Join us on The Summer Solstice for a grand kalimba/mbira "healing sound" gathering in Union Square hosted by kalimba/mbira master Kevin Nathaniel.

Bring your kalimba or mbira! We will meet at 6pm at the Abraham Lincoln sculpture in Union Square. From there we will set up a sonic kalimba healing sound atrium at the large LOV sculpture by artist Pasha. We will be jamming mostly in C major, but also in F major, so please bring any kind of kalimba or mbira that will match the tuning. And although we will play a song or two from the Zimbabwean kalimba/mbira healing music legacy, please also bring an open mind and heart to allow the music to take its own shape and be spontaneous like NYC.

This is a rare, if not a first major NYC gathering and jam of kalimbas of all styles in a global, sound healing, pan-kalimba, pan-Africa spirit, and where else but in NYC and when else but on Make Music New York Day. Let’s broadcast the healing kalimba sound all throughout the area and to distant planets.

Kevin Nathaniel is an internationally celebrated kalimba/mbira master. He was “called” to music by the magical sound of the mbira immediately and mysteriously after graduating “Scholar of the House” at Yale University. He then worked closely with legendary Zimbabwean mbira master Ephat Mujuru for many years. Kevin continues the mbira/kalimba legacy, creatively working to expand upon it. He has worked with a great variety of artists including Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Jonathan Demme, Thomas Mapfumo, Miriam Makeba, Bobby McFerrin, Niles Rodgers, Madonna, Philip Glass, Nana Vasconcelos, and many more. Kevin keeps has an ongoing healing music series at Modo Yoga, and an ongoing mbira healing practice playing live for people daily in Union Sq NYC. His music is available on all streaming platforms.