MIKE COHEN
2015
Michael H. Cohen is an internationally renowned Kirtan artist, teacher, healer and leader who guides Kirtan participants into unparalleled heights of joy, energy and awareness through his unforgettable and intoxicating style of Kirtan music. Referred to as “Dattatreya Kirtan” his music blends Eastern mantra and Western grooves in creative compositions that Yoga Chicago Magazine described as “inspiring, addictive and highly-chantable”. Mike’s recordings – Om Dattatreya (2009) and Soul Contact (2012) – were produced by Grammy Award winner Jeff Ciampa and have both received critical acclaim.
Leaning on his unique background in jazz, embodied leadership, spirituality and energetics expressed through the Dattatreya lineage of the Indian Saint Shirdi Sai Baba, Mike invites Kirtan participants through their hearts and into the Heart of the Divine. Leading a high energy Kirtan ensemble, he leads groups into powerful and sublime spiritual experiences of Divine Connection (Bhakti), Energy (Shakti) and Creativity (Brahma Consciousness). Mike has been working for years under the guidance of Dr. Philip Lipetz, one of Swami Kaleshwar’s senior Western students and author of over a dozen books on Kaleshwar’s work, to develop this highly innovative and spiritually grounded Dattatreya Approach to Kirtan.
Mike’s Kirtan Leader coaching and training methodology integrates leadership training, community building and pragmatic musical training with previously undisclosed Dattatreya spiritual and energetic wisdom, bringing Kirtan to a whole new experiential level. As a teacher of Kirtan, his methods have revolutionized how Kirtan can help others grow in skill and depth as individuals, and to become Kirtan Leaders, as well as leaders in daily life.
When not on tour, Mike guides current and aspiring Kirtan students through coaching, master classes and intensives that develop increased competence and confidence in leading others into deep energetic states through the spiritual musical practice of sacred chanting. Since 2010, he has worked with dozens of students in one-on-one, small group and workshop/training settings in the domains of musicianship, leadership, spirituality, energetics, chant writing and community building. His approach provides aspiring and current Kirtan leaders with the confidence, competence and depth to build and serve local, regional and national communities. His students have gone on to create thriving Kirtan communities in the United States including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Boulder, Cincinnati, Michigan, and across Ontario, Canada.
Where did all this come from? Mike’s musical roots go back to early childhood when he formed a ‘Beatles club’ with a friend at age 6. As a high school jazz saxophonist Mike toured Europe, recorded albums, and won the top scholarship for outstanding musicianship at the 1984 Berklee School of Music High School Jazz Festival. He went on to study jazz saxophone at the renowned Eastman School of Music, touring and recording with Eastman’s top jazz ensembles and sharing the stage with numerous jazz luminaries.
During and immediately after college, Mike performed across the United States and in the Caribbean on cruise ships, in clubs and on the NACA college circuit, including four years with African American Rhythm and Blues singer Jane Powell, the 1989 NACA Performer of the Year. Along the way he received a 1991 National Endowment of the Arts grant to study saxophone with jazz recording artist and educator Jerry Bergonzi and studied with the esteemed saxophone teacher John Purcell.
In 1994, Mike left the world of music to focus on other commitments which led him through the worlds of Integral and Somatic Coaching, leadership and adult development, spirituality/energetics, politics and entrepreneurship. In April 2000, _Mike attended his first yoga class where he discovered and immediately fell in love with the practice of Kirtan. He sings and plays harmonium to lead Kirtan events based around his original chants. In the fall of 2006 he launched First Friday Kirtan in Columbus, Ohio that quickly became one of the larger local and ongoing Kirtan events in the US. A 2008 Kirtan in Cincinnati, OH gathered 300 participants. Since 2010, Mike has been a regular Kirtan Leader at Bhakti Fest, the spiritual Woodstock. He has headlined numerous yoga festivals and conferences, including the Toronto Yoga Conference and Show (2011, 2012). Mike currently tours the US and beyond, offering Kirtan events and workshops to open hearted souls!
Leaning on his unique background in jazz, embodied leadership, spirituality and energetics expressed through the Dattatreya lineage of the Indian Saint Shirdi Sai Baba, Mike invites Kirtan participants through their hearts and into the Heart of the Divine. Leading a high energy Kirtan ensemble, he leads groups into powerful and sublime spiritual experiences of Divine Connection (Bhakti), Energy (Shakti) and Creativity (Brahma Consciousness). Mike has been working for years under the guidance of Dr. Philip Lipetz, one of Swami Kaleshwar’s senior Western students and author of over a dozen books on Kaleshwar’s work, to develop this highly innovative and spiritually grounded Dattatreya Approach to Kirtan.
Mike’s Kirtan Leader coaching and training methodology integrates leadership training, community building and pragmatic musical training with previously undisclosed Dattatreya spiritual and energetic wisdom, bringing Kirtan to a whole new experiential level. As a teacher of Kirtan, his methods have revolutionized how Kirtan can help others grow in skill and depth as individuals, and to become Kirtan Leaders, as well as leaders in daily life.
When not on tour, Mike guides current and aspiring Kirtan students through coaching, master classes and intensives that develop increased competence and confidence in leading others into deep energetic states through the spiritual musical practice of sacred chanting. Since 2010, he has worked with dozens of students in one-on-one, small group and workshop/training settings in the domains of musicianship, leadership, spirituality, energetics, chant writing and community building. His approach provides aspiring and current Kirtan leaders with the confidence, competence and depth to build and serve local, regional and national communities. His students have gone on to create thriving Kirtan communities in the United States including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Boulder, Cincinnati, Michigan, and across Ontario, Canada.
Where did all this come from? Mike’s musical roots go back to early childhood when he formed a ‘Beatles club’ with a friend at age 6. As a high school jazz saxophonist Mike toured Europe, recorded albums, and won the top scholarship for outstanding musicianship at the 1984 Berklee School of Music High School Jazz Festival. He went on to study jazz saxophone at the renowned Eastman School of Music, touring and recording with Eastman’s top jazz ensembles and sharing the stage with numerous jazz luminaries.
During and immediately after college, Mike performed across the United States and in the Caribbean on cruise ships, in clubs and on the NACA college circuit, including four years with African American Rhythm and Blues singer Jane Powell, the 1989 NACA Performer of the Year. Along the way he received a 1991 National Endowment of the Arts grant to study saxophone with jazz recording artist and educator Jerry Bergonzi and studied with the esteemed saxophone teacher John Purcell.
In 1994, Mike left the world of music to focus on other commitments which led him through the worlds of Integral and Somatic Coaching, leadership and adult development, spirituality/energetics, politics and entrepreneurship. In April 2000, _Mike attended his first yoga class where he discovered and immediately fell in love with the practice of Kirtan. He sings and plays harmonium to lead Kirtan events based around his original chants. In the fall of 2006 he launched First Friday Kirtan in Columbus, Ohio that quickly became one of the larger local and ongoing Kirtan events in the US. A 2008 Kirtan in Cincinnati, OH gathered 300 participants. Since 2010, Mike has been a regular Kirtan Leader at Bhakti Fest, the spiritual Woodstock. He has headlined numerous yoga festivals and conferences, including the Toronto Yoga Conference and Show (2011, 2012). Mike currently tours the US and beyond, offering Kirtan events and workshops to open hearted souls!
