Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #317

08-02-18 Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #317 was recorded on a lush, humid July afternoon at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, and features songs by Mariam Massaro and visionary improvisation by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam on vocals, harmonica, celtic harp, banjo, acoustic guitar and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and native drums.  We begin today with Mariam’s wonderful “Showing Sharing Words, a prayer to the power of language set to a dense, evocative groove from Bob and Craig.  “Standing In The Rain” features Mariam’s celtic harp above a swirling piano figure that evokes European balladry of high drama.  Contrasting sharply, the bluesy “Before I Met You” is led by Mariam’s rollicking banjo and ragtime piano from Bob.  Next up is a jazz rock take of Mariam’s stately ode to the forest, “Standing Ones Of Peace”, a minor blues vamp full of motion and drama.  “Oya Thunderqueen” is a track from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Goddesses” cd and is a zydeco workout with a fine vocal and acoustic guitar from Mariam and Dr. John-style piano from Bob.  “Smile” is another classic from Mariam from her “Songs For The Children” cd built around her dulcimer grooves and taken, unusually, in a minor key.  A psychedelic aura abounds with Indian runs from Bob and a funky conga track from Craig.  “Whistling Wind, How She Changes” is a lovely, unsettled ode to the wind driven by Mariam’s ukulele and virtuosic, swirling piano from Bob.  “Sing Down The Walls” is a classic call to activism from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal:  Awakening The Tribes of Light” album, and “Ladies Of The Lake” is a mysterious, misty meditation from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album.