of lifelong collaboration with artists such as Ackerman, Eaton, Jeff Oster, Trevor Gordon Hall, and Lance Allen

This is a beautiful meeting of two kindred guitar spirits — both shaped by the Windham Hill legacy — exploring creativity, discipline, and the pure love of sound.

🎧 Check out the music of Vin Downes: www.vindownes.com

🌿 Learn more about Shambhu Sessions: www.shambhumusic.com/podcast

👉 Listen, follow, and share Shambhu Sessions Ep. 6 wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙 Shambhu Sessions – Episode 5

Guest: John Diliberto, Host of Echoes Radio

🔗 https://echoes.org

In this episode of Shambhu Sessions, we celebrate the 36th anniversary of Echoes, the legendary nationally syndicated radio show that has shaped the sound of ambient, electronic, and new acoustic music since 1989.

My guest is John Diliberto, Echoes' executive producer, and host — and one of the most respected voices in music radio. We talk about:

• The origins and evolution of Echoes

• The golden era of New Age music — and how the market has shifted

• Thoughts on the New Age GRAMMY awards

• The impact of AI and algorithm-driven curation on music creation

• Artists John's excited about now: Bluetech, Ian Boddy, Marissa Nadler, Steve Roach, and more

• His thoughts on how to keep music meaningful — and what curators, podcasters, and artists need to hear right now

John also reflects on his award-winning career (Peabody Award, Major Armstrong Award, NFCB Golden Reels), the iconic Echoes Living Room Concerts, and what still keeps him inspired after nearly four decades in radio.

🎧 Listen to Echoes: https://echoes.org

🎼 Shambhu's Music: https://shambhumusic.com

🎵 Stream Lotus Dream: https://ffm.to/lotusdream

If this episode moved you, please like, follow, and share — and as John says: Keep listening.

#JohnDiliberto #EchoesRadio #AmbientMusic #NewAgeMusic #ShambhuSessions #Bluetech #SteveRoach #WillAckerman #GRAMMYs #MusicPodcast

In this heartfelt and powerful episode of Shambhu Sessions, I sit down with musical pioneer Will Ackerman — Grammy-winning guitarist, renowned producer, and founder of Windham Hill Records — whose timeless artistry has touched millions and earned 27 gold and platinum records.

Will's journey helped define an entire genre—New Age and instrumental acoustic music—through his pioneering solo recordings and the groundbreaking label he built from scratch. We explore his creative process, his visionary role as a producer, and the unique way he nurtured iconic artists like Michael Hedges, George Winston, Alex de Grassi, Liz Story and so many others.

We also dive into:

- What inspired Will to launch a career in acoustic music when no commercial path existed

- The origin and evolution of Windham Hill Records

- His philosophy on alternate tunings and what he listens for in an artist

- Balancing the roles of artist and entrepreneur

- His approach to composing and tracking in the studio

- Reflections on The Gathering album series and its community impact

- Will's involvement in the upcoming documentary A Quiet Revolution

- The emotional and spiritual connection music creates with listeners

- Timeless advice for new and emerging artists

- Thoughts on AI and the future of creativity.

Plus, I talk about my own albums Sacred Love and Dreaming of Now, which Will produced—and the behind-the-scenes video series I created during that time, The Making of Sacred Love, available on YouTube.

This is a rich and wide-ranging conversation with a musical master whose influence continues to shape and inspire generations of artists and listeners alike.

Learn more about Will Ackerman and buy his CDs at williamackerman.com.

Learn more about Shambhu and Shambhu Sessions at shambhumusic.com

Watch the Making of Sacred Love on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXhffem0gtamRCAHOE2KWfMVh7AEx_ay1

🎶 Tune in and be uplifted.

Like and share this podcast.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Shambhu Sessions, a podcast of inspiring conversations with musicians, artists, and visionaries of our time.

In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and musical collaborator Kristin Hoffmann, a classically trained singer, composer, and producer whose work lives at the intersection of music, healing, nature, and consciousness. She calls herself a "Sonic Alchemist" — and once you hear her voice and story, you'll understand why.

We explore:

• Her transformation from opera and folk-pop roots to a creator of ethereal, healing soundscapes

• Her groundbreaking work with Bella Gaia (in partnership with NASA)

• Vocal layering, improvisation, and the art of creating "sonic medicine"

• Collaborations with Peter Kater and Steven Halpern, and Shambhu

• Her recent releases RainShine and Ma-Ra-Va-Ti: Song of the New Earth

• The importance of listening — to the earth, the moment, and the music within

Kristin shares her thoughts on creativity, flow states, sound as medicine, and how to stay grounded as an artist in a shifting world. We also reflect on our own musical collaborations, including songs like "Gaia Sweet Divine", "Soothe", and "Knowingness".

✨ Whether you're a musician, seeker, or lover of soulful sound — this conversation will uplift and inspire.

🎧 Listen now and let the healing begin.

⸻

🔗 Explore more:

• Kristin's site: https://kristinhoffmann.com

• Kristin on Bandcamp: https://kristinhoffmann.bandcamp.com

• Shambhu's music: https://shambhumusic.com

• Support the podcast: Like, follow, and share!

#KristinHoffmann #ShambhuSessions #SonicAlchemy #HealingMusic #NewAgeMusic #BellaGaia #WomenInMusic #AmbientVocal #PodcastInterview #RainShine #MaRaVaTi #SpiritualMusic #SoundHealing

Welcome to Shambhu Sessions! In this episode, I sit down with RJ Lannan, one of the most respected voices in new age music for over 25 years. RJ is also the creator of Orphan Music – The Incomplete History of New Age Music, a ten-part documentary series that chronicles the origins, evolution, and future of new age music. Visit artisanmusicreviews.com for reviews and Orpan Music.

We talk about:

✨ What inspired RJ to start writing reviews

✨ His favorite new age artists and most memorable albums

✨ What he looks for when listening to music

✨ How new age has evolved over the decades
✨ Where the genre is headed in the age of streaming and AI

✨ The making of Orphan Music and why it matters today

✨ RJ's thoughtful reviews and his documentary work shine a light on the artistry and heart behind new age, ambient, and world music.

👉 Subscribe to Shambhu Sessions for more conversations with artists, producers, and visionaries shaping today's music.

👍 Like and share this episode to support the series.

🌐 More at: shambhumusic.com

📩 Follow me: @shambhumusic on all social platforms