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World
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Reviews
by Kathryn Sargent
The long-awaited successor to Crystal Suite,Steven
Halpern's ground-breaking album with the first recording
of a crystal bowl in 1987, Crystal
Bowl Healing is a recording of  exceptional
quality. Halpern, a sound researcher, author, leading composer
and recording artist, has enlightened millions on the healing
properties of sound. On Crystal Bowl Healing, he uses the familiar
large, frosted crystal bowls, tuning forks, the Egyptian
Blue Bowl, and the Aqua 24-K Gold Bowl, and some tracks include
his inner space music, as well. The depth of sound on this album
is remarkable, with sounds behind sounds and tones both subtle
and powerful. Track one, Stargate Invocation, was recorded in
the Great Pyramid in 1981. It includes chanting and a reverberation
caused when Halpern struck the sarcophagus. More recently, he
has added an overlay with the Egyptian Blue Bowl. Track six, Tibetan/Egyptian
Connection, features an exceptional Tibetan singing bowl. In the
liner notes, Halpern gives suggestions for deepening your experience
by working with intention, chanting or playing along with your
own singing bowl. Crystal Bowl Healing would, of course, create
an excellent sound environment for any kind of healing or meditation
work.
A great healing blessing is on your way this month. It is
Healing Session: Traditional African Meditation Music,
by the percussion master
Babatunde Olatunji. This is the first posthumous release
of Olatunji's work, recorded in 1992. Healing Session
offers traditional chants and drumming from Olatunji's native
Yoruban culture that honor the Yoruban gods who heal and guide
those who follow the voodoo, Santeria, and Candomble traditions
on this side of the ocean. His Drums of Passion ensemble
accompanies Olatunji, with beautiful chanting and harmonies. Track
two, Adura, is so powerful and mysterious that I fell in love
with it. Track three, Edunmare, had me so captivated that I found
myself singing along, somehow knowing the words without knowing
their meaning. If you love drums and African music, please, treat
yourself to this wonderful CD and enjoy the legacy of one of the
world's greatest musicians.
 Steve
Reel's Celtic Knights
is a modern take on traditional Celtic songs, with contemporary
rhythms and bass combined with accoustic guitar, mountain dulcimer,
Irish bodhran, banjo and several other guitars and synthesizers.
Reel plays all the instruments except for his wife, Cathie Reel's,
part on Korg X5D on 'Bonnie Dundee,' and with all the
overdubbing, he gives new meaning to the phrase 'one man band.'
He plays accoustic guitar as if it were an electric guitar, and
he simulates the sound of bagpipes with his guitar. He can play
Spanish style as well as rock or Celtic, and this CD has a bit
of all that and more. His modern takes on traditional favorites
include 'Scotland the Brave,' 'Napoleon Crossing the
Rhine,' 'Drunken Sailor,' and 'Jug of Brown Ale.'
My favorites include 'Dance of the Woodsprites,' which
is as full of surprises as its namesakes are, and 'Faeries'
Waltz.' This is a really fun album!
 For
purity, intimacy and heart, it's hard to beat Brooke Medicine
Eagle's Gathering:
The Sacred Breath. This grand niece of Chief Joseph
has been authoring books, leading workshops, and recording traditional
Native American chants for thirty years. One of her books, Buffalo
Woman Comes Singing, is still one of my favorite books on women's
traditions. The new CD, Gathering, has a blend of
traditional chants and songs with beautiful harmony. Back up music
is minimal - mostly drums and rattles-and the music is very simple
and pure. If you want to learn songs and chants and sing along,
this CD is perfect for that. All the lyrics are clearly understood
and they are included in the booklet, as well. Tracks include
'Ya Ta Way,' 'Walk in Beauty,' 'Mother, Mother
Ocean,' 'Ancestor Cave,' 'Grandfather Fire,'
and 'Pilomaya,' among others. Gathering would be a great
addition to your moon lodge traditions with its respect and reverence
toward all.
 Grammy
nominee Joanne Shenandoah offers Covenant,
a ground-breaking CD of music recognizing the long tradition of
honor among the Haudesaunee or Six Nations Iroquois in their relationships
with the earth and each other. Hailed as 'the Native American
Enya,' Shenandoah's powerful and beautiful voice is complimented
by string arrangements, tribal and trance dance grooves and percussion.
For the most part, Covenant is modern, but the opening
track is an eloquent spoken prayer called the Ohenton Kariwahtekwen
or Thanksgiving Address, delivered by Chief Jake Swamp-Tekaronianekon
of the Mohawk Nation. (This elder speaks passionately for the
environment and through his efforts, 200,000,000 trees have been
planted for the next generation. See www.mohawknation.org for
details). Track five, '100 Winters,' a tribute to
Chief Shenandoah, who lived to 110 years of age, is hypnotically
beautiful. Covenant assures Shenandoah's place as a star on
the modern Native American music scene.
 It's
that time of year again, when musicians everywhere try to find
some new way to express traditional Christmas carols. Jeff
Ball's Songs of Winter
delivers 'Silent Night,' 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,'
'Greensleeves,' 'O Holy Night,' etc., using Native
American flute. He is accompanied by brother Randy Ball on dobro
on Silent Night, and Randy also plays bass on the album. Other
instrumentation includes guitar, keyboards, drums and percussion.
Ball's music is more contemporary than most Native American
flute music. He includes some surprises like a reworking of The
Beatles' 'Across the Universe' and three original
pieces.
Kathryn
Sargent is the editor of Aquarius. Contact her at aquarius-editor@mindspring.com.
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