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| Bobbi Bernstein and Eruch Jessawala on Seclusion Hill |
Bobbi Bernstein has performed and jammed at the Meher Spiritual Center, Meherabad and Meherazad, and at other Baba places and gatherings since the early 1970’s. Her Baba connection began in Albany, NY through Ken Lux, and Darwin and Jeanne Shaw in Schenectady, NY.
One evening, Jeanne asked her to set a Rabindranath Tagore poem to music, and that began her songwriting adventure. Darwin’s sublime Discourse meetings directly inspired her first original piece, “Just Love You”. Since then she has written “That Extra Mile, ”The Real Thing Calypso,” “Meherabad Meherazad,” “Dress Your Soul With Baba,” “Baba’s Adele,” and many more songs for the Beloved.
Bobbi grew up in Union, NJ, just 20 miles from the Big Apple and Broadway. Her parents loved show music and their favorite song was "Begin the Beguine". Bobbi has always included the Great American Songbook in her repertoire, by songwriters and lyricists such as Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as more recent songs that also reflect Meher Baba’s love and humor.
A percussionist as well as a piano and keyboards player, Bobbi has written an eclectic mix of songs with jazz, blues, Latin, rock, pop and classical influences. While living in Nyack, NY, she had the great opportunity of meeting Big Chief Moore, a trombonist who played with Louis Armstrong in the 1950’s. Performing with Big Chief in his retirement years, she learned many New Orleans jazz songs. Bobbi’s earliest musical influence however, was her mother, who from age four was able to play piano "by ear." Her style was stride piano, and she and Bobbi enjoyed playing duets together. Bobbi has recently learned the ukulele is enjoying adding that to the fun.