Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe that the summer of 2026 is coming to an end. It was a summer of family responsibilities interspersed with uplifting concerts ranging from the World Fellowship Center in New Hampshire to Restoration Plaza in the heart of Bed-Stuy Brooklyn (with Hasan Bakr).

The Whispered Awakening album has continued to find its way in the world. Tunitemusic, based in Tallinn, Estonia, wrote that the album “treats the classical guitar not only as a virtuoso instrument but as a memory instrument, one capable of carrying rhythm, lineage, silence, and personal history within a single uninterrupted sound world." Another good friend took the time to write: “Tranquility is in short supply these days, and your music consistently makes me think of better things”. I am so glad that the message of the album is being heard.

I also just put up a new video for "Al Maestro Toumani," a tribute to the late great Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté. Loosely based on the griot standard "Mali Sadio," the piece weaves kora themes together with lines evocative of the folk music of Galicia, Spain — a place of my own ancestors. You can watch it here:

September and October are bringing a busy harvest of shows. Twice this month I'll be sharing the stage again with kora master Salieu Suso, whom many of you first met through our Tiny Desk video in 2022.

• Today - Wednesday, September 2, 7:00 pm - Sound Healing Sanctuary at Middle Church, 50 East 7th Street, 5th Floor, East Village, NYC

• Wednesday, September 16, 7:00 pm @ Bunna Cafe, 1084 Flushing Ave in Brooklyn.

Save the date of October 18th: I'm especially looking forward to bringing Whispered Awakening to The Old Stone House in Brooklyn for a full concert on Sunday, October 18th at 3:00 pm. Tickets go on sale soon — I'll send details as soon as they're live. This will be a second release celebration for those who missed the Brooklyn concert in May.

Also this fall

• Friday, September 18 — Solo Guitar, 440 Gallery, Park Slope
  $15 at the door

• Sunday, September 20 — "Making Art During Troubled Times"
  Solo set and panel discussion, Brooklyn Art Haus, Williamsburg

• Sunday, October 4 — Solo Guitar concert St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Closter, NJ

• Saturday, October 10 — Music in the Plaza, Kensington
  With a full band playing Brazilian and Latin classics with Urbano Sanchez, Sam Barrios, Donald Nicks.

Physical CDs and digital copies of Whispered Awakening are available on Bandcamp. The album is also available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Thank you for not letting “Whispered Awakening” stay a secret…

Warmly,
Tomas