Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #184

10-01-15   Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #184 was taped on September 14 2015 on a summery evening at Singing Brook Studio and features Mariam Massaro on vocals, twelve string acoustic guitar, kalimba, native flute and ukelele, Dameron Midgett on mandolin, banjo, crystal bowls and didjeridoo, Robert Sherwood on piano and engineering and Craig Harris playing marimba and congas.  Mariam’s “Sharhi Rabe, Blue Lotus Queen”, a raga in D, begins today’s show in a mystical, drifting space inhabited by Mariam’s twelve string and then by degrees a driving jam powered by low piano figures against impassioned congas and electronically-treated banjo from Dameron.  “Holding Onto Your Dreams” follows, an inspiring song from Mariam that boasts a minor key folk arrangement and a hopeful, emphatic lyric.  “Mateo Gabriel” is a particularly special song from Mariam, celebrating the birth of Paris Shortridge and Pedro Fernandez’ first son, a birth midwifed by Mariam.  “Watching The Sea Sunset” is a beautiful and mysterious creation built on a harmonic sequence that evokes the rolling sea with a series of unusual, disquieting chords from Mariam’s uke and Bob’s piano.  After the break we return with Mariam’s pretty, aching “Star Traveler” a piece that rolls along on a carpet of ukelele and mandolin.  Bob’s piano slowly rises up through the mix with a bittersweet two-note ostinato that floats in an electronic haze beneath Mariam’s beautiful refrain.  A stately, gospel-like final theme supports a lovely, conversational duet between Dameron’s grounded didjeridoo and Mariam’s floating native flute.  Today’s final song “Beautiful” returns to acoustic folk simplicity and sports driving banjo from Dameron and a pretty, elemental melody from Mariam.