Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #288

12-21-17  Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #288 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts and features the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, native flute, acoustic guitar and ukulele, Craig Harris on congas and balaphone and Bob Sherwood on piano.  Today’s opener is Mariam’s charming study in nostalgia“I Wanna Go Back To That Way” featuring her acoustic guitar, rock-steady conga work from Craig and racing, minimalist piano from Bob.  A second, statelier iteration expands the narrative both lyrically and musically.  “Concentration Leads To Liberation” is an elemental piece with evocative words from Mariam and swirling, hypnotic accompaniment from the band.  Soaring native flute opens the next piece, the ravishing ballad “Let’s All Just Settle Down” featuring a narrative between Mariam’s questing, inspiring lyric and her native flute.  This beautiful and sprawling piece weaves through a series of movements and variations where the only constant is the expression of love.  Mariam picks up her ukelele for the jazzy waltz “Magnificent Moonlight” which features bursts of blues and modern classical piano from Bob supported by the driving, solid rhythm section of congas and uke.  Mariam’s beautiful and mysterious raga “Do You Hear The Whisper Of The Forest” flows in the lush languor of Mariam’s ukulele, Craig’s very cool balaphone track and interstellar piano from Bob.  “Just Drifting Away” and “Are We Ever Going To Grow Up” close the show with languid vocals and vast, open piano figures.