Jim Gelcer (born December 16, 1961) is a Canadian jazz drummer, singer, musician, composer, and producer, also known for blending traditionalkirtan, a genre of spiritual music from India, with modern influences likeR&B,jazz, and rock.
Jim Gelcer was born inCape Town, South Africa and moved toToronto, Ontario, Canada in 1968. He attendedEastman School of Music in 1980, studying drums, vibraphone, arranging and improvisation withRay Ricker, Bill Dobbins, Dave Ratajczak, and Lee Musiker. In 1984, Gelcer studied jazz with David Mott atYork University. Soon afterwards he established himself as a professional musician.
Early in his career, Gelcer composed music for film and television, includingPrice of Vengeance (1985),[3]The Journal on CBC (1985–89), andMy Happy Days in Hell (1994).[4] More recently, Jim teamed withDonald Quan to formGopher Lunch, a film music recording house and music library.[5]
He studiedSivananda Yoga and became serious aboutKirtan after a visit toSivananda Ashram in theLaurentian Mountains where he was invited to chant in the temple.[6] He completed yoga teacher training at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in Paradise Island, Bahamas in March 2006, and shortly after that began leading Kirtan. His debut Kirtan recording "Bhagavan" was released in 2010 and hailed as one of the year's best by American radio shows in the Spirit – WRPI FM and Full Lotus Kirtan Show – WCOM FM. Yoga Chicago magazine called him "the perfect bhakti singer".[7]
In 2013, Gelcer released his second album,Bhakti Groove Machine, which was recorded withGrammy-nominated producer Ben Leinbach (Jai Uttal,Deva Premal,Snatam Kaur).[8]
He performs regularly at yoga studios and temples,[9] along with festivals such asBhaktifest.[10] He also teaches a daily yoga class on the meditation app Insight Timer.[11] From 2012 to 2017, he was musical director forShri Fest, ayoga, music and art festival held at Blue Mountain, Ontario.[12]
Gelcer worked with theHarvard University digital media start up, Noank Media Inc., as the Vice President of Content Acquisition and Business Development[16] and later Chief Operating Officer. Noank Media Inc. aimed to license and distribute digital content globally while fairly compensating content owners, using the most efficient, sustainable, and effective business and technology systems.[17][18] They successfully demonstrated their proprietary digital media exchange platform[19] and reached a partnership with CERNET (China Education and Research Network).[20]
He has served on the boards of several arts organizations including theGlenn Gould Foundation from 2010 to 2013 as Fundraising Chair,[21] Toronto Summer Music Festival, Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, and Mariposa in the Schools.[22]
