Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #257

04-06-17 Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #257 was taped at Singing Brook Studio on a wintry day before a large snowstorm in mid-March 2017 and features the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, harmonica, native flute and six- and 12-string acoustic guitars. Today’s first piece is the jazzy, harmonically diverse “March, Mistress Of Change”, a meditation on a winter visit to a greenhouse set to a groove that quotes the bebop jazz of John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk. “I’m Just Fine” is a gracious, gentle folk song about a 93-year-old woman and her pride in her independence, and examines the chance of human life and longevity to a swirling backing built on Mariam’s chiming 12-string guitar. “In Celebration Of Life” begins with a native backdrop to express a dream of medicine women that Mariam had during a trying Vision Quest in the forest. This reappearance of previously dreamed grandmothers inspires the lovely native chant “White Buffalo Calf Woman” which Bob invites into a form of native opera with western classical piano figures. Craig gradually brings intensity to the piece with insistent conga grooves until the climax is reached with lush native flute and an invitation to freedom. Today’s final piece is an expansion of Mariam’s song “Have You Heard the Faeries”, an expositive chapter from her “Rainbow Crystals of The Earth” story driven by her solid acoustic guitar work, gospel piano from Bob and gently propelling congas from Craig.