Lambert seeks to bring 'musical healing' to others

By Benjamin Joe

Senior Contributing Writer

Jonathan Lambert was at the Briarwood Assisted Living Facility for a second performance of kirtan on Friday, Feb. 13, in what has become a purposeful career choice for the Newfane native.

Kirtan, he explained, is a call and response exercise of different mantras that have resonated within himself and which he believes are a kind of “musical healing.” While it is not a religious demonstration, he has brought this “healing” to the seniors living in different assisted living facilities around Lockport and Buffalo – and hopes to continue to do so as he works toward a career as a “death doula” to even further help those who are entering their last years.

Lambert demonstrated his act twice Friday, once in the memory ward where seniors are going through stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Some members of the crowd picked up the call and response quickly. Lambert pointed to one elderly man by name as he pumped his instrument, a harmonium, to a background of drums from a speaker.

“One more!” Lambert said and the man let out a “Hari om” in a long droning breath.

Lambert said the main purpose of his performances is to get the audience participating.

At the second show, he placed small egg shakers on each chair, and a few tambourines, as well as sheets of paper explaining the origins of each mantra. During the act, he gave away awards to those who participated the most, eliciting smiles from the audience.

“It’s call and response peace mantras for general universal peace for seniors and whoever is suffering,” Lambert added later.

Mantras include “om,” or “the sound of connection,” to use when you want to feel grounded and calm; “hari om,” or “the gentle eraser,” when you’re feeling overwhelmed or want to reset your mood; and “om shalom,” or “the peace of wholeness,” to help you relax before a nap or to settle down.

Lambert’s journey to this activity started when he sang to his grandfather, who is bedridden. It seemed to help, and the older man told him he should do this for other people. Quickly, Lambert developed his act and simultaneously worked toward online certifications from Berkley School of Music, Music Helps India, EssentiALZ from the Alzheimer's Association, and Inspiring and Motivating Individuals from the University of Michigan.

It’s now been a month of performances, and Lambert seemed excited as he explained what fueled this new work.

“When I get done with one of these, I feel so much love in the air – like genuine unconditional love,” he said. “You don’t need to be in an intimate relationship to feel love. When it comes to this for me, it’s just offering my love to my community. And they give it right back to me. … I have never felt such connection to the people around me until I started doing this. …

“It’s to fight the loneliness epidemic! For seniors, it’s the most detrimental things. Bringing that jolt of energy – it’s important to keep the spirit alive. I describe it in my website. The doctors and nurses preserve the physical body, but what about the spiritual body? Not in a ‘God way’ but literally the spiritual body. Keeping it alive. Like I said, ‘It’s just love in the air.’ ”

Lambert can be contacted at theartofstayingsharp@gmail.com.