Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #323

09-27-18  Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #323 is an hour of visionary, improvised acoustic music performed live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, dulcimer, native flute, acoustic guitar and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and native drums.  Taped on September 17 2018 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the the prayerful, gentle “Grateful For This New Day” which features a lush improvised lyric and beautiful native flute passages from Mariam and ambitious, detail-rich piano accompaniment from Bob.  Moving through moods and motifs, this lovely, epic track finally segues into Mariam’s classic, dulcimer-driven “All Life Unfolds”, here given an energized, elemental reading with steady congas from Craig and ambitious, multifaceted piano from Bob beneath Mariam’s elegiac melody.  “Let’s All Be In The Beauty” is a pretty, minor key exploration of gratitude built on the earthy thrum of Craig’s native drum and Mariam’s precise ukulele.  Bob teases out the motif with driving, minimalist piano amidst psychedelic treatments and clouds of echo.  Rising from the denouement, the stately “I Am The One” arrives on clouds of electronic treatments with a dramatic, swirling presence and an evocative, fundamental lyric from Mariam that speaks to the forest and nature’s somber perfection.  “Searching For So Much More” is a pretty, rich folk song from Mariam given sensitive, lovely accompaniment from the Gaea Star Band; a gorgeous and unhurried prayer to surrender and faith.  Lush, lyrical native flute abounds in long, languid passages until yielding to the driving, insistent “This Planet We Call The Gaea Star”, driven by Mariam’s acoustic guitar and Bob’s questing piano.  A lovely melody and visionary lyric from Mariam complete an all-around remarkable hour of beautiful, powerful improvised song and music.