Sattva (Sanskrit for the essence of being ) invokes the silent, serene space that awaits us beyond our mind. On this soulful debut offering, gifted multi-instrumentalist Manish Vyas displays a splendid musical sensibility. His expressive voice and rich compositions based on ancient mantras and tarana reflect a natural intuition for crafting dynamic soundscapes from traditional influences. The product of a musical family and student of the late tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha (the father of Zakir Hussain), Manish demonstrates his astounding rhythmic talents--as well as his seductive vocal virtuosity and mastery of the santoor--to full effect. With contributions from longtime collaborator Prem Joshua (Water Down the Ganges, Dance of Shakti) and an international cast of gifted musicians, Sattva vibrates with silence, devotion and prayer--an ideal accompaniment to yoga, massage, meditation and enlightened listening.