Known worldwide for his musical innovations in jazz, Paul Horn is considered a founding father of world music. His musical career spans five decades, 50 albums, five Grammy nominations, and two Grammy awards. Not only is he an esteemed solo artist, but he has also performed with the likes of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Buddy Rich, Chick Corea, Paul McCartney, Donovan, Quincy Jones, and Ravi Shankar.
And Mr. Horn is no stranger to the Transcendental Meditation technique. Early in his jazz career, he discovered the Transcendental Meditation technique and later travelled to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
“I began meditating in 1966 and it’s been the major tool in my life, it served me in every way—it changed my life in every way.”
Paul Horn with George Harrison
Inspired by his experience of meditation in India he recorded the groundbreaking and truly exotic collection of flute solos, Inside the Taj Mahal. The album became one of Epic Records largest selling albums of that era.
Over the years, Mr. Horn has continued his tradition of touring sacred places and has performed in such exotic locations as the Great Pyramid of Giza, the cathedrals of Lithuania, Canyon de Chelly in the United States and the Potala Palace in Lahasa, Tibet. Horn was the first westerner to be granted permission to perform inside this massive structure considered the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism.
Ann Mortifee and Paul Horn
Recently Mr.Horn performed in the 25,000 square foot Maharishi Patanjali Dome at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa. Mr. Horn was also a featured speaker at the university’s Music and Consciousness Symposium which explored the development of consciousness as a key ingredient in the creation, performance and teaching of music.
Another highlight of the symposium was a presentation by Paul Horn’s wife, Ann Mortifee, who is an award winning singer, poet and author. Born in Zululand, South Africa, Ann Mortifee has recorded ten CDs, written three musicals and scored for several ballets and films. She is also a frequent speaker on the role of creativity in healing as well as many environmental and women’s issues.
Paul Horn, Maharishi, Alan Waite (filmmaker)
Joining Mr. Horn and Ms. Mortifee were meditating musicians from around the United States and Canada, including, Eugene Watts, a founding member of the world renowned Canadian Brass, and recording artist, acclaimed flugelhorn performer and composer Ed Sarath, a member of the music faculty at the University of Michigan and is U.S. coordinator and a member of the board of directors of the International Association of Schools of Jazz.
In his book, Inside Paul Horn, he describes it like this: “We are traveling in historical time, from the present to the distant past. We are traveling inwardly as well, through the music of meditation.”